Kristy Kielbasinski

As a mother of 3 kids, I have been an integral part of the GPS community for eight years. Since 2015 I have been advocating for improvements to Grafton Public Schools and attending School Committee Meetings.

This fall, my children will be at GHS, GMS, and MSES. As I will have kids in the district for the next eight years, I know this is the time for me step up and give my time, knowledge, and experience back to the community.

I have made significant contributions to the Grafton Public Schools community by advocating for policy changes, ensuring the enforcement of existing policies, and promoting their relevance in advancing education and enhancing traffic safety.

Collaborating closely with key town figures such as the Superintendent of Schools, Chief of Police, and Town Administrator, I have spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being and safety of students in Grafton. Through partnerships with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's SafeRoutes initiative, I created and implemented arrival and dismissal procedures for both Grafton High School and Grafton Middle School.

Additionally, I have organized fundraisers and partnered with the SGPTO to allocate funds to support those in need within our community. In 2023, I served as a mentor to a GHS student, supporting her senior community service project which provided funding for disadvantaged youth in the district.

Currently, I am actively engaged in a project with the Grafton Public Library and the GPS Literacy Coordinator to develop a new summer reading passport program. Furthermore, I have remained an enthusiastic volunteer within our schools, participating in various activities such as serving as a room parent, assisting with field days, volunteering at school events and chaperoning field trips. My commitment to serving the Grafton Public Schools community extends across a diverse range of initiatives and activities.

Growing up in a blue-collar family, I was instilled with a strong work ethic by my parents. In 2001, I graduated from Grafton Memorial High School. Following that, I pursued my higher education at the University of Connecticut, where I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting within two years of receiving my high school diploma. Subsequently, I furthered my academic pursuits and earned a master's degree in business administration by 2005. Additionally, I completed a graduate certificate program in human resources and successfully passed the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), focusing on High School Business. My passion for education led me to a career in finance at Boston University until the birth of my first child.

My four fundamental goals are as follows:

1. Enhance Efficiency: Over the years, I have witnessed policies become outdated and antiquated. In January 2023, I brought to the attention of the Superintendent 248 policies that had not been reviewed or updated in many years. It is the job of the School Committee to keep policies up to date and to do so in a timely manner. As a member of the committee, I would like to bring a sense of efficiency in policy development and approval that does not currently exist under the current committee.

2. Foster Community Engagement: It is important to hear more from the members of our town. While there has been an attempt at a Facebook page to foster engagement in the past, it seems many newer parents in the community do not know about the page. Additionally, questions are sometimes left unapproved or unanswered. We need to hear more from our parents and teachers in the community. While there are 5 members on the committee, there are thousands who are affected by their decisions. It is imperative that we start hearing from them more and understanding their needs.

3. Facilitate Planning for Families: I would love to see calendars that make sense. I want the School Committee to insist on advanced development of calendar planning across all 6 schools in Grafton. I would like to see cross-referencing to allow parents to attend as many events as they can for all their children in the district.

4. Promote Accountability: The committee needs to keep records up to date and not only present themselves in a positive light. Over the years, I have received inaccurate documentation from the committee, observed policies becoming outdated, and noticed instances where policies were not upheld. It is imperative that the School Committee places value on thorough research and continually strives to improve both itself and the schools it oversees.