Read why we're supporting Larry Freeman for School Committee

I write to offer my enthusiastic endorsement for Larry Freeman for School Committee. I have two children currently in Lexington Public Schools (LHS and Bowman). I have had the honor of knowing Larry for nearly a decade, and he is a man of great character, intelligence, integrity, and ideas. Larry works hard to make sure he hears as many differing viewpoints as he can, so that he can come up with the best ideas possible to ensure our schools offer all our students an outstanding education. He knows how to then take those ideas and turn them into concrete steps to support our students and families.

The Town would be particularly lucky to have Larry on School Committee in the coming years given the financial challenges we will be facing. Larry has a proven track record of responsible financial management. He ensures that every dollar is used effectively to benefit students while maintaining balanced budgets. He understands that investing in education requires both strategic financial planning and a commitment to maximizing resources to achieve the best possible outcomes. Larry will work to ensure that all decisions will be made in the most cost-effective manner possible in order to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Larry has my wholehearted support for School Committee!

Matthew Cohen

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I am writing to endorse Larry Freeman for the School Committee. I had the pleasure of meeting him at a gathering of Indian American students where we had the rare opportunity to share our honest experiences about our education, including how the curriculum represents diverse cultures and histories.

When I spoke about my experiences as a Hindu and Indian student, Mr. Freeman was not only curious - he was profoundly empathetic and shared that he had similar experiences growing up as an African American. I shared how aspects of the curriculum often felt not just unrepresentative but, at times, even made me question whether my heritage was valued. As someone fortunate to have loving parents at home, I have the support to navigate these challenges, but I know that not every student does. That’s why it meant so much to have an adult truly listen and believe our perspectives.

My conversation with Mr. Freeman made me realize how important it is for students to have a voice - and, just as importantly, for leaders to be willing to hear and act on what we say. Mr. Freeman understands that schools should be places where all students feel valued and affirmed, and he has shown a real commitment to making that a reality.

I also had the pleasure of seeing him at the School Committee meeting where they voted for a more inclusive calendar, which included Diwali, a Hindu holiday - something I spoke and wrote about. An inclusive calendar is not the end, but a start to being seen in a world where we often don’t belong. I later learned that Mr. Freeman was on the calendar committee and advocated for adding these holidays, which received some backlash.

For students like me, representation in education matters. Feeling seen and heard matters, and having leaders like Mr. Freeman, who are ready to engage with students and advocate for meaningful change, even at the cost of their own popularity, makes all the difference. That is why I am proud to support Mr. Freeman for the School Committee.

Diya Nigam

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I wholeheartedly endorse Larry Freeman for re-election to the School Committee because he embodies what true public service means for Lexington. Having known Larry as a friend for many years, I’m profoundly grateful he’s running for a second term during these particularly challenging times for our schools.

While I could highlight his exceptional accomplishments - his unwavering advocacy for special education, promotion of inclusive holidays, and thoughtful curriculum development - what truly sets Larry apart isn’t found in meeting minutes or policy documents.

It’s found in how he treats my son, Aloke.

Aloke is 24, has profound autism, is minimally verbal, and lives in a nearby group home. Each year, Larry hosts a prominent community gathering attended by many Lexington leaders. What distinguishes these events is that when Larry invites “us,” he genuinely means everyone - including Aloke and his aides.

Over the years, I’ve watched as more families like ours have been embraced at these gatherings - not as charitable inclusions, but as essential members of our community. In a world where spaces that truly welcome my son remain heartbreakingly rare, Larry creates belonging without fanfare or self-congratulation. This speaks volumes about who he is at his core.

Why does this matter for our schools? Because while educational issues constantly evolve, character remains constant. Character matters. Conscience matters. Decency matters. With Larry Freeman, Lexington doesn’t have to choose between integrity and competence - he delivers both, unfailingly.

That’s why I’m not just supporting Larry Freeman for another term. I’m standing firmly beside him, because I’ve seen firsthand how he stands beside all of us.

Subhash Roy

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I am writing to express my strong support for Larry Freeman for the School Committee, from both the perspective as a parent with children at Lexington High School and Bowman Elementary School, and also from my professional experience working with schools across the U.S. to evaluate policies to improve academic outcomes and child health and well-being.

I have spent a substantial amount of time speaking with Larry, and I have continued to be impressed by his incredible work ethic, attention to detail, open-mindedness, and dedication to Lexington Public Schools (LPS). I have directly observed Larry’s commitment to open communication to create an environment where diverse voices and perspectives are heard. Additionally, I have seen how these open dialogues to hear community concerns have translated into meaningful action.

