Brantree Election 2021: Lisa Fiske Heger For School Committee

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree town election is less than two weeks away, and soon voters will hit the polls and elect new members to the Town Council and school committee.

Town Council contested races are in districts 1, 2 and 3., while the school committee will see seven candidates compete for three open seats.

Prior to the election, Patch is running candidate profiles to help inform residents on where candidates stand on the issues. Here's a bit more about Lisa Fiske Heger, a former school committee member looking to return to the board, in the Nov. 2 town election.

Lisa Fiske Heger

Lisa Fiske Heger

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

School Committee

Family

I have lived in Braintree for 30 years. Both of my children graduated from Braintree High School. Even though my kids are grown, I continue to be involved for the betterment of all Braintree students.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University

Occupation

I have had a 36 year career in the private sector working in global financial services and project management. I have managed projects through every stage of development consistently delivered solutions on time and on budget and collaborated with team members and clients, with diverse backgrounds across the globe.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

• Town Meeting Member (2005 - 2007)
• Braintree School Committee 2012 - 2019 including chairwoman from 2016 - 2019
• School Building Committee Member - town committee established in accordance with requirements set forth by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). Members appointed by the Mayor (2016 - 2019)

Campaign website

Facebook Page - Lisa Fiske Heger for Braintree School Committee
lisafiskeheger-bsc.squarespace.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have been absent from the Braintree School Committee for the past 2 years and have observed the challenges and struggles confronted by the school system and the School Committee. I am concerned about the reputation of both. I believe in quality public education for our current and future students. Braintree Public Schools offers an outstanding education to its students. Residents, even those without school-age children, must have confidence that the school system provides opportunities for children of all abilities. There must be a strong commitment to attract and retain highly qualified and talented teachers and administrators. We need to foster enthusiasm for future financing of rehab and new construction of our aging facilities. People often move to Braintree because of the school’s reputation. In addition to the quality of the education provided, the system’s reputation is directly related to property values. Everyone has a stake this. I would like to bring my experience, knowledge and professionalism back to the School Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Braintree needs to develop a vision for the town and within that vision a plan to address our deteriorating school buildings. We need to decide what needs to be done in the next year to put us on the right path to achieve our long-term goals to support 21st century skills. We need to track progress and make adjustments as needed to keep us on the right trajectory. The School Committee needs to work with town leadership to create a plan with measurable goals and milestones to both ensure that we achieve our vision and to create greater accountability to residents. There is much work to be done.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The fact that I have been serving the town and the Braintree Public Schools for 20 years differentiates me from the other candidates. I began volunteering as a PTO Mom and through the support of many, I was elected to the Braintree School Committee in 2012 and sever 2 terms (8 years) through 2019, including 4 years as chairwoman (2016 - 2019). I left when I ran for mayor in 2019.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

The pandemic has taken a toll on students, families, teachers and schools. We need to maintain full-time in person learning with protective measures. Teachers and students need to feel safe when they are in school. Focusing on school climate and social and emotional health should be paramount. Strengthening communication and trust are key moving forward. Sharing timely information and expectations between schools, teachers, parents and students is critical. We need to access the current communication methods and make improvements.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The School Committee's main duties are establishing policies and goals to guide the district, approving and monitoring the budget and hiring and evaluating the Superintendent. The current school budget is $72 million which accounts for 49% of the town’s total operating budget. I was disappointed in the budget cuts and loss of teaching positions last year. I certainly hope we can do better. During my tenure on the Braintree School Committee, I have worked with 3 different Superintendent and actively participated in the search and interview process. A permanent decision needs to be made to fill that position as our Assistant Superintendent is currently serving as our Interim Superintendent.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The Braintree Fund for Education 501c3 was established in 2008. The BFFE has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and funded BPS technology enhancements and teacher grants. I have served on the board as clerk.

During my tenure on the Braintree School Committee, in response to overcrowding at the elementary schools, we opened the Monatiquot School Kindergarten Center (2014) and expanded full-day kindergarten. Additionally, we secured $71 million from the state to expand and renovate East Middle School ($40M in 2017) and build a new South Middle School ($31M in 2019) for grades 5 - 8. Two new subcommittees were established by the School Committee - 'Finance and Operations' and 'Policy and Education'. I served and chaired both subcommittees. I was part of the negotiating team with the Braintree Education Association for the last two 3-year contracts. The current BEA contract ends in 2022. I also served as liaison to the Special Needs Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC).

Last year, I led the 'Vote Yes for Braintree Schools' successful campaign in support of the debt exclusion to fund the town's portion of the new South Middle School and additional capital needs including six new roofs and a detailed study and plan for BHS.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

This is one of my favorite quotes about service from Benjamin Franklin "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I understand the enormous time commitment required to achieve these objectives and have the experience serving and leading as a member of the Braintree School Committee. As I have said since my children were in elementary school and I began volunteering, it is all about the kids. I respectfully request one of your 3 votes on Tuesday, November 2nd.