To the Editor:

Jean Durbin will make a great addition to the School Board. It would be the logical extension of her years of service to young people in the Princeton Community.

For more than a decade, Jean has been a mainstay of youth baseball in Princeton, working largely under the radar, organizing activities, coordinating volunteers, raising funds, and generally helping do what has to be done. The Little League has flourished over these years, and with broad community support and organization, every child has had a chance to participate and feel welcomed.    

Over these same years Jean quietly served our schools as well. For two years she was a member of the board of the Princeton Education Foundation; and after stepping down from the board, twice went back to co-chair PEF’s annual fundraising gala. For many years she was instrumental in supporting and growing the Chess Club at Littlebrook School. She was a prime mover and fundraiser for the Club’s activities, including the introduction of privately-funded chess instruction at the school. She also served a term as co-president of the Littlebrook PTO.

I have known Jean personally over these years and have been privileged to practice law with her. She is a talented lawyer and problem solver with sound judgment and a rich legal background. She also brings to her work an MSW and the skills and insights of a social worker.  Her analytical tools and sensibilities make her eminently qualified to serve on the Board of Education.       

As a member of the Board, Jean will work with her colleagues to husband scarce resources at a time when, for many of us, affording to live in Princeton is ever more challenging.  She knows well that in order to maintain the economic diversity of our schools and our community, taxes must be affordable. Jean will work to help find savings and new sources of revenue and get ahead of problems through long-term planning.

As a former member of the Board myself, I appreciate especially that Jean understands another aspect of Board service, equally important and challenging: to create a school environment in which all students feel welcome and respected and have the support they need to succeed. Jean Durbin has worked on the ground with our young people and the wondrously diverse families and individuals that make up our town. As demonstrated by her record of service to our children and our schools, she will strive to bring people together to ensure that all children are fairly treated and no child is left out.        

Walter Bliss
Moore Street