To the Editor:

Community and friends, please accept this letter to the editor as food for thought as you prepare to cast your ballots for new members to the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education (BOE). Having run for the BOE in Princeton years ago and now running campaigns for progressive candidates in different states around the country, I am interested to see the number of really good Princeton people wanting to serve our town, kids and families. However, with every election there are winners and candidates who didn’t get enough votes.

There are no losers when it comes to community service and wanting your school system to be the best and your students prepared to learn and to live. Anyone who takes the time to run a campaign, be a candidate, share a thoughtful educational message is to be applauded. Having said that, there are three available seats on the board and I want to encourage all voters to do as I did. Make every effort to meet the candidates, or contact them in some way to share your thoughts and to hear their vision for the district and if all else fails, go online to candidate websites and get a read on each of those seeking your support.

I am supporting Jess Deutsch and Beth Behrend for PPS Board and I’m asking those reading this letter to do the same. Jess Deutsch’s educational work, background, and expertise as well as Beth Behrend’s problem solving skills and legal insight will be major assets to what in my mind has been an effective Board. This endorsement means that I will work very hard to assist these candidates, but it also means after they are elected, I will remind Jess and Beth about their commitments and the hard work that still needs to be done. Princeton High School and to some degree all Princeton Public Schools are the best in the state. The challenge for these candidates and the district is to make sure that ALL students achieve and succeed to be successful contributors to society. I believe that Jess Deutsch and Beth Behrend are the best people to help us get there and therefore are my choice for the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

Blessings and Putting Kids First,

John Bailey

Highway 27