LETTER: School Committee Member Jay Samaha Endorses Stephen Turner For School Committee

Dear Editor,

As we near Town Election Day, I want to take a minute to voice my support for Stephen Turner’s candidacy for Wilmington School Committee. I believe that Mr. Turner is the right choice as the Wilmington Public Schools face some fast approaching milestones in moving the Elementary School Project forward, onboarding a new interim superintendent, and finding a new permanent superintendent.

I have had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Turner for the past three years on the Committee. In that time, Mr. Turner has quickly become an important and respected voice. He has tirelessly committed himself to several subcommittees and has worked closely with the other elected boards in town. As a member of the School Building Committee, Mr. Turner has helped champion the building of a new elementary school through each of the different phases of the MSBA process. I am grateful for his leadership and insight in helping to promote our schools as welcoming and inclusive for all.

One of the biggest responsibilities of School Committees in Massachusetts is to approve the overall operating budget. Mr. Turner takes this responsibility seriously and makes sure that our money is both meeting our students’ needs and is being spent with fiscal constraint. He is always prepared to ask difficult questions and is not afraid to disagree with other members. 

One of Mr. Turner’s strengths is his ability to really dig into an issue and relentlessly find answers and solutions to them. There have been countless occasions where he will bring in outside information that sheds light on a particular issue, thus helping the Committee to make sound decisions.

I hope you will join me in supporting Stephen Turner for re-election to the Wilmington School Committee. Mr. Turner has the sound judgement, open mindedness, and forward thinking attitude that the students, families, staff, and residents of Wilmington need and deserve. 

Jay Samaha

Wilmington School Committee Member