Newcomer Jocelyn Fritts and former board member Kelly Young are vying for a three-year term on the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) board representing Guilford in the Tuesday, March 4, election.
The seat has come available following longtime representative Shaun Murphy's retirement from the board. This is the only contested race for a seat at the WSESD table.
Running unopposed are Matthew J. Schibley, for a three-year term representing Brattleboro; Jessica L. Everlith, who was appointed in January, for her first full one-year term representing Dummerston; and incumbent Deborah Stanford, for a three-year term representing Dummerston.
There are no seats up for election to represent Putney.
Candidates represent their individual towns but appear on the ballots in all four district towns.
A candidates' forum will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The program will be broadcasted live on BCTV Comcast Channel 1079, BCTV's Facebook Page, BCTV's YouTube channel, and at brattleborotv.org.
Jocelyn Fritts
Fritts is a single parent of two daughters who attend district schools. One daughter is at Guilford Central and the other is at Brattleboro Union High School.
Fritts and her family moved to Guilford a year ago from Florida, "seeking a better education for my children." She works as a senior software engineer and has been in various IT roles for 25 years.
While Fritts has never held a seat on a school board before, she said, "I have always been an active, involved parent in school functions, events, and policies."
Why is she running now?
"I saw Shaun Murphy's post on Front Porch Forum about the seat vacancy and I decided to step forward," Fritts said. "I am amazed at how my children have grown in the short time we have been here and I want to be a part of enabling that growth for other children.
"I do know there are a lot of possible changes on the state and federal level that will need problem solvers to navigate our district through the changes to come, and I feel I am very capable of assisting with solving those problems. I am used to data analysis and determining solutions from that data."
Regarding current challenges our schools face, including improving academic outcomes (test scores, graduation rates) and fostering student belonging, Fritts said she would address them in several ways.
"By ensuring access to resources like tutoring, after-school programs, and individualized learning plans to meet diverse student needs, and collaborating with teachers and staff to identify and address systemic barriers to student achievement; promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure every student feels valued; expanding social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to build resilience and relationships; encouraging students to participate in decision-making processes that affect their education; and strengthening community partnerships with local organizations, families, and community leaders to provide wrap-around support for students and families."
"I believe that by prioritizing student-centered policies and collaboration, we can create an environment where every student thrives academically and feels a true sense of belonging," Fritts said.
Kelly Young
A year ago, as then-WSESD board chair, Young was challenged for a three-year term by Deborah McNeil and Brian Remer. Remer won the seat and currently represents Guilford on the board.
Young is a judicial assistant for the state of Vermont in Windham Superior/Probate/Criminal/Family courts. She earned a paralegal certificate from Post University and a bachelor's degree in political science from Norwich University.
She grew up in the Brattleboro area and she and her husband have lived in Guilford for more than 20 years, raising four children in the district, all BUHS graduates.
Young joined the Guilford School Board in 2018. As its clerk, she was a member of the transitional board and served on the merged WSESD board from until 2024, chairing for two years. She chaired the board during the initial exposure of sexual misconduct allegations by WSESD administrators and teachers dating from decades ago.
"As both a parent and a community member, I have first-hand knowledge of the schools in the district," the candidate said. "As part of a 10-member board, I have enjoyed working with other individuals who have made the needs of our students their priority. It is only through our collective efforts that we are able to achieve the goals established by the Continuous Improvement Plan.
"I firmly believe that communication among all stakeholders is essential to achieving the best outcomes for students, who must remain our primary focus. As a skilled listener, I foster a collaborative approach to decision-making, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued throughout the process."
Young said that "addressing student needs while considering the impact of rising property taxes is essential."
"The learning loss from the pandemic remains a challenge and it is equally important to ensure students are well-prepared for life after school. As an experienced board member, I possess the skills to balance the resources provided by the taxpayers for the education of our students," she said. "I have institutional history and knowledge both in terms of networking locally and statewide."
That knowledge, she said, includes awareness of critical state and local issues vis-a-vis Gov. Phil Scott's proposed education reform.
She has also been following development of the district's currently proposed $6.7 million budget for the coming year.
"I have been following the current budget to assess how it addresses student needs," Young said. "I will engage in discussions, ask relevant questions, and seek clarity on student outcomes and preparedness. I will always listen to community voices as we assess the potential impact of the governor's proposal for our schools. I appreciate your support as I am ready to serve my community again."
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.