I think it is of crucial importance to the schools and town of Harvard that we reelect Stu Sklar to School Committee, and I am concerned that some recent letters and discussion have confused the issue of an override to cap athletic user fees with Stu’s candidacy.
The Bromfield School Council, struggling with awareness of the tough financial times on the one hand, and the troubling fact that some students have been unable to afford after-school sports on the other, asked Stu, in his role as School Committee liaison, to bring this matter before the town for a simple up or down vote.
Stu and two colleagues, Patty Wenger and Virginia Justicz, deserve credit, in my opinion, for following a process rooted in transparency and simple democratic principles in which they agreed that the citizens should have an opportunity at Town Meeting to decide how they want to weigh the variables and rule in this situation.
This issue is separate from the multiple substantive reasons to vote for Stu for School Committee. Stu was ahead of his time when, many years ago, he saw the need for pairing fiscal responsibility within the schools with lobbying for increased funding at the state level, and finding alternative funding sources locally. To this end, he has carefully built trusting relationships with state representatives, and led the Devens K-5 contract before it was popular.
Stu is an honest, creative, and experienced negotiator, and even in this difficult financial climate has been able to bring about a timely and amicable resolution in two teacher contract proceedings. As well, he was part of the team that negotiated a townwide health insurance contract that is respectful of town employees but will reduce town health care costs.
Stu is straightforward, warm, smart, outspoken, and profoundly decent. He is devoted to the schools and the town of Harvard. Despite all we put our School Committee members through, he is somehow undaunted and has no loss of enthusiasm to continue to serve.
I urge voters to join me in voting for Stu Sklar for School Committee on May 4.
Holly Rothkopf
Old Boston Turnpike
