The BEF’s November Board meeting is typically a retreat for the Board to get to know one another and set goals and expectations for the year. This year’s retreat featured special guest speakers: John Hodgman, longtime Brookline resident and one of the BEF’s founders, and Deborah Brooks, the BEF’s first Board president and first Executive Director. Advisory Board member Shalini Kasida moderated an informative discussion with Deborah and John, giving us a new perspective on the founding and mission of the BEF as well as outlining many fascinating parallels between the education and political climate back in the early 1980’s and those of today.