ATTRACT AND RETAIN TOP-QUALITY TEACHERS while changing the financial model that has become unaffordable. Teacher quality is the most important factor in student achievement, so we must find the right balance of pay, benefits, and working conditions to recruit and keep the best.

The alternative to this - teacher layoffs, higher class-sizes, greater stress and compromised educational outcomes for our students – can be avoided if we stay focused on the need to modify our compensation model to adjust with the times.

MATH IMPROVEMENTS AND STEM PARTICIPATION - Chronic concern about the efficacy of our math curriculum must be addressed through comprehensive, open-minded study.

The breadth of our STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program is impressive, yet Newton produces a much lower percentage of STEM-career students than MA as a whole, and much lower than federal goals. Newton should focus on increasing interest in and enthusiasm for STEM offerings, beyond simply making quality programs available.

PROVIDE SCHOOL SPACES THAT OPTIMIZE TEACHING AND LEARNING. We must recommit to maintaining and improving our deteriorating school buildings, to facilitate the education of our students within.

Our Long Range Facility Plan has generated valuable data about each school’s size, physical condition, mechanical system function, site constraints, and other items. We must now incorporate regularly updated enrollment projections, sound budget projections, as well as community views and empirical data on optimal school size, into our building repair/replacement analysis.

ENGAGE IN AN ONGOING REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF BEST PRACTICES in teaching and administration within our school system. Other cities have faced and solved many of the same problems that we face. Let’s be willing to learn from them.

SchoolStat in Somerville and the state Data Warehouse offer invaluable models and information for us to use.

HIRE AND PARTNER WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT who can qualitatively and quantitatively address our needs, while bringing Newton back to a top-10 school system.

Our superintendent needs goals that are clear, measurable, and well communicated. This person needs a high-level of education and management experience, and must have strong facility in the financial aspects of running our school system.