I am a Greenfield resident and parent to a young child. I believe in public schools and hope to send my child to the Greenfield schools.

I have been very impressed by the work of the School Committee in the last few years. Members Elizabeth DeNeeve, Stacey Sexton and Kate Martini have attended numerous training sessions to increase their knowledge of how school committees can benefit students, families and teachers. They have worked with committee members from other districts to lobby for more funding for schools in western Massachusetts. They have set up meaningful systems for engagement with parents, including those with special needs and English language learner students.

While I have been impressed by these accomplishments, I have also been distraught watching the attack on GPS during this year’s budget process. The distrust, contempt and misunderstanding on display by the mayor, as well as several City Council members was deeply upsetting. The result of this disastrous budget season was a $1.8 million cut to the Greenfield schools’ requested budget, and the resignation of the superintendent, who was well loved by the GPS community. Watching this unfold deepened my belief that we need a well-informed and collaboratively minded School Committee who will work with the City Council to give the schools the support and funding that they need.

Elizabeth DeNeeve is up for re-election. Among her long lists of accomplishments in the last four years is securing a $50,000 earmark for GPS and being named Massachusetts Association of School Committees “School Committee Member of the Year.” We need her dedication, creativity and problem-solving skills in the years to come. I am excited and grateful that Adrienne Craig-Williams and Jeff Diteman have stepped up to run alongside Elizabeth. They are both dedicated educators who understand schools and have great ideas for improving school culture and performance.

I am excited for the future of GPS under this leadership. Please vote for Elizabeth DeNeeve, Adrienne Craig-Williams and Jeffrey Diteman in the preliminary election on Sept. 9, and in the municipal election on Nov. 4.

Molly Merrett

Greenfield