Sudbury 2021 Election Profile: Lisa Kouchakdjian For Select Board

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury spring 2021 election is about two weeks away, and Patch has asked candidates running in the Select Board and School Committee races to answer candidate questionnaires so voters can get to know them better.

In 2021, School Committee member Lisa Kouchakdjian is running for a seat on the Select Board. She is seeking one of two seats up for election this year, while Select Board members Janie Dretler and Dan Carty are running to keep their seats.

Here's how Kouchakdjian answered our candidate questionnaire:

Lisa Kouchakdjian

Age (as of Election Day): 51
Position Sought: Sudbury Select Board
Family: I have lived in Sudbury since 1998. My husband Ara and I have four children.
Education: BA from Mount Holyoke College in 1992, Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1996
Occupation: I practiced Civil Litigation from 1996 to 2004. From 1996 to 2000 I practiced Plaintiff's Litigation and from 2000 to 2004 I practiced Insurance Defense. I am presently a full-time public servant for our community and stay at home mom. I have been a Member of the Sudbury School Committee since 2015. I was Chair of the School Committee from May of 2018 to September of 2020. I have been a Member of the Sudbury Commission on Disability since 2018. I became the Chair of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Special Education Parent Advisory Council in August of 2020.
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Schoool Committee
Campaign website: GoLisa.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

I possess a passion for public service that has grown over the years. I believe public service is just that, serving your community selflessly and giving unto yourself unconditionally to your community. As my experience will indicate, I have the qualifications necessary to sit on the Select Board to make difficult decisions. Difficult decisions are made correctly with appropriate systems put in place to make sure things are well vetted so that our tax dollars are managed in a fiscally responsible manner.

My public service career in Sudbury began in 2012 when I became active in the Sudbury Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Sudbury SEPAC). Thereafter, I joined the Community Resources Awareness Network (CRANE). I love volunteering and giving back to our community. I was honored to be elected to the Sudbury School Committee in 2015. I served as Chair of the Sudbury School Committee from May of 2018 to September of 2020. I helped to bring substantive change to create a strong and functional Committee with focused intent and streamlined processes and Agenda practice. As Chair of the School Committee I gained extensive experience in the area of policy development and the establishment and implementation of process and procedure. These experiences now uniquely position me to help the Select Board become a stronger, more functional Board that fosters respect in our community in advocating for the best interests of every resident of Sudbury. I also possess a unique ability to work amicably with all different types of people, with different perspectives and opinions. Having sat on a variety of Committees in my capacity as a School Committee member, I have a broad understanding of town-wide issues. If elected to the Select Board, my work on the Commission on Disability will be of significant benefit to the community since the Town is currently in the self-assessment and transition process of its ADA Assessment.

In my work as a volunteer in all of these capacities, and others, I have realized that the development of strong planning and process is necessary to provide consistency and continuity to preserve and enhance our community. Moving forward, our Town will need to make a lot of substantive decisions requiring significant prioritization and planning. I possess the skillset necessary to do this work for our community.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the Select Board is the development of stronger planning and process with regard to capital issues. Arbitrary requests seem to move to the top of the list and long-standing needs are postponed (expensively). Upon my election, I would immediately propose the development of a capital planning schedule where the Select Board is considering capital very early in the year and soliciting participation from the CIAC and Finance Committee very early in the process. Our residents' hard earned tax dollars must be carefully managed.

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

I possess more public service experience than the other candidates. I have sat on the Sudbury School Committee for six years. I was Chair for almost two and one half years during which time we navigated through hiring a new Superintendent and transitioning him, the EEE crisis and the COVID re-opening process. At the same we navigated through these crises, we developed strong processes that built a functional School Committee with a transparent budgeting process. As Chair, I also developed a culture on the School Committee that fosters respect amongst members even though there may be disagreement. I prioritized providing the School Committee with professional development which helped us to understand our roles and responsibilities. This work enabled us to streamline our Agenda management and increase our work product. I possess experience that is transferable to the work I believe the Select Board must do now.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I do not like the word "failed". I am not running for Select Board because I believe anyone has failed. I believe we can do things better. And I believe I have the experience necessary to help us do better. I possess a growth mindset and recognize that we all make mistakes, including myself. When I make a mistake, I admit my mistake and learn from it. For this reason, I have developed trust within our community because people know I will be honest and forthright with them. I believe strong leadership is premised upon the establishment of trust.

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

I have been extremely impressed with our local officials in their response to the COVID pandemic. I am extremely proud of all of our officials, especially our Board of Health and nursing staff who have committed themselves to promoting and protecting the health and safety of all Sudbury residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

• Build Fiscal Responsibility through Transparent Planning and Processes
• Improve Governance Practices
• Adopt a new and updated Select Board Policy Manual
• Adopt a Select Board Handbook
• Improve Goal Setting
• Establish a COVID Recovery Task Force
• Procure Professional Development, on equity, the role and responsibilities of the Select Board and Open Meeting Law
• Build an Inclusive/Culturally Proficient Community through equity work
• Expedite the Construction of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
• Support the Eversource Litigation. I am not an abutter to the rail trail so I would be able to advocate to protect the interests of our community.

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

I understand the work that needs to be done on the Select Board. Since I do not have a job outside of my role as a mom, I would be able work every day to move the work of the Select Board forward. Joining the Select Board would become my full-time job. I also have experience on the below Committees:
Sudbury School Committee Subcommittee Assignments:
Policy Subcommittee
Strategic Planning Subcommittee,
Liaison Assignments: Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, All five schools
Member Master Plan Steering Committee
Past Member Budget Strategies Task Force
Advisory Member Transportation Committee
Past Member Fairbank Community Task Force II
Past Member Strategic Financial Planning Committee for Capital Funding
As Chair of the School Committee I de-escalated hostility during meetings and promoted respectful dialogue at the School Committee table. I will support that same type of appropriate practice our community deserves on the Select Board.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Ignore the noise and focus on what you offer the community.

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

Additional accomplishments on the School Committee included the following:

• Developed a new logo for Sudbury Public Schools
• Promoted equity work for the District
• Supported the development of the District Strategic Plan, which links goals and objectives to the District Budget
• Broadened the District calendar to recognize different holidays to increase cultural awareness in the community
• Advocated for a new math curriculum that has been consistently and equitably implemented across all grade levels.
• Advocated for an Acceleration Policy for Sudbury Public Schools to meet the needs of advanced learning students. Now middle school students who qualify can take high school level math at Curtis Middle School.
• Advocated for the development of appropriate in-district programs to meet the needs of students. While meeting the needs of students, these in-district programs drove down costs by preventing out-of-district placements.
• Managed the largest portion of the Town of Sudbury budget with a focus on advancing quality of education while prioritizing budget sustainability and fiscally appropriate budget practices. Supported the Administration’s efforts to maintain a three-year level budget process which allows for appropriate planning and budget maintenance. Supported the Administration’s development of a Sudbury Public Schools Budget Book and consistent Budget practice that promotes transparency and prevents surprise expenses.