Barbara Higgins, Concord School Board Candidate

Barbara Higgins

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

School Board

Party Affiliation

n/a

Family

I have two children Gracie aged 20 and Jack aged 6 months. Their Dad Kenny completes the family.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

C.A.G.S. PSU Educational Leadership through Arts Integration Ed.M. Physical Education B.S. Elementary Education and Special Education

Occupation

Teacher 32 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

School Board

Campaign website

I don't have one

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have a lifelong commitment to the education and welfare of children.

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

I am not one to focus on a "single most pressing issue". Running a school district requires dedication and commitment in a variety of areas. Obviously, student safety and quality education should be the outcome of any initiative undertaken by the district. So sound facilities, current curriculum, qualified safe staff, hard-working administrators, community involvement, and sound fiscal practices all come to mind as pressing issues.

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

The main difference is experience. I have three terms under my belt. The other three excellent candidates are either first-time candidates or just a year into their experience. We are all committed citizens who have good reasons for wanting to be a part of the board.

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

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

As one who was very involved in the response to the coronavirus and its effect on the district I would say we did the best we could with the information at hand, Every major decision we made was met with relatively equal amounts of support and disagreement. While it was extremely difficult the low incidence of Covid in our schools speaks to a successful intervention. I will say that the stress on teachers/parents and all involved in the education of our students was significant.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Most important to me is that people choose me as a board member because they feel I will represent them on the board. I am not better than any other candidate. We are all dedicated community members. People should choose the candidates they feel will share their concerns most effectively.

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

I would cite being elected three times to serve on the board and providing honest hard working service.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

'State your beliefs clearly. People are going to agree and disagree. If half of the taxpayers aren't mad at you at one point or another then you're not doing your job. (Betty Hoadley). I have a hard time with people being mad at me. One cannot serve on a board without having people mad at you. While thoughtful about it, I am clear on where I stand.

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

I bring experience to the board that is unmatched in this election. I have been a student in the district. A teacher in the district. A parent in the district. A board member in the district. I can see our issues from a variety of sides. I feel this helps me make balanced decisions.