(April 11, 2007) THANK YOU NEEDHAM!

“Serving on the School Committee has been an honor and the culmination of hard work for the Needham community and school system. I look forward to continuing to serve Needham's residents as a member of the School Committee by coupling my financial, analytical and technology business skills with my intimate knowledge of the Needham school system developed as PTC president, school funding advocate and parent.”
—  Marianne Cooley

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Over 12 years experience with Needham Education System

  • Current Chair, Needham School Committee — serving as the School Committee voting member of the PPBC for the High School Project, a Town voting member of the PPBC for the Facilities Master Plan, School Committee Member of the Future School Needs Committee
  • President, Needham Education Foundation
  • Pollard Middle School PTC Co-President
  • Ran the successful “Support Our High School” campaign (that garnered $51.3 million of state and community $$ to rebuild NHS)
  • Recipient of two Superintendent’s Service Awards

Proven business/management skills

  • Owner and founder of NetHorizons Unlimited, providing senior managers with strategic plans and tactical support for creating, improving, and implementing Internet business plans with a focus on email marketing and search engine optimization.
  • Former marketing and operations manager at Motorola Information Systems Group with over 13 years of experience in the areas of product management, field marketing, and sales and service operations.
  • B.A. from Wellesley College and M.B.A. from Simmons Graduate School of Management.

Involved in the Community

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Board of Advisors and past President Beth Israel Deaconess Needham Hospital Aid
  • Needham Soccer Club Coach and Volunteer
  • Lay Eucharistic Minister and CCD Teacher, St. Joseph’s Church

Needham schools priorities

Budget: We must preserve core services/subjects to minimize impact on students while providing appropriate structure and support for all teachers in the system. The School Committee works with other town committees to ensure that the changing needs of the schools are understood. At the same time the School Committee must understand the needs of the town as a whole.

High Rock: Additional classroom space for students in grades K-8 is urgently needed. A renovated and expanded High Rock is the fastest and most cost-effective way for the Town to add this classroom space. The current timetable for the projects suggests that the renovated school will be available for students in Fall 2009. The School Committee will continue to pursue potential reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority for this project.

High School: Ensure the successful completion of the High School building project — on time and on budget.

Curriculum: A formal curriculum review process has begun during my tenure on the School Committee. This process includes feedback and insight from all Needham constituencies and provides for some external input and review. This is a good thing. Our review this year of the science and technology curriculum has revealed a number of significant gaps and room for improvement. Realigning this curriculum and supporting our teachers in delivering it will be a priority.

Communication: Communication was one of my four key priorities when I was elected to the School Committee three years ago. The School Committee has made tremendous progress towards this goal. All School Committee packets and documents are now easily accessible online. It is simple to communicate with the School Committee using the email address SchoolCommittee@needham.k12.ma.us. The Superintendent has his own email listserve to communicate matters of interest and importance to the community, and school principals are also starting their own lists. We added a free-form School Committee Open House to meet informally with the public this spring, and we expect to repeat that again in the fall. My next communications goal is to get the School Committee Policy book online so that it can also be easily accessible.

State reimbursement for buildings: The School Committee must continue to monitor the developments at the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

Marianne is a committed, strong, and passionate leader for the Needham Schools.

Jack Cogswell, Chairman, Board of Selectmen

Other Personal/professional background

  • Married, with two school-age children.
  • Named one of 1997's Top 25 Wired Women in Boston by Boston Webgrrls.

Can you help?

We still need some more sign holders for Tuesday, April 10. Contact Marianne at mcooley@nethorizons.com or 781-449-7458, and she'll let you know what the opportunities are!

PLEASE VOTE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 10!