Many of our elementary schools suffered for years from under-sized libraries, lack of adequate tutorial space, lack of auditoriums, and other serious deficiencies to the point where students at some schools were being counseled or tutored in janitorial closets and music instruction took place in damp basements. I worked with my colleagues to support the implementation of the Tier One Elementary School Renovations that have corrected many of these problems.

I advocated for a plan to replace the poorly-designed Newton North High School building with an entirely new, modern structure, rather than renovation of parts of the high school and construction of addition, arguing that renovations would be more disruptive and less cost-effective in the long-run than replacing the old building entirely. After extensive debate, my viewpoint prevailed, although the issue as recently been re-visited.