I have also been impressed by both his effective communication and leadership skills, which have enabled him to be both a good listener and make effective, carefully thought-out decisions for LPS.

Most importantly, he is clearly dedicated to the families and students in our community, including both their educational outcomes and well being. I enthusiastically endorse Larry Freeman for School Committee.

Juliana Cohen

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Larry Freeman is one of those rare people able to take difficult feedback and respond with compassion rather than ego. I’ve witnessed him center kids of all backgrounds and their needs, not making it about himself, even in uncomfortable situations. His maturity and truthfulness are the foundation of his leadership, and he has the rest of the building, too.

We need his analytical skills and financial literacy to help manage a huge budget. His understanding of child development and our school system will guide us to spend our money where it will have the most impact. As the school system makes several changes in the coming year, his experience will be invaluable.

I’ve been observing Larry in his role since I moved to my husband’s hometown of Lexington a few years ago because I care about good education - not only for my five-year-old, but also for all the other residents with whom she’ll be sharing the world. He has had the courage to challenge questionable decisions and the communication skills to do it in an effective, respectful manner. Personally, I have observed and experienced his approachability and propensity to form deep relationships with a stunning diversity of people. I’d encourage everyone to reach out to him anytime you have concerns or questions. Please give him one of your votes for School Committee this March 3.

Ravneet Grewal

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I support Larry Freeman for re-election to the School Committee.

We need a leader who will advocate for strong schools without overburdening taxpayers - someone who can navigate tough financial decisions while keeping students at the center of every discussion. And we need a leader who listens with empathy so that the policies that guide our public schools are rooted in what truly matters to students and their families.

Larry Freeman is that leader, and I encourage my fellow community members to vote for him for School Committee.

Larry has a proven track record of making thoughtful, informed decisions that prioritize students while maintaining responsible budgeting practices. He understands that investing in education requires both careful financial planning and a commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for all students.

With the budget challenges our schools are currently facing - and those forecasted for the future - we need a leader who understands how to balance fiscal responsibility with the needs of our students. That’s why I support Larry Freeman for the School Committee.

As we make our plans to vote, let’s remember that our polling places may have changed since last year, and that we also have the option to vote early by mail. All the info we need to cast our ballots can be found at http://VoteInMA.com.

Jeri Zeder

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CAAL PAC was founded with the mission to encourage civic engagement and political participation from the Lexington Chinese community. Towards that goal, it has been running a Candidate Forum during the town election season for many years - along with CAAL’s Civic Engagement Committee. CAAL PAC also has a tradition to endorse candidates.

This year, the forum was held on February 9, 2025 via an online webinar and more than 70 people (not counting panelists) attended. Candidates from all three major town boards attended and answered questions from our community and the PAC.

After the forum, the PAC held a discussion session to deliberate who to endorse and voted to endorse the following candidates:

Select Board: Vineeta Kumar, Joe Pato

School Committee (three-year term): Larry Freeman, Eileen Jay

School Committee (two-year term): Sarah Carter

Planning Board: Tom Shiple

We are lucky to have volunteers in these candidates who are willing to serve the town. We appreciate their efforts and wish all the candidates the best of luck!

CAAL PAC

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I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for Larry Freeman for School Committee. Larry embodies all the traits we want in a public servant: he is heavily involved in the community in many ways, extremely knowledgeable about the schools, consistently constructive and collaborative in his approach, a caring and attentive listener, experienced, honest, hard-working, fiscally responsible - and simply a wonderful human being.

In addition to being a current School Committee member, Larry is also a member of Town Meeting and serves (or has served) on a wide variety of school and town-wide committees. While focused on the needs of our students, Larry also understands the larger context of our community’s varied interests. He carefully considers all aspects of issues that come before the School Committee. Even though we as residents vary in our opinions about almost everything, he understands that at the core we all care about academic excellence, the well-being of all our students, and a common-sense approach to a new high school. His professional experience as a project manager in the areas of finance and technology serves us well - as does his lived experience as a tax-payer and the parent of two children in our schools. Larry is not afraid to ask and grapple with difficult questions.

Larry understands that the schools and our town face complex issues in the years to come. We need his strategic thinking, inquisitiveness, integrity, and compassion on the School Committee.

Valerie Overton

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