Incumbent School Committee member Sue Sheffler, who served the committee since 2003 and has declined to run for reelection, has provided a statement after YourArlington asked her to explain her decision. She took out papers to seek reelection but did not return them by the Feb. 16 deadline. That narrowed the race to three candidates who are seeking two seats.

Seeking those those seats are incumbent Jeffrey Thielman, a committee member since 2003; Joseph Tully, who has lost two previous runs for the committee, and Cindy Starks, seeking a School Committee seat for the first time.

Asked to comment earlier, Sheffler wrote in an e-mail Feb. 18 that she was away and would respond after her return.

Her statement released Feb. 24 reads in full:

"After 6 years of serving as an elected official on the Arlington School Committee, I have decided not to run for re-election. It has been a privilege to work on behalf of the 4,650  students who come to our schools each year, and I am thankful to the electorate for allowing me to do so.
 
"With 3 children benefiting from our school community, I have been volunteering over 20 years in many student-related  capacities, and this will not change. 

"The future belongs to our youth,and investment (resources of time and energy and money) in each and every one of them is vital to all of us.
 
"Six years ago I spoke about the "social contract"; it is the lifeblood of our democratic society. The idea is to give to the community what we can, while we can, and find that the community is there for us when we most need it. Examples for adults would be offering all students the best education available; helping our neighbors and religious communities and friends; and  supporting the elderly and infirm. In turn, we are supported through our own childhoods, times of need, and old age.
 
"In a school system, no real positive change is possible for someone acting alone. The achievements made by the Arlington Public School teachers, students and administrators during my 2 terms are many and impressive, and I am grateful to have played my part on that team.
 
"With increasingly tight economic resources, the schools have made massive and measurable strides in making sure students can read well in the early grades, because letting a student lag until later grades is harmful to the student and their family, as well as costly to the town. Currently, the focus is on achieving the same gains in math.
 
"Students with special needs are now much more likely to be able to stay in town for their education, instead of having to endure long rides to non-Arlington environments (at great expense).
 
"High school students retained access to a wide variety of courses and activities through fiscal hard times; now have a safety officer in place to help when the stresses of our culture threaten to overwhelm anyone's good sense; and have truly dedicated teachers and other adults who will go way beyond the 'required' to help a kid in need of support in any way. This is amazing in 2009, and can be attributed in no small measure to the leadership of Principal Skidmore.

"Some of our graduates gone on to top flight academic schools, and others schools that are an excellent fit for their particular talents. Many now are confident and committed enough to join service programs for a year or 2 before attending college.
 
"We have improved at raising 'citizens of the world,' and will continue to do so.  It will not be easy over the next several years, and I am very glad that here are a couple truly dedicated and talented candidates running for election to School Committee in April."