It was a pleasure, as always, to attend the League of Women Voters/Nashua Public Library forum for Board of Education candidates this month. Four candidates stand out among the nine who attended as the most qualified to serve on Nashua’s BOE: Neil Claffey, Heather Raymond, Regan Burke-Lamphier, and Christina Darling. Each of them brings unique and complementary strengths to the district. Combined, they offer over a century of experience in education, advocacy, and work on behalf of children and families. Ms Raymond also brings her experience as an effective chair of the Nashua BOE in one of the most tumultuous, difficult, and demanding times in most people’s memory.

These four candidates cherish their public education and want to pass a strong system to their children. They understand that collaboration and communication are at the heart of effective leadership. They respect both the opportunities and limitations of the office they seek. The most imminent challenge they will face is NH’s rising COVID infection rate. These candidates know that issues like mask requirements are contentious, but they will honor their mandate to protect students’ health and safety, using the advice of public health professionals as their guide. They will do what is within their purview as a Board to keep our schools safe and open.

The candidates talked about long-range issues, as well: serious budget limitations created by state-level decisions; the search for a new superintendent; continuing to create programs and curricula that our students will need to navigate and help shape the world they are growing into. They understand that these challenges require a willingness to learn, mutual respect, clear communication, and consensus-building, and they are well-prepared.

My favorite question of the evening was, “What personal rules of conduct will guide you as a board member?” My candidates understand that respect for their office and for the public go hand in hand. They will be available to have meaningful conversations with constituents outside the boardroom, and also fully support the maintenance of good order at public meetings. Ms Darling put their shared code in a nutshell: “I will do everything I can to set a positive example.”

I served on a school board for six years in Minnesota, so I know what the job requires. Even in “normal” times, it’s incredibly demanding work; in this era of disruption of public meetings, and even intimidation of elected officials, it takes an extra helping of courage and commitment, as well. Claffey, Raymond, Lamphier, and Darling have demonstrated consistently, in word and deed, that they are up to the challenge. I encourage anyone who didn’t attend the candidate forum to check it out at Candidate Forum: Board of Education – Zoom on YouTube, then vote on Nov. 2nd.