Robert (Bob) Cotton, Concord School Board Candidate

Robert (Bob) Cotton

Age (as of Election Day)

71

Position Sought

Concord School Board (At Large)

Party Affiliation

Independent

Family

Wife, Robyn, and 3 daughters, all educated in Concord Public Schools

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS, United States Military Academy at West Point; JD, Cornell University Law School

Occupation

Attorney, Financial Risk Professional, Corporate & Financial Restructuring Advisor and Retired Army Officer with over 40 years of experience.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/Cotton4SchoolBoard/

Why are you seeking elective office?

My family and I have resided in Concord for over 38 years and each of my 3 daughters has benefited from the educations she received in Concord Public Schools. I am a product of and a strong proponent for public education and want to see it thrive. I am also firmly committed to community service and civic responsibility and believe that we should all offer our skills and talents to the betterment of our Community. I will offer fresh perspectives and ideas that will enhance the educational experience of Concord's students while balancing the interests of taxpayers, all to the benefit of the wider Concord community.

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

The Concord School District needs to become increasingly nimble to address the ever-changing needs and challenges it faces in providing the best possible education to Concord’s children in a cost effective and efficient manner. The needs and concerns of working families, single parent households, racial and ethnic minorities, New American families, LGBTQIA+ students and parents, special needs students and others all impact on the learning environment and the staffing, infrastructure and fiscal requirements the District must address. Additional needs and challenges in areas such as climate change readiness, remote learning challenges, health and pandemic readiness and IT advances also impact budget, staff and building needs. Strategic planning to address these concerns needs to be a priority of the School Board and the Board must act in a collaborative and supportive manner to ensure that all voices are heard and that it forms a team representative of the wider Concord community in support of our children. I plan to work with other Board members to drive this process so that the District is prepared for challenges rather than reacting to them.

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

I have lived in and been actively involved in the Concord community for over three decades and have seen first hand the strengths and the weaknesses in the Concord School system as my daugthers and my friends' children have progressed through the schools. I believe that the breadth of my knowledge in risk and crisis management together with my legal expertise and experience in both the public and private sectors give me unique qualifications that can benefit the Concord School system and the teachers, staff, students and families struggling with the challenges presented by the pandemic and by the many changes in learning it has engendered. I will bring a practical, hands-on approach to deal with current issues and anticipate future ones while also ensuring that the wider community has the opportunity to weigh-in on matters affecting its interests.

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

There are 4 candidates for 3 At-Large Board seats. The Board and District are taking steps to correct mistakes made in the past relating to reporting of abuse and lack of transparency. It is not fruitful to dwell on past mistakes and problems other than to learn from them. Rather, it is beneficial to bring new talents, new perspectives and new energy to the Board to anticipate future challenges and to be prepared to address them. That is what I offer.

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

Concord Public Schools have generally responded in a timely, effective manner and have appropriately allowed science and expert advice guide the response. The challenge now is to ensure that marginalized and special needs students do not fall behind or suffer other adverse consequences and in ensuring that the School District's infrastructure and IT resources are adequate to address future challenges, be they with COVID or potential other disruptions.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Trust, transparency and communications needs primacy within the Board and the District. Trust was lost in recent years with the revelation and handling of sexual abuse allegations. This needs to be restored with clear and explicit requirements, rules, training and monitoring. Better, more frequent and more productive communication also needs to exist between the School Board and Staff and the City Council and City Staff. Finally, more frequent, transparent and innovative ways need to be explored to make the wider community and Concord taxpayers collaborative resources and team members; informed of Board and District discussions and decisions and supportive and invested in them.

Major financial decisions will soon be confronting the Board and I believe that my financial experience will be valuable in reaching the best outcomes. The decisions relating to the Rundlett Middle School replacement will have significant impacts on the infrastructure and building costs for the District and for Concord taxpayers. It is imperative that the needs of the student of the future be considered and addressed and that “business as usual” not be the default solution. Additionally, future desires or mandates relating to early childhood education such as full-day kindergarten and universal pre-K will have large implications for staffing and building needs and must be considered as the Board and the Community strategically plan for the future.

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

I have a proven track record of over 40 years of experience in successfully resolving complex corporate and financial crisis involving multi-million dollar enterprises. I have successfully worked in both the public and private sectors and in dealing with competing constituencies and complex regulatory frameworks. I have demonstrated a strong commitment to public service having served on the Boards of DIrectors and in leadership roles for several Not-For-Profits in the Concord area and at the Statewide level and through over 20 years of service as an Army officer. I have shown an ability to work in a collegial and team environment while still maintaining high standards and delivering excellent results.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets....If you get a chance, take it."--Dr. Seuss

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

I would greatly appreciate your support and vote on November 2nd!