Brockton has always been a city of champions — but our schools don’t feel like it right now. Years of lowered standards, financial mismanagement, and discipline policies that tie teachers’ hands have left families frustrated and kids shortchanged. If we want a stronger Brockton tomorrow, we need to fix our schools today.

That’s why my campaign rests on four pillars: Raising Academic Standards, Safe & Disciplined Schools, Fiscal Accountability & Honest Communication, and Real-World Pathways for Students. Here’s what that means in practice.

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1. Raise Academic Standards

Too many kids are being pushed along without mastering the basics. That has to stop.

• Start Early, Start Strong: Expand early childhood education to begin at age 3. Research shows phonics and structured early learning at this age set children up for lifelong success. If the state can fund free community college, Brockton should push for funding to give our youngest learners a head start.
• Knowledge-Rich Curriculum: Prioritize Core Knowledge for English Language Arts, History, and Geography. Mandate civics instruction so every student understands their rights and responsibilities as citizens.
• Proven Instructional Programs: Give schools the option to use evidence-based curricula such as Singapore Math, Saxon Math, Literacy Essentials, or the 1776 Curriculum from Hillsdale College. No more untested fads.
• End Social Promotion: Students must demonstrate reading and math proficiency before moving on. Instead of pushing them through, we’ll offer summer “knowledge camps” and real interventions.
• Stronger Graduation Requirements: Stop watering down MassCore. A Brockton diploma should mean a student is truly ready for college, a trade, or the workforce.
• Teacher Excellence: Prioritize hiring and training educators with deep content knowledge. Teachers should be subject-matter experts, not forced into chasing the latest educational trend.

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2. Safe & Disciplined Schools

Classrooms can’t function without order. Teachers can’t teach if they’re referees. Parents won’t send their kids to schools they don’t feel are safe.

• Expand School Police to 30 FTEs: Brockton is one of the few districts with its own school police force. That’s a strength we need to build on. I support expanding the force to 30 positions — including a lieutenant, a sergeant (funded through the city side), and a grant writer dedicated to securing state and federal safety grants. Every school deserves full coverage, and families deserve the peace of mind that safety is never an afterthought.
• Alternative Plan for Chronic Disruptors: Thanks to Chapter 222, suspensions and expulsions have been gutted, leaving teachers powerless. My plan creates a dedicated Alternative Learning Center for chronic disruptors. Instruction continues under strict supervision, with counseling and clear accountability benchmarks. To return to class, students must earn it — not be dropped back in the next day. This protects classrooms, respects teachers, and still gives struggling kids a chance to turn around.
• Clear, Enforceable Discipline Code: Brockton must restore a districtwide code of conduct that is simple, public, and enforced consistently. No more blurred lines or case-by-case politics — students, staff, and parents all need to know the rules and the consequences.
• Protect Teachers’ Authority: Teachers should not fear retaliation for writing referrals or removing a student who disrupts learning. We will back teachers with policies that prioritize safety and learning time over bureaucracy.

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3. Fiscal Accountability & Honest Communication

Brockton families are paying more in taxes while schools run up deficits. That’s not mismanagement — that’s betrayal.

• Zero-Based Budgeting: Every department starts at zero each year and must justify its spending. No more hiding 80% of the budget in “catch-all” accounts like the infamous 199 account.
• Department-Level Internal Controls: Each department will be responsible for its own budget oversight, with internal controls designed and enforced by the School Committee. No more excuses.
• Cut Consultants, Pay Front Line Staff: Outside consultants are eating millions. I’d cut those contracts and redirect funds to paraprofessionals and classroom support staff — the unsung heroes of our schools.
• Monthly Public Budget Dashboard: If the city can track potholes online, taxpayers should be able to track the school budget. I’ll push for a public-facing dashboard comparing budgeted vs. actual spending each month.

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4. Real-World Pathways for Students

Not every student will go to college — but every student needs a pathway to success.

• Brockton Classical Academy: Establish a dedicated Classical Academy within Brockton High using the state’s Innovation School law. Modeled on Core Knowledge and Hillsdale’s 1776 Curriculum, this academy would focus on literature, history, Latin, civics, and logic — preparing students with timeless skills for modern life.
• Expand CTE & Apprenticeships: Partner with Southeastern Regional, MassHire, unions, and local employers to create more pathways into trades, health care, and IT.
• Dual Enrollment & Early College: Strengthen agreements with Massasoit and other institutions so Brockton students can earn credits and certifications before graduation.
• Financial Literacy & Life Skills: Make it a graduation requirement to understand budgeting, taxes, and the U.S. Constitution. Real-world knowledge matters.

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The Bottom Line

The current system has given us deficits, unsafe schools, watered-down diplomas, and kids who graduate unprepared for life. My plan restores order, raises the bar, and prepares Brockton kids for the real world.

Strong Schools, Strong City. That’s the Champion City Project.