Table of Contents
Preferred contact method:
sara.yablon.smith@gmail.com
What experiences and perspectives would you contribute to Town Meeting?
My family and I moved to Winchester in 2015 and have felt so fortunate to find such a welcoming community in our neighborhood on Lincoln Street. We have three children who are currently at Muraco Elementary School, McCall Middle School and Winchester High School. I have worked in the field of child development and early relational health for the past 17 years and currently serve as the Program Manager for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC).
I have volunteered in many ways as a parent at Muraco, including at the Multicultural Fair, the Book Fair and giving public comment to the Select Board about the deteriorating conditions of the Muraco school building. Last spring, I served on the Cell Phone Expectations Committee at Winchester High School and was actively involved in ensuring that parent voices were heard.
What are two or three issues facing Winchester that you think are most important and what are your positions on them?
The most pressing issue facing our community in my opinion is ensuring that our schools provide the high quality education that our children deserve. I, along with many of us, moved to Winchester to give our children access to an incredible education and if elected to Town Meeting, I would be a strong advocate for allocating sufficient resources to our schools, our educators and our students. Having exceptional public schools is not only necessary for our children, it is also a valuable asset for our town. Additionally, we need to continue to increase affordable housing options in our community and I welcome the opportunity to advocate for projects that could include multi-family housing or mixed-use development.
What is a special challenge in your precinct that might not be faced in other precincts?
The Muraco school desperately needs to be rebuilt. The small renovations that were done over the summer were helpful, but now that the Lynch school has been rebuilt, it is time for Muraco. Our children and our teachers deserve a clean, safe and spacious environment in which they can learn, grow and thrive.
Why should voters elect you to represent them?
If elected, I look forward to hearing your concerns and your hopes for our precinct and our town. I would make myself available in person, by email and by phone to give my precinct neighbors every opportunity to share their voice so that I can accurately represent our precinct at town meeting. I believe in the importance of community. My family and I have built community with our neighbors through block parties, backyard bbqs and neighborhood summer camps, and particularly in these difficult times, we need to be able to depend on our community.
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