Xuan is a good communicator, an experienced unifier

The current Acton Public School Committee chair Xuan Kong told me that he would run for a second term. As a friend of him and a parent of two school-age kids, I support his campaign for reelection.

Xuan and his family have lived in Acton for about 10 years ever since he came to Boston to join a local medical device startup as its VP of Research. Before that, Xuan was a teacher and researcher at Northern Illinois University. He has participated in many public services including Gates PTO, Acton Chinese Language School and, since 3 years ago, Acton Public School Committee. He did very well in all these roles.

Xuan always tries to make responsible decisions. Facing the difficult situation of budget shortfalls, he insisted that the Acton public schools not cut funding for classroom assistants. He talked to me about his thoughts many times: it was hard to make everybody happy, but the one thing he would never do was to sacrifice the educational quality the students received at school. It was for the students’ benefit to maintain classroom assistant hours, and it was a more cost-effective way to help the kids in the time of financial uncertainty.

Xuan is a good communicator. As an Acton School Committee member, he initiated the practice of sending out updates to elementary school parents via their school PTO newsletters every month to let everyone know what the committee is doing, what the key issues are, and how people could be involved. During the time when educational aid from the state government was uncertain, he explained to the public how the school budget plan processed in the Committee, and asked for comments to help make wise decisions.

Xuan is an experienced unifier. He kept the Gates PTO members updated on the School Committee issues when he attended the Gates PTO meetings. He encouraged other Committee members to keep close contacts with the school PTOs that he/she chose. He collaborates with the community leaders in making key decisions, including the AB District superintendent searching last year.

I have known Xuan for seven years. He is a man of experience, responsibility, enthusiasm, and decency. I support his candidacy for School Committee and strongly urge you to vote for him.

Leo Yuan
Acton