Between the K-8 and regional school committees, Southborough has 4 school committee spots up for grabs in this year’s election. Two current school committee members announced recently that they plan to seek reelection to fill a couple of those spots.
K-8 School Committee member Kathleen Harragan and Regional School Committee member Paul Butka both pulled papers earlier this month and have said they will run again. It would be Harragan’s second term and Butka’s third.
Harragan said the insight gained during her first term on the K-8 school committee has given her the conviction to make hard decisions. “A sound school system is the best defense against dwindling property values. I intend to ensure that Southborough maintains a quality education system even under these severe fiscal constraints,” she wrote in an email.
Butka said he is seeking another term to the regional school committee in part to continue his work on the Academic Excellence and Operational Budget subcommittees. “I think some continuity in this very important school committee function is crucial,” Butka said of his work on the budget subcommittee. “An experienced hand who understands all of the various issues involved in managing a cost-center that is such a large part of each town’s budget can help.”
A third school committee member, Jack Kessler, who holds positions on both the K-8 and regional school committees, has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection to either committee.
Candidates have until March 18 to pull nomination papers. Town elections will be held on May 9.
