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Brookline school committee hopefuls emphasize supports, transparency and decline union campaign money
Summary
At a Brookline candidates forum, Laura Bain Walsh, Faiza and Elit Shults outlined priorities including stronger supports for students with disabilities, clearer calendar rules and transparent budgeting; all three said they would decline campaign support from the Massachusetts Teachers Association amid contract negotiations.
Three first-time candidates for the Brookline school committee — Laura Bain Walsh, Faiza and Elit Shults — presented largely aligned priorities at a public forum hosted by Brookline Interactive Group, centering on classroom supports, academic standards, and transparent fiscal decisionmaking.
The candidates framed the race around two recurring themes: ensuring students receive both rigorous instruction and appropriate supports, and making budget and policy choices through clear, data-driven processes. ‘‘Support and rigor are not opposites,’’ Laura Bain Walsh said, summarizing her view that differentiated services and high expectations must coexist.
Why it matters: The winners will help set district priorities as Brookline faces a structural budget gap and community debate over academic tracking, calendar changes and staffing. The forum also surfaced consistent ethics positions: all three candidates said…
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