May 10, 2006
Deb Goldberg Supports New Bedford’s Move to Grant Diplomas Without MCAS
Applauds Mayor Lang, State Rep. Cabral, and the New Bedford School Committee

Boston, MA — Deb Goldberg, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, today expressed her strong support for New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang and the School Committee’s decision to award general diplomas to students who have fulfilled the school system’s graduation requirements but have not passed the MCAS. Goldberg served as Chair of the Brookline Board of Selectmen when the law requiring that students pass the exam to graduate went into effect in 2003. 

“I applaud Mayor Lang and the New Bedford School Committee for standing up for what’s right. Unlike Mitt Romney, they know what’s happening on the local level and can see that the MCAS is not working,” Goldberg said. “We need to dramatically reform our state education policy, and we need to do it now. I firmly support the legislation filed yesterday by New Bedford State Representative Antonio Cabral, which would allow all cities and towns to issue general diplomas like the one offered in New Bedford.”

“I am appalled that Romney has responded by threatening to cut off state education funding to New Bedford,” said Goldberg. “Since 2002, his administration has slashed state aid to New Bedford, and now he wants to cut it off all together. Depriving these schools and kids of the resources they need to succeed is irresponsible and irrational.”

Deb Goldberg, a fifth generation resident of Massachusetts, has the skills and experience to help get the state moving again. Goldberg, whose family founded Stop & Shop, learned how to run a company with 50,000 employees who needed dependable jobs to support their families. Even with a small 1% profit margin, they still managed to give quality health insurance to all employees—full-timers and even part-timers. 

Goldberg was elected to the Brookline Board of Selectmen in 1998. Her first priority was revitalizing the town’s three commercial areas. She was a key player in working with developers, neighborhoods, and local government to attract appropriate development that did not negatively impact town services. As Chairman from 2002 until 2004, she was responsible for the town’s $190 million annual budget. Under her leadership in tough economic times, Brookline, with a population of 58,000, maintained a strong financial position and was the only community in the state to add fire fighters and police each year without costly overrides. Deb Goldberg, 51, lives in Brookline with her husband, Michael Winter, and their two teenaged children, Evan and Meredith.