John Falco, School Committee Candidate

My name is John Falco and as a candidate for the Medford School Committee, I respectfully ask for your vote and support. I offer you my 20 years of accounting and finance expertise, a strong educational background (BS, University of Massachusetts; Graduate Certificate from Northeastern University), experience advocating for the children of Medford, and a demonstrated commitment to the community.

I am a proud graduate of Medford High School (Class of 1988) and an even prouder father of three boys, each benefiting from their education in the Medford Public School system: John, 7 (Roberts Elementary, 2nd grade); Joey, 4 (Medford Early Education Program); and Jack, 2 (Make Way for Kids Preschool). My involvement in my children’s education convinces me that Medford has a good school system and one I want to support as a school committee member. At the same time, I know our children require the school committee’s diligence to sustain and enhance our school system. I consider my professional and personal experiences as ideal qualifications that will focus my service on the school committee, our children and their families.

My vision and goals are practical. I am fully cognizant that the next several years will pose unavoidable financial challenges for our city and its school system. We have already suffered a reduction in local aid and inequitable distribution of Chapter 70 funds. I share the same concerns that other parents have about the future of our schools. I, too, am concerned about larger class sizes, reductions in our teaching and professional staff, maintenance of our facilities, and safety in our schools. As a parent with children in the Medford Public School system, I have my fingers on the pulse of what happens in our schools on a daily basis, and as a finance professional, I know how to balance a budget and understand fiduciary responsibility in response to these issues. I firmly believe that parents with children enrolled in our schools should have a major role in the decision making process that influences our school system, as they can understand how every decision impacts our children, teachers, and city.

My involvement in our city’s public schools began before my candidacy. After the birth of our first son in 2002, my wife Jacqui (Palladino) and I became active with the Medford Family Network (MFN). Our family greatly benefited from the MFN and we wanted to show our appreciation by giving back to this amazing organization. Five years ago I joined the Medford Family Network’s Parent Advisory Board and currently serve in my third year as its chairperson. In addition, I am chairperson of the Medford Family Network Legislation Action Committee and serve as a committee member for the Roberts Elementary School PTO, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, and Medford Family Resource Coalition.

During my tenure at the Medford Family Network I advocated and lobbied at the State House for additional funding for our programs. I now seek your support for my candidacy so that I can further my years of experience lobbying the Legislature on behalf of Medford’s families and children. Once elected I will continue to protect core educational services, push for better distribution of Chapter 70 funding, increase grant writing efforts to offset budgetary constraints, seek public and private partnerships, and promote parent involvement through volunteerism. Most important, I understand that once elected, I am your voice and partner in our children’s education. I look forward to working with you and welcome you to contact me for more information or comments at (781) 395-1290 or falcoformedford@verizon.net.

Sincerely,

John C. Falco, Jr.
www.JohnFalco.org