The following letter to the editor was submitted by Andover resident Miranda Chave. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Andover News. You can learn more about our policy on opinion and commentary on our Mission and Policies page.
I am writing to encourage Andover to vote Emily DiCesaro for School Committee on Tuesday, March 25. I support Emily’s re-election to the School Committee on the basis of all her thoughtful, collaborative, and creative work to date. However, if you know me and my family, you know we are passionate about the arts and about sustainability and the environment. Emily has been deeply committed to both, which we entirely appreciate.
In her first term, Emily helped our arts programs blossom in Andover. In her very first year on the School Committee, she supported a budget that provided our performing arts ensembles with simple necessities like uniforms/costumes, licensing of musical arrangements, and musical accompanists. These are things that one would assume are essential for a school to provide its student performing groups, yet previously, parent booster groups were primarily responsible for funding them. If we were unable to raise enough money from recycling bottles, selling mattresses, or washing cars, or from the generous donations of local restaurants, then families had to write large checks. Moving those expenses into the school budget is a relatively small drop in the overall budget, but it has freed up boosters to fundraise for things like student scholarships and larger, more expensive pieces of equipment. In these last three years, student participation in the arts has exploded! The marching band has more than doubled in size, the show choir program has expanded to the middle school level, and nearly every school now has a musical theater production. The arts are so important to our kids being well-rounded citizens, and they are a safe place for kids to explore and express their identity. My family is grateful for Emily’s deep commitment to ensuring our arts programs are well-supported.
Emily has also helped advance sustainability in our schools. She helped bring electric buses to our Andover school district, which are cleaner and quieter than regular diesel-fueled buses. This is an incredibly positive development, as diesel exhaust pollution is linked to health problems such as asthma in children, and the continued burning of fossil fuels directly contributes to climate change. Emily was a champion of the Andover Sustainability Resolution which was passed overwhelmingly at the 2023 Town Meeting, and she has supported solar energy projects at our school facilities. And, as a member of the PTBAC exploring a project at Andover High School, she has taken the time to learn about sustainable design elements so that any investment we make to our building will be functional and environmentally-friendly.
I encourage everyone in Andover to join me and my family in voting for Emily DiCesaro on March 25 for re-election to the School Committee and ensure that her work to support the arts and the environment continue!
Sincerely,
Miranda Chave
Andover
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