East Lyme school board candidates call for community input
East Lyme – Coming out of a budget year during which teachers and parents successfully lobbied to restore $1 million in staffing cuts proposed by the superintendent of schools, the Board of Education candidates are highlighting community input as a priority.
Eight candidates are vying for five open seats on the 10-member board. The Democrats are incumbents Jill Carini, Esteban Garcia and Cate Steel, along with newcomers Steve Luber and Vivek Purohit. The Republicans are incumbent Chairman Eric Bauman, incumbent Jaime Barr Shelburn and newcomer Olivia Fairchild.
The candidates laid out their qualifications and priorities in responses to written questions from The Day.
Democrat Garcia, 39, was appointed to the board last year with experience in finance, banking and higher education administration. He is a board member of the Southeastern Connecticut Organization for Racial Equality, Connecticut Students for a Dream and Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education.
He said the school board can improve upon involving the community in the budget-making process at an earlier stage.
“Right now, the most important thing is putting together a budget that makes sense for the long haul,” Garcia said. “Last year, we learned how crucial it is to listen to the community when deciding what our budget should prioritize. We should really focus on creating a supportive atmosphere for our educators by giving them the personnel and resources they need to help students in this post-COVID world.”
After more than 130 parents, teachers and students flocked to a BOE meeting in February to decry Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Newton’s move to put 18.5 staffing positions on the chopping block, the school board the next month voted unanimously to leave the positions intact. Ultimately, the Board of Finance reinforced Newton’s initial recommendation with a roughly $1 million cut to the education budget, but updated health insurance figures preserved most of the threatened positions.
Republican school board Chairman Eric Bauman, 56, is a finance professional at Pfizer with experience in business development, strategic planning and budget optimization. He said the group’s continuing effort to be efficient and transparent was bolstered this year by attaching specific outcomes to goals members set for themselves.
“During my tenure of eight years on the Board of Education, I have been consistently impressed by the Board of Education’s operational effectiveness,” he said. “We are not deterred by difficult decisions, instead, we seek input from a wide array of stakeholders, including, teachers, parents, students, community members, staff and neighboring districts. This inclusive approach informs our decisions, aligning them with the best interests of the district.”
Goals set by the school board included ensuring at least 20% of high school students will have participated in the Pathways Program that aligns students with internships and job training in response to a statewide focus on the need for skilled workers in southeastern Connecticut’s manufacturing industry.
Democrat Vivek Purohit, 51, said East Lyme’s schools are the best in the region “but maintaining status quo is not enough.”
He described the goals adopted by the school board for 2023-2024 as a great template to work toward, but added that the details to achieve those outcomes are crucial to success.
“Our student body is not monolithic. With diversity comes the need to be flexible and adaptable,” he said. “The oard can also do better by reaching out to the students and parents occasionally to seek feedback. Public and student comments at the Board of Education meeting alone are not enough.”
Republican Olivia Fairchild, 25, works in purchasing for a local company after earning bachelor’s degrees in business management and economics from Pennsylvania State University. She was elected to the Planning Commission as an alternate in 2021.
She identified fiscal responsibility as a priority, with long-term planning as vital so updates can be made on time without “breaking the bank.”
“It is important to me to create a budget that maximizes student success while remaining fair to taxpayers,” she said.
Democrat Steve Luber, 42, is the acting director of the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology at Connecticut College. He holds a doctorate in theater from the City University of New York.
“Like many, I closely followed the contentiousness of the budget process last year. I think all levels of funding and the proportion of funding from our town budget should be increased,” he said. “Education is the simplest and most gratifying rising tide that lifts all boats in a community.”
The education budget represents 67% of the town’s overall spending.
“I also think remaining vigilant for academic freedom is key for this year’s candidates,” Luber said. “So many people come to East Lyme for the wonderful school system, and we need to trust the professionals that make decisions for our children’s learning.”
Unaffiliated candidate Jaime Barr Shelburn, 47, is running under the Republican banner. She’s been on the school board since 2007 and serves as the State Relations Committee chairwoman for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. Employed at General Dynamics, she previously worked for the New London Probate Court.
She described the school board as “very effective when we work together.”
She said that means attending meetings regularly, keeping up with legislative issues, performing due diligence and “keeping politics out of the board room.”
Democrat Cate Steel, 68, has served one term on the school board, where she brings experience as a speech language pathologist, improvisation teacher, writing coach, professional speaker, storyteller and cable access television host.
“The most pressing issues in East Lyme schools right now are social-emotional concerns and lagging scores because of learning loss during COVID. Every student must feel valued, important, and included. We want our students to graduate with critical thinking skills and a willing heart to contribute to our town, state, country, and world,” she said.
Democrat Jill Carini, a 12-year member of the school board, spent the past 25 years in the financial industry after practicing social work for two decades.
She said members are “always looking for ways to improve on the current system.”
Board of Education Q&A
1) Why are you running for the Board of Education?
Eric Bauman, R: My commitment to education has always been a priority for my family. As East Lyme residents for nearly 25 years, my wife and I have observed the transformational impact of education from our three children, all of whom benefited from the East Lyme school system. Serving on the Board of Education is both a privilege and an opportunity to grow and enhance the highly respected East Lyme school system.
Jill Carini, D: I believe in the value of each child receiving the best education. I strongly support our public school systems.
Esteban Garcia, D: I strongly believe in the transformative potential of education. By taking on a role on the board, my aim is to offer a vision and the necessary resources to our educators, empowering them to provide the highest quality education to our children. I believe that my background in finance and experience in higher education administration can be valuable assets in realizing this objective. Additionally, as the East Lyme community continues to grow more diverse, my personal journey as an immigrant helps me provide a unique perspective and represent a segment of the population that has not historically had a voice in East Lyme.
Olivia Fairchild, R: I am running for the Board of Education to serve my community and help East Lyme schools uphold their tradition of excellence.
Education has always been one of my top priorities. Growing up I spent summers with my grandparents, a reading specialist and a second-grade teacher, and, from an early age, I knew that I wanted to inspire students.
I began attending East Lyme Board of Education meetings because I found their work interesting, and at these meetings, I have learned from students the importance of having an educational system that encourages them to pursue their passions. I was inspired by all of the great work that our students are doing around the world. One of my top priorities is for all students to be provided opportunities that will help them identify their interests.
Steve Luber, D: As a teacher myself, with two kids in the EL school system, I want to contribute positively to our community, especially at a moment when schools are under pressure—financially and culturally. I am an advocate for academic freedom, teacher and staff compensation, and supporting diversity within the community and through programming, curriculum, and services.
Vivek Purohit, D: East Lyme Schools are the best in the region and prepare our children well, to face the challenges of the world as they venture onto their chosen paths.
As the world evolves into an ever more complex and competitive society, maintaining status quo is not enough. Our schools have to evolve to meet the demands and needs of the students, parents and the community.
As a parent of a recently graduated Viking, I bring a fresh perspective for creating growth and development opportunities for our students through academics, arts and technical education. I strongly believe we can do more for our students with the current infrastructure at the middle and high schools without increasing the budget.
As a Board of Education member I would seek to prioritize:
– Creating opportunities for learning, advancing skills and acquiring new skills to ensure that our student body is ready to face evolving real world challenges and are primed for success.
– Ensuring our teachers are supported to provide help to students that need it and provide a challenging environment to students who are passionate or at an advanced level of learning.
Jaime Barr Shelburn, U: I am running for re-election to the Board of Education because I strongly believe in the value of quality education for all of our children. Education is one of the most important things we can give to our children. It is something that cannot be taken from them and will set them up to do amazing things in our world.
Cate Steel, D: As a third-generation educator, I understand the importance of education in life. My mother was a widow with nine children who taught speech and drama. Her career was successful and impactful. As her eighth child, I knew why she was respected as a teacher and how she shaped the lives of her students.
My entire career as an educator was spent as an interventionist helping struggling learners acquire the necessary skills to be successful. I have taught in Connecticut, Nebraska, Iowa, Utah, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Australia. Each community has its own mindset for how things should be done. My exposure to multiple means to the end shaped my perspective on how to achieve good results.
2) What do you consider to be the most pressing issue in East Lyme schools right now?
Eric Bauman, R: The East Lyme school system has consistently delivered high quality education to our students. However, continuous improvement remains paramount. One area of focus is the Pathways initiative that empowers students with diverse career options beyond the traditional college route. It is imperative that we offer varied options to cater to the needs and aspirations of each student, ensuring that East Lyme remains a high performing district.
Jill Carini, D: Maintaining the excellent education that our school system provides for the town. Also, always looking for ways to improve on the current system.
Esteban Garcia, D: Right now, the most important thing is putting together a budget that makes sense for the long haul. Last year, we learned how crucial it is to listen to the community when deciding what our budget should prioritize. We should really focus on creating a supportive atmosphere for our educators by giving them the personnel and resources they need to help students in this post-COVID world. Additionally, making investments in initiatives such as the pathways program, and reconsidering previous initiatives such as teaching world languages at the elementary level are critical to maintain the excellence of our schools.
Olivia Fairchild, R: The two most pressing issues for me are continuing educational success and fiscal responsibility.
At the June and July 2023 Board of Education Meetings, it was shared that fifth-grade math scores were lower than they had been in previous years. One of the Board of Education’s goals for the 2023-2024 school year is to improve the “percentage of fifth graders meeting or exceeding” by 10%.
At Board of Education meetings in September, I have heard that there are some facility upgrades that need to be considered. I anticipate these will be incorporated into the budget. It is crucial to plan ahead for these future expenses when evaluating the budget. The balance between long term budgeting/planning versus immediate need is delicate, but extremely important.
Steve Luber, D: Like many, I closely followed the contentiousness of the budget process last year. I think all levels of funding and the proportion of funding from our town budget should be increased. Education is the simplest and most gratifying rising tide that lifts all boats in a community. I also think remaining vigilant for academic freedom is key for this year’s candidates. So many people come to EL for the wonderful school system, and we need to trust the professionals that make decisions for our children’s learning.
Jaime Barr Shelburn, U: We have a few pressing issues currently facing East Lyme schools. One of those is how do we sustain the consistent success of our public schools and retain our top notch staff. The other is how do we prepare our students so that when they leave East Lyme schools they will thrive in our ever changing world.
Vivek Purohit, D: As highlighