001Good evening, Malden. And after some slight modifications, welcome to our youthled uh forum with uh school committee candidates. My name is Kian Morris, >> and I'm Captain Ajali, and we will be your moderators for the night. If each of the candidates could please introduce themselves. >> Uh my name is Kimberly Gillette, and I am from Ward One. >> Uh good evening. My name is Don Mlin and I am the current uh Malden School Committee rep for Ward 4. >> Uh Keith Bernard. I am uh the incumbent and and for school committee and w 7. >> Good evening. Mike Rummy. I'm the incumbent in Ward one. >> We will be asking five questions to each candidate with two minutes each for the candidate to answer the question followed by audience questions. Finally, each candidate will get
002another two minutes for closing statements. Thank you for joining us tonight and amplifying Malden youth voices and informing Malden voters about their choices this coming November. >> And now we will begin with our questions. >> Question one. What inspired you to run for committee? >> Are we starting with me? >> Yeah. >> Um what inspired to make me to run for school committee? Um I think in the time and age that we live in um education and safeguarding education is um a really important job. Um one that I have been following along with for a long time. I think my participation in PTO sort of led me to the next level. Um and I think that safeguarding safeguarding education is is just really important right now. >> Um thank you for the question. Um for
003me um I first ran in 2019 um unfortunately that was not a successful run. Um but when I uh congratulated um the person that did win and you know my message was do right by our kids or I'm coming back for this seat. Um it was very important to me uh to have representation on the school committee. Uh I have a grandson, my eldest grandson is on the autism spectrum. Um in addition to that, he has ADHD. He suffers from Tourette's and so just going through that process, that sped process and you know the 504 and the IEP and navigating that um was was challenging. And so I knew if it was challenging for me um who I'm very boisterous and and you know strong advocate, I knew that it was probably challenging for a
004lot of our other caretakers um in the district. And so um it was extremely important to me that all of the kids have what they need to thrive. Um like Don uh I ran in 2019 uh and was not successful that first time. Um and at that time I I run ran because it was an open seat and I saw a way to kind of get in more involved with the community um in a way that would go and actually go and help the kids that I saw running up and down my street. Um, my mother was a teacher. I've got uh college professors that are that I'm related to. So, we I deeply believe in being that kids need an education. Um, and I also believe that um many of these kids uh deserve
005it and also that they um they they will always we got to go and give them the space to go and be able to go and rise to where they can go and they can head. Um when I ran again in 2021, it was simply because people called me from the first run and said, "I liked what you had to say. Can you run, please?" And honestly, um that was just humbling. So, >> um, basically the reason I ran is because nobody was running, uh, in Ward One the year in 2014, 2015. It was an open seat and I didn't think that the mayor should really have to appoint a school committee uh, member. Boston does appoint where it's one of the few that you actually get appointed to a school committee, you're not elected.
006Mullen was electing and still does, thank God. So, uh, I decided to put my name in and I ran on, uh, stickers. Uh, a gentleman, another, uh, candidate came out. We ran and it was a very tight vote. I won by six votes, my first time. So, uh, basically that's why I had no inclination to. I I hadn't planned on it. Uh, I talked to a couple of people. Uh, one told me it was a good opportunity. I don't have a I won't believe that again. Uh but uh it's it's I had kids in the system at the time and uh it's worked out well. So that's basically it. >> Thank you. For the second question, what does it mean to you for students to have a safe and welcoming environment? >> We're doing this.
