Four candidates running unopposed for North Stonington school board
North Stonington — Four candidates are running unopposed for seats on the Board of Education.
Current Vice Chairwoman Christine Wagner and Pamela Potemri were nominated by the Republican Town Committee, and incumbent Dave McCord and Jen Welborn were nominated by the Democratic Town Committee.
Welborn, 53, said she has been involved with the schools though her four children, and she also runs a monthly science program for students in kindergarten through second grade at the elementary school. With her youngest child now in middle school, she said she felt compelled to be more involved and has been attending school board meetings for the last few months.
She recognized that what school board members want to accomplish and what they can actually do are different, so she wanted to use her position on the board to encourage community members to get involved in the schools. That way, they could see both the challenges and rewards of public education.
Potemri, 49, sits on the school building committee and sees the Board of Education as her next step. She said she didn't have any specific goals but rather wanted to put her experience as an education consultant and disability specialist to use for the district.
In addition to her knowledge of special education mandates, she feels her understanding of how school funding and finance works will help the district properly allocate funds to meet the demands of education. She said the district's leadership is headed in a good direction, and she wants to continue supporting the community.
Wagner, 48, has served on the Board of Education for four years and previously served on the Economic Development Commission. She said the board is in a good position to continue its work and wants to take the board further in the future.
She said her priority will be to be responsible with taxpayer money in regard to the budget. She said she was also looking forward to seeing the school building project coming to fruition once the state budget uncertainty stabilizes.
Current board chairman Bob Carlson, who is running for the Board of Selectmen, said he was leaving the school board in good hands with the experience of Wagner and other members.
McCord could not be reached for comment.
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