The following letter to the editor was submitted by Andover resident Claire Chiesa. 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 was surprised to see pictures circulating on social media of two candidates for Andover’s School Committee posing with members of the Andover Educators Association. In the photos, Shauna Murray and Lauren Rossi Diffenbach are pictured surrounded by members of the AEA, holding campaign signs bearing their names, which were paid for by the AEA. This financial support creates a problematic conflict of interest for these candidates.
I am the daughter of two NYC public school teachers and a strong supporter of unions. As the mother of 3 students in Andover Public Schools, I know how critical teachers are to my children’s success and want to see them fully supported and compensated fairly. But I also know that teacher salaries are not the only financial consideration in delivering a high quality education. As an Andover taxpayer, I appreciate the many difficult decisions our school committee will need to make in the coming years to continue delivering a balanced budget while still ensuring our children receive the highest quality education possible.
Andover students and taxpayers deserve to be represented in budget decisions and contract negotiations by school committee members who are not beholden to a special interest group. Receiving financial support from the AEA during their campaigns creates a conflict of interest for these two candidates, and calls into question their ability to objectively and thoughtfully represent the needs of the entire Andover community, should they be elected.
I will be casting my votes on March 25th for Jayashree Mohandas and Susan McCready for School Committee. Both have long track records of supporting Andover students, and the needs of students should always be our first priority.
Claire Chiesa
Appletree Lane
Andover
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