007Okay. Uh uh it's very important. I mean, uh, you should be able, you go to school, it should be a safe, you shouldn't have to worry about anybody or anything, uh, that's jeopardizing your well-being andor your education itself. Uh, you're there to learn, you uh, you're there to grow and, you know, your our future, let's face it, starting from kindergarten on, uh, up through high school, college, whatever you want to do. And, uh, you shouldn't have to worry about a blessed thing except learning. and if I don't get too much homework or what it's going to be. And uh I like to think that we've done that the last 10 years that I've been doing this. So uh I like to keep it going and we'll see what happens from there. >> Um what was
008the question again? I'm sorry. I was so involved with his. >> What does it mean to you for students to have a safe and welcoming environment? >> Thank you. Um, you know, I I think part of our job is to go and make sure that the school is a place where they want to go to, they want to learn. They want to figure out who they are and be given that space to do that and to also go and um be able to express themselves without fear of someone you know, coming after them. Um, I remember in 2018 there was a resolution before the school committee uh about going and having uh ice on ice on property. And I testified like you cannot go and let ice there. It's not fair. It's not fair to
009kids that, you know, might be without papers uh or their families have mixed status. um it's not fair to their friends who could be citizens, but all of a sudden they go and they see a friend of theirs tossed in a van. And we've seen over the last how many months now that >> there's a definite inhumity to that. And we need to go and make sure that those kids feel safe, know that we've got their backs, and we're going to do everything to do to go make sure that they can get the education they need. >> Um thank you for the question. Uh schools ought to be a safe and welcoming place for all students. Um we live in very difficult times. Um scary times scary not just for the students but for us
010adults as well. Um I think you know it's not just about locked doors. It's about hearing out the the students and the children and validating their fears um and giving them the support that they need. Um, and that's in in all instances. Um, you know, additionally, um, with my grandson, he was bullied, um, a lot at one of the K to eight schools. I mean, to the point that we had to transfer him out to another school. Um, so, you know, feeling safe and welcoming really entails a lot. not just, you know, bullying, not just what's going on with with ICE, but I, you know, I think what's most important is validating, you know, the students fear. Um, everybody deserves an education, whether they're citizens or immigrant children. Um, they're entitled to that that education.
011And, you know, we we need to support all of the students. Thank you. Um, what does it mean for a safe and welcoming school? Um, I I I would agree with I think everyone else's answer is that we really have to listen to the kids. Um, but I think I think having a safe and welcoming school means making sure that our teachers and administrators have what they need to provide that safe and welcoming environment. Um, I think that means really really hammering down the budget. um and making sure we can get those things in. Um I also believe a safe and welcoming school, and I know this is going to be this might not be where everyone's going with this question, but um I think children should be able to use the bathrooms um more
012frequently. I think they should be open more. I think a safe and welcoming school um offers dignity. Um and I think the bathrooms issue in Malden has become overwhelming for some students. And so a safe and welcoming school includes all of those things and making sure that we're we're keeping our students safe from things like ICE and and having policies in place. Um but but more so um dignity, food access, healthy foods, um and really just making sure that teachers and administrators have those things available to them because they're there to make those environments safe and welcoming. And that's that's our job to make sure that they have those things. Thank you all. Expanding off our last question, what will you do best to support students and families affected by the current administration's immigration policy?
013Starting with candidate Kim. >> Um my goodness, I don't know what school committee could do um other than policy. Um but personally anything anything that we have to do um but through the school committee I think it's really important that teachers and staff are on the same page with um how Malden handles it and I think that involving the police and and getting the entire city and community on the same page is is really important in addressing issues like that. Um and again, you know, the right to an education is every student's right. And I know in this climate that some caretakers and and parents um may be keeping their children at home um out of fear. And you know that that's disheartening. Um that should not be happening. We we need to make certain
014that everyone knows, particularly our students, that school is a safe place. Um I know that there were know your rights um seminars and and you know for for caretakers so that they know their rights and and they know where to turn to if you know things um unfortunately go in that direction. Um but I you know again it's just ensuring that when they're in school that they're protected and they're safe. I mean, it's a very difficult question because um there's basically three things that we go and we do on the school committee. We set the policies and we've got a very strong resolution that's there to go and say we're not going to let ice onto the property. They have to go and there's a whole procedure that they have to go and follow. um
015managing the budget and honestly there's not a lot that I can go on I can do in my position as a school committee person other than stand up speak out say this is not right um and leverage that to go and actually go and talk to our state reps and saying what are we doing on the state level talking to Katherine Clark her offices right here in Malden and saying, "What are we doing for this?" And this is personal to me for two reasons. One is is that we've had people in Ward 7 that have gotten snatched off the streets recently within the last six months. The other thing is is that, you know, my family, not all of them are white people. So, as we've seen, they're stopping people for just being brown, just
016having an accent. So, when I see these things happening on the news, I'm picturing my wife, I'm picturing my nieces, I'm picturing my nephews, and really, it's just trying to go and do whatever I can, not just as an official, but also as a as a private citizen, to say this is wrong. picking up on what Keith said, it's right. I mean, we do have a policy in place. Doors aren't to be open to notify uh our lawyers, I believe is what one of them is. So, uh they're not allowed in the building at all. So, it shouldn't be that way. I mean, you you're coming to school, you're coming to learn, and to be worried that, you know, hey, it's just crazy what's coming out of Washington, and I don't think it's going to
017get any better. If anything, I think it's just going to get worse. And we just somehow have to find a way to eek it through the next four years. And as a school committee member, you know, other than standing in front of a bus and saying, "No, you can't take them." That's about all we can do. I mean, legally, you know, it is what it is. So you you just get out there and do the best you can and you know protect the kids as best you can. That's all you can do. >> Thank you. For the fourth question, what do you think our schools can do to help students with the transition from high school to adulthood? >> Wow. Okay. I've got four kids. Let's call them and they'll tell you. Uh I'm a
018lot older than >> Probably not. probably the YouTube. Oh, I'm older. I'm definitely older than you. Uh uh it's it's a different time. Uh there's different things. It's it's not the same. And today I watch I mean I've got a a three-year-old grandson and and I give my kids credit or anybody that has a child today giving them credit just bringing a child up. But transitioning from high school to adulthood, I mean it that's a really tough one. I I don't know what to say. I mean, it all depends on your upbringing, um your family, how you get along. I mean, if there's problems, if it's, you know, all you can do is nurture your kids, you know, show them, tell them, not, you know, beat it into them, but hey, these are the mistakes
019I made. I'm not telling you I'm going to live your life, but I'm not telling you I got I know everything, but you know, I made the mistakes. Just try not to, you know, repeat it or, you know, it can hurt. So, It just that's a tough one. I with each and every child uh each ch each child is different and I just try to give them you know lay the groundwork and say hey be the best person you can maybe you'll be the best adult parent whatever and just hope for the best and pray that I did my job right. That's it. Um, I I part of what's going on with with trying to go and get kids to do that transition is to understand that not everyone goes and kind of, hey, you
020turned 18, you're an adult now. There's some kids out there, they they figured out their life very early on. They have a goal. And then there's people like me that it took me a long time to figure out what I was doing, how I was doing it, uh, at an early age. I became a young father and was not prepared one bit for that. Um, but I figured it out and I've sat my son down several times and and said, "Hey, I'm here. I'm here if you need advice. I am here if you need a shoulder. And when he says he's going to do something, I'm like, you can do it that way, but let me explain because I tried to go and do it that way and show him where that went. Um, I
021do think that part of our duty here is to go and do things like we want to go and build these skills that people need for that adulthood. You know, kids like you need to learn how to be resilient. if something knocks you down, get back up. Uh to have courage, to have confidence in yourselves. Um to be able to go and look at a problem and figure out how do I get myself out of this? And I think right there is if we can go and we can give every kid those skills, they're going to be top-notch adults. And when they fail, we don't laugh at them. We just go and say, "How can I help you? So, I'm I'm really excited about this question because I um recently met with our superintendent um
022and this was part of my agenda. Uh what are we doing? what pathways are we providing to our students um beyond Malden High School and you know not everyone is collegebound for sure but there are there are career pathways um there's v you know vocational schools um there are different opportunities for the students and I I don't think that we're we're meeting that need honestly um I don't think we're reaching these students early enough and engaging with them early enough. And that's really concerning um for me. One of the things that I would love to do um during my next term um if I'm elected is to uh for Malden to host a career in college fair. It's something that I had growing up in high school. Something I was engaged probably from the ninth
023grade attending, you know, college fairs. And um I would love to to see that happen here in Malden as well. We we need to reach the students early for sure. >> Can I just have the whole question again? >> Um what do you think our schools can do to help students with the transition from high school to adulthood? >> Um I think the transition from high school to adulthood um has been missing a few things since I even went to high school um at Malden High. the when I was there, I did um an intern program much like the one you're probably doing um where I left school during the day and um interned at the Salem with school when it was brand new. Um and that was a really great opportunity and helped me
024move into some things. Um I'd love to see those programs come back, but I think preparing high school kids for the future really means talking about the real world things. And I think that we need to focus on life skills classes. I think losing things like homeck and sewing um while you know budget-wise they went out the window a long time ago. I think those are you know homeck is seems silly to some people but nourishing your body and getting the right nutrients and knowing what your body needs to function in the morning to learn um that's basic that that's how we do it. Um I think you know between internship programs and life skills I know um schools like Malden Catholic have colleges show up for lunch for the juniors and seniors and you
025know my own son got interested and started you know coming home with with information that I didn't I didn't think he'd actually pick up. Um but because his friends were doing it because it was available to him um he came home interested in something that I didn't think he'd be interested in. Um, so I'm I'm a big proponent of the job fairs, college fairs, career fairs right in the school. Um, but I would love to see real life skills classes that can help a student with credit score and money management, what it actually looks like um, to go out into the real world. >> Thank you. For our next question, question five. What's one thing you've personally done to help the community and what will you continue to do in office? >> Back to me.
026Um I spent five years as president of the PTO at Ferryway School. Um during that time we lobbyed the school committee and got um librarians back in the school. Um I would love to see that program pushed and funded more and more until it's completely full. Um I think I've done a lot with the warming center um over the years that I'd love to um continue. But um as far as school committee goes and what I would do in this position is really just advocate for the social emotional wellness of our schools and that means students, teachers, um administrators getting what they need because again they're already there with the purest of hearts. They're already there to help our kids and they want the best. So um I think it would be a school committee's
027job to um ensure that for them. So for the the past five years um in Malden, I've been vice chair of the Malden Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission. Um I also during the pandemic um co-founded a holiday initiative with uh W three city manager Amanda Lahan um Mary Malden and we help 300 plus children um annually um just with Christmas um and that's something that's very near and dear um to me um Emily helps out as well um volunteers we we get a lot of the um the community involved. So, it's it's very gratifying for for everyone. Um, as far as the Malden uh public schools are concerned with the students, I've um it's okay. Uh recently or in June, um there was a photovoice exhibit uh at city hall that I attended and
028was able to see some of the concerns of the students within the community that were displayed in photos um in city hall. And so I engaged with some of those students. Um some of them were multi-sealing tiles in the cafeteria. Um just the presentation of the food choices and selections that were available. Um we were able to two of those students, they were freshman, lovely, lovely girls. Um toured me and a couple of other school committee members and the superintendent um in the school. and you know, we we had a lot of those issues um fixed, rectified right away. So, it's taking immediate action and letting our students know that we hear their voices and we're going to take action. >> Excuse me. Sorry. Just getting over a cold. >> Drink some water. So, and
029I apologize to Don who gave a very an excellent answer. I did not mean to go and do any distraction from that. >> I won't cough during your >> You'd be welcome to sneeze a lot. Sneeze a lot. >> Sneeze something else. You'll be all right. Um, you know, I think I think one of the things that um is great about Maldon is that we're all um one big community and we've seen time and time again when something happens, people just jump in. Um, Dawn with the Mary Malden stuff and I've volunteered for that and I've supported >> I've supported families and um I love doing it every year and I love not being known for doing that. Um because it doesn't matter about getting the the patent the head or the badge. It's it's
030the kids going and seeing me walk up with a bag of toys and saying, "Oh, is it Santa?" Cuz I kind of resemble the guy. Um we have so many opportunities to go and help our fellow citizens. Um, even just coming out to go and support shows that we've got going on at the schools, coming to the sports teams, buying a t-shirt, going and cutting up turkeys at Thanksgiving. All these opportunities exist and I try to do as many as I can, excuse me again. And uh, the other thing that I go on I do is I go and I advocate on the political level. And I think that's really important to go and show people that's how we go and we do these things. Um to say that they've got a voice and hopefully
031I can kind of set an example for them to say, "Hey, if you don't like how something's going, this is how you deal with it." >> I'm sorry I lost it with the clapping. Can you just repeat the question? >> What's one thing you've personally What's one thing you've personally done to help the community and what will you continue to do in office? Uh when we first moved to uh well that's later but growing up with the kids and everything I mean I got involved with sports and uh PTO and school uh SSO and everything and you got to see it and get involved and and I one thing I learned is you have to listen. I mean, especially with four kids and they're going back and forth and I made a mistake one time
032of taking my oldest boy side and not listening or not listening to him and it caused problems later on because he was right and I took my daughter side and it just so that taught me just to listen, let people talk, let them go, you'll find out what's happening and then use that to help the situation as you go forward. And I found that on the committee uh especially when we have uh public comment, you hear a lot of things that you normally wouldn't hear uh that we wouldn't hear uh talking amongst ourselves and and you learn and you listen and you grow with it. And I think that's the one thing I've I've taken with it and will always continue to take with me is just to listen and just get the whole story
033before you jump into it whether you're against. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> For our final question, we're going to allow each and six minutes for the responses. >> Phones have become an integral part of our society. Many schools have begun to implement restrictions for phone use in the classroom. However, for some students, having their phones is a necessity. For example, students with diabetes can use apps on their phones to monitor their health. In Malden, where over 70 languages are spoken, it can help non-English speaking students with comprehension and with communication between peers. And for those with visual and hearing impairments, read aloud text services are a great tool. On the other hand, with easy access to social media and games, phones can be distracting. In recent years, AI use has become a major
034topic of discussion. How do you believe we can navigate the complexity that phones have in our school system and continue to support all our students in their educational development? Uh we have started uh we just did it a few years ago. Started I guess you could call them phone motels or whatever. Again, if you have uh a medical issue or anything like that, you're allowed to keep your phones with you. But other than that, uh as far as translations and stuff go, I don't know how that I don't think that's been worked out yet, but the phones are put away at the start of the class. You get it back at the end of class unless you need it during class again for medical purposes. There is uh a bill I want to say that's
035up in the House of Representatives right now or >> Senate >> a Senate uh and uh we think we have a policy and we think our policy really is a better one than what the state is sort of going to mandate and just lock everything down. So, uh I think we sort of kind of spearheaded a little bit and it's worked for us. We've been using it now for two years and we haven't had any problems with it. So, uh, I think it's it's great the way it is and it should stay the same way. >> Um, I'm going to echo a bit of what Mike said that, you know, we have a policy in place. And, you know, a phone, it's a tool like a laptop, you know, like a pencil. It can be
036used for some amazing things. It can be used for some things that are wrong. It can be used to go and cheat, but it can also be used for a kid that, you know, maybe English isn't their first language and they're figuring it out and they're using a translator app to go and help them get through the class or like you said, they have a medical necessity. They've got diabetes and they need to know when their sugar drops. Um, and we do have this policy in place to go and let the kids use that. And I strongly believe that we should go and and um restrict it a little bit using the hotels, but also we need to go and have that flexibility for those kids that do need it. Um the other thing is
037that we've also been talking about uh AI right now in the tech subcommittee because we need to see how do we go and set the policy for that and how do we get it to a point where we can treat it like the phones where this is what we can use it for. This is what we can't use it for and how do we go and and monitor it and and make sure the kids are actually doing the learning they need to do. And uh there's going to be some discussions over the next few weeks and I think that's important for people to kind of start paying attention to and listening and there'll be some education bits but also um you know give us your input. Um, I always listen to people to go and,
038you know, if they have an opinion on it. Um, but we should go and and definitely go and have people out there and I can go and dispel some of the myths that they might go and have towards some of these things and some of the misconceptions that they have as to how the technology is used. So, I was on the policy committee when um cell phone use in school came up a couple of years ago. Um and we did at that time um with the then superintendent um and the suggestion was to incorporate the the phone hotels. Um, I kind of struggled with that, uh, initially having, you know, a grandchild that's on the spectrum with an IEP that had been bullied. Um, for him it was like his safety blanket. Um, knowing that
039I was just a phone call away or his mom or his poppy was just a phone call away, we could go and pick him up from school if something happened. Um but then you know we learned that the IEP is a legal document and so if it's written into the IEP he can of course have his cell phone um during the school. Um I I thought that the policy was um a bit restrictive at first because we didn't permit the students to have them, you know, during breaks or during lunchtime, but then I understood the logic behind that was they should be talking to each other and not on their phones. um you know we we've lost that connection where we're just connecting with the you know with our peers um and and having conversations
040um so I I agree with with that part of it um you know and as far as AI is concerned um AI is a great tool if it's if it's used responsibly um it absolutely must be monitored and again I think that that's something that will come I'm again on the the polic policy and procedure subcommittee. Um that will be something that comes to you know the subcommittee for us to um to take a look at and and see you know what we're going to decide going forward. >> Can I get a question? >> Um how do you believe we can navigate the complexity that phones have in our school system and continue to support all our students in their educational development? I think I have a little bit of different take. I think I
041have a hot take. Um I would like to see less restrictions. Um I know that they are distracting. I know the teachers complaints with them and I fully understand as a parent the frustration with them. Um I just I don't think are going away and I don't think our kids um answer well or respond well to the restrictiveness of it and being completely denied. Um, as a mother of teenagers and toddlers, I I I try not I try not to create that um tension so that my kids want something more than they did before because I said no. Um, and I think that's what we're going to run into. And I think it's part of the growing process with technology and humans to begin with. Um, so I don't think the policies are wrong and
042I understand the need for them and the want for them. Um, but I would like to see them be more uh less restrictive um and build a culture around um kids choosing not to look at their phones um because the the thing that they're engaging in is so engaging. Um I I I put some of that onus on teachers to have a classroom. I I think phone motel up front are one thing. You know, take them in between classes, take them out to lunch. I think there's a lot of reasons why children have phones today. Um and I think it varies from K through eight to high school. I think high schoolers um we're teaching them to be responsible. We're teaching them to be adults. Um and I don't think that restricting their phone um
043in this day and age is how to get their attention. Um so I think I would be open to some restrictions and I think I would want them to be different in K through eight versus high school. Um I myself struggle with AI. Um as an artist I hate to see AI doing the artwork. Um, I think AI should be doing our grunt work so that we can all do more art. Um, so I I would like to see policies that allow for schools to experience and benefit from AI uh while creating a culture that does away with the need like the distraction of phones. And I know that sounds oversimple, but I I do think it's doable and I think that involves parent communication, parent involvement. Um, and I just don't think phones are
044going anywhere. I'm glued to mine for a thousand reasons. Most of them involve my kids or my work or things like that. And I have become very aware because my children are very aware um of screen time and things like that. So, I think it's a self-regulating thing and it's something that we need to work on as a culture and not necessar I'm just not a big believer in big restrictions and I have found that with teenagers there's um little response to that. So, I'd like to find a solution that involved um kids feeling good about it um but also respecting the need for it. >> Thank you all for your thoughtful answers to our questions. Now to end the night, we will give the candidates the floor for their closing statements. Again, each candidate
045will have up to four minutes for the address. We'll begin with the Sorry. >> Yeah, that's okay. Um, so I guess I'd love your vote um in W one for school committee. Um, so that I can so I can get on the scene a little bit. Um, I think I've been working at the public comment uh microphone for a very long time in Malden and I would like to be there to ask and to push for the things that school committee needs. Um, I think that there's restrictions in the school. you know, we're we're limited to certain things, but I think the school committee has an opportunity to ask the city why our budget isn't solvable this year, why we don't have more of a budget. Um, I think those are really important aspects of
046the job um that maybe have been sort of downplayed over the years. And I think that coming into the season that we're coming into, it's more important than ever to question, to push, to pull. Um, and I think I am I think I am the right candidate for that. And I think I'm have proven in Malden time and time again that I am willing to ask the hard questions to the to the people that don't usually get asked the hard questions. Um, and I have a track record of being at all the meetings and getting the results and things like that. So, you know, when I when I'm focused on it, I'm usually pretty good at coming at it. And I really think the budget and and Maldin's physical concerns are a big enough issue
047and I think the school committee will be drastically affected by it. So I would love to step in, step up and make those changes. So I'm seeking reelection for my third term because um there's still so much more work to do, right? Um, we've come a long way from my first term or even when I first ran and was unsuccessful. Uh, Malden has come a long way um with, uh, equity and and with inclusion. Um, I'd like to see us go further with representation um, in the classroom. I'd like to see us go further with supporting our students um, for life after Malden High School. um these students, you know, you guys are not our future. You're you're our present and and we need to recognize that and we need we don't need quiet, comfortable
048voices. We need bold action and folks to step up. Um I don't rubber stamp any decision. I give push back when push back needs to be pushed and we need strong voices on the school committee. Um, I'm here to do that work, to continue that work. I would appreciate your continued support and in my re-election for Malden School Committee and Ward 4. Thank you. And I I would also like to thank these incredible Malden uh students, the the youth that bled this uh forum tonight. Thank you for that as well. >> Thank you. >> Um, well, I'll also go and say thank you to the the moderators. Uh thank you to uh the other kids that have gone and I shouldn't say kids because most of you are adults at this point uh or young
049adults. And uh you know you guys did a great job last night and uh I look forward to going and seeing my face coughing horrendously >> and me getting sick. >> He's coughing at me. We're >> go take air. >> Oh no, no, no. I'm just I'm sharing it. I'm sharing it amongst everybody. Hey, look. You vote against me for the for holding on to the mask, you're going to go get what you get. Um, >> so, uh, you know, my name is Keith Bernard. Uh, I'm asking for your vote for, uh, reelection to school committee. Um, it's really been an honor to uh have represented Bo 7, which is one of the most diverse uh not just in culture, not just in race, but also in economics, um, in to have these people put
050their trust in me that I'm doing the right thing. And I don't want to abuse that trust. It takes when you run for something like this, it takes a lot of um takes a lot of things. People that are up here, you know, we all do it because we love this city and we love our kids. Um you have to work as a team. You have to know when to step up when you speak. And there's a lot of times when uh you go and you hear in other committees that you hear the same question go and get asked. You don't hear that in our school committee because we're listening to one another and if I hear Don ask something that I was going to ask, I don't ask it again. I might go and
051and dive a little bit deeper into it, but I've got that information. Um, we just we really need to go and learn how to go and work together, not just as a as a school committee, but also as a community. We've had a lot of upset and I think we can go and we can do that. Um, and honestly, um, I'm here and I think one of the things I keep hearing is that people like me because I listen to them, which is hard to go and say when I'm speaking so much. Um, but that being said, uh, you know, again, my name is Keith Bernard. Uh, if you need more information for me, uh, my website is bernardaldin.com. Uh, and, uh, I hope on November 4th that I can earn your vote. >> Oh,
052where to begin? >> Uh, the first my first year on the school committee, we had to cut $2.9 million budget. It wasn't a popular decision back then. It's I'm not saying that's what's coming, but something's coming. We got problems Washington. We don't know what the Department of Ed's doing there. We've got problems with the city. A matter of fact, we're having a budget sub on Monday. And part of that is going to be discussing Prop 2 and a half. And we don't know uh what's going to happen. The city uh I was reading in the paper that they're talking 40 to maybe 60 positions. eliminated and I don't know if that's on just city side or is it going to come over to the educational side and the educational part of the city's budget is
053or I should say the largest part of the city's budget is education I mean we take the biggest brunt but we also have the biggest responsibility we've got five K through8 schools we got an ELC we got a high school one of the most diverse if not the most diverse high school in the state so we've got a lot of work to do and it's tough. Uh I mean most of here we uh started out we went through co we saw the results of that coming out going forward now seeing what's happening in the world today it's getting tougher and tougher and you know I just think you need someone that's had the experience and and I've done that. I've been on the committee 10 years and I think I've done a good job and
054uh I think I'd like to continue doing it uh if the people who won one feel that they want to. I I would appreciate their vote and uh good luck to everybody here and thank you for having this. I watched last night's and that was fun and uh this was you guys did a lot better than they did so I'll give you credit for that. So good luck to you. So thank you. >> Thank you for joining us in our youthled forum for school committee candidates. We hope tonight provided you all with a better understanding of your choices this November. >> We hope that you'll get out and vote with your with youth voices in mind. To our fellow students who are already 18, make sure to register to vote and make our voices heard.
055Let's make sure our stu our students and schools continue to get better each and every day. Remember that early voting opens October 20th and polls open at 7:00 a.m. on November 4th and close at 8:00 p.m. Thank you again to all for joining us and have a great night. >> Thank you.