Candidate Seeks School Committee Position

Editor's note: . Westborough Patch reached out to the candidates who are seeking public office and will feature profiles on them in the days and weeks leading up to the election. Nicole Sullivan, featured here, is running unopposed for .

Name: Nicole Duca Sullivan

Age:  39

Address: 29 Wayside Rd.

Family: Todd Sullivan, husband of 16 years; Cameron and Luke, 9-year-old twin boys in third grade at ; Regan, 5-year-old daughter will be attending kindergarten at Fales next year; and Shane, 2-and-a-half-year-old son who will be in preschool in the fall. 

Employment: Self-employed attorney in Westborough

Education: Bachelor of Science in communications with a minor in business from Boston University; Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America

Why are you running for this position?

I am a mother of four children, three of whom will be in the Westborough schools as of next fall. My husband and I returned to Westborough in 2006 and the primary reasons for that decision were the community and the schools. We believed it was the perfect place to raise our children. I recognize the current economic climate has made it particularly challenging for our school officials. I believe my outlook as a parent, tax payer, attorney and business owner in Westborough could be supportive of their efforts and creative in support. I also believe that as a member of a community, we should all strive in some way to give back to it. For me, running for school committee is the best way for me personally to accomplish this.   

Have you ever previously served as an elected official?

This is the first time I have run for public office, but as a parent I have often served the community through volunteer efforts.    

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the School Committee?  How do you plan to affect change?

I would like to strive for Westborough to use 21st century tools and technology to educate our students, like the Smart boards recently installed in some of our classrooms. These tools will provide our students with a superior education and, in the long run, save money for the town and its taxpayers. These tools will also empower our most innovative teachers to maximize their abilities. 

The technological changes happening in the world today are taking place at a never before seen pace. Without a focus in this area, we run a very real risk of our students falling behind other districts. Our curriculum should reflect the technological advances that are occurring globally while maintaining the high curriculum standards Westborough has become known for statewide.

I also believe the school district should have an emphasis on forging relationships with businesses in Westborough. With the number and variety of businesses in town, I would like to see the current internship program expanded so our children would have real world experience before they go to college. I believe that a vibrant business community and innovative educational programs in our schools can be mutually beneficial and I would like to explore different ways of partnering together.

I recognize that due to state and federal budget cuts the district, like many districts across the state and nation, is experiencing a significant shortfall in funding. I would like to explore alternative options aside from the traditional staff/program cuts and tax increases for closing this gap.

It is important to maintain the strength of Westborough's small town community identity — close relationships, intergenerational partnerships, building collaborations between all town sectors as we all strive to make Westborough all that it can be for all of its residents and the best it can be for its future residents, our students. We should maintain Westborough's current strengths and expand to meet the global marketplace. This community, with its increasingly diverse population, is poised for continued excellence. I want to be a part of making that happen; it would be my privilege.