Ahmed Ali Mohamed

Please share your skills, qualifications, and experiences that will make you a great member of the School Committee. Do you have a candidate website or social media page where voters can learn more about you?

As a parent of two children who are currently in elementary school and of a Sharon High School graduate, I have been closely connected with Sharon schools, and am invested in their success for the long-term. I believe that my professional background in the semiconductor industry will support my work on the School Committee in many ways, beyond simply ensuring that our students have a strong background in math and science. As an electrical engineer, I rely on analytical thinking, problem solving and data-based decision-making in order to make the best use of limited resources. I believe that all of these skills will be very useful in fostering academic excellence, responsible and transparent budgeting, and a sense of welcome and unity in Sharon Public Schools. 

I invite you to learn more about me and about my campaign at my website, http://www.ahmedalimohamed.com,  or on my Facebook page, https://bit.ly/AhmedMohamedSharonSC. 

The Sharon School Committee has to deal with a budget deficit of $1-1.5 million dollars every year. How will you handle these difficult choices?

The first goal must be to understand the root causes of the deficit. Is it due to overspending, unexpected expenses, lower revenue or a combination of factors? I would analyze financial records, budgets, and expenses to get a clear picture. In my opinion, staff salaries and essential programs must be prioritized to ensure the smooth functioning of the school despite financial constraints.

The next steps involve assessing existing contracts and agreements to see if there are opportunities to renegotiate terms or find cost-saving measures, while also exploring creative ways to increase revenue streams. This could involve seeking additional funding through grants, donations, fundraising events, or partnerships with local businesses or organizations. Looking forward, it is essential to create a detailed, long-term plan not only to eliminate the deficit over time, but to create a financial reserve that will give us flexibility in responding to future contingencies. 

Finally, I would communicate openly and transparently with staff, parents, students, and the broader community about the financial challenges facing the school. Sharon School Committee should seek input and support from stakeholders in finding solutions and rallying support for necessary changes.

Deleveling is a popular trend nationwide to eliminate advanced and honors classes. The Sharon superintendent has proposed to eliminate advanced math at the middle school and advanced science classes in early high school. What is your position on deleveling?

I think our top priority should be finding the balance between providing equitable opportunities for all students, and ensuring that individual learning needs are effectively met. We should not rush to implement deleveling for all students simply because it is currently a popular trend in educational philosophy, especially when a majority of Sharon parents have consistently expressed their concerns about it. Deleveling could be the right option in some towns, but every town is different and has different needs. 

I strongly support programs that help students who are academically struggling to catch up, but I also advocate keeping the advanced courses. We should continue to provide access to the level of challenges students need to reach their full potential. Advanced coursework and enrichment opportunities can also help students stay engaged and motivated.

Our priority should be to ensure that all of our students are prepared for the rigors of college, and that their academic programs are aligned with whatever their future career goals may be.

Many Sharon parents feel they are forced to hire private tutors or enroll in outside classes because either their child is not being challenged enough or is falling behind. What can you do as a School Committee member to help all children achieve their full academic potential?

After speaking with many parents, I agree that more and more parents are relying on private tutoring to help their kids achieve higher education levels than they could reach via the school system alone. These parents are already paying high taxes, and doing their best to help their children by choosing to live in a town which is renowned for its excellent public schools. We should try our best to not put additional financial burdens on anyone. 

I think the School Committee could use MCAS data to identify areas in which struggling students need more support, and could survey parents to identify areas in which they feel their children currently need outside enrichment and extra challenge. We could take advantage of before-school and after-school timeslots with flexibility to accommodate students’ and teachers’ availability, in offering programs to meet the students’ needs within the school system.

Finally, I would also reach out to other high-performing schools in Massachusetts, seeking to share best practices about what is working well in our districts, and look for opportunities to collaborate.