Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Everything depends on education, but that doesn't mean that everyone must have a master's degree to succeed. Educational opportunities must be available and varied to meet the needs of children as they prepare for life as well as the demands of adults when they wish to expand their horizons or change careers. In my time as your state representative I've made education a priority, visiting schools to speak to educators, teaching classes, and talking with local business owners to find out their educational needs to help their employees advance. We're having success: In the past 3 years educational funding in the district has increased by more than a million dollars, Quinsigamond Community College is continuing its expansion in Southbridge and classes are being added specifically to enhance the local workforce. In addition, I'm:

-Co-sponsoring legislation to provide financial literacy education to children to help ensure they are prepared with the tools they need so they can avoid the debt cycle so many face.
- Leading the charge to re-work the Chapter 70 School Funding formula which is inequitable to many local towns.
- Advocating for the expansion of the educational opportunities at the AO complex in Southbridge. Quinsigamond Community College is providing outstanding services, and our vision is to expand not just their offerings but bring others as well creating a first class educational complex.
- Working with the WRTA to expand bus routes that include stops at the AO complex so students can easily transfer between classes in Southbridge and the Quinsig hub in Worcester.
- Continuing to speak with business owners, chambers of commerce, and start-up investors to find out the skill sets and educational requirements they need to fill positions and expand locally.

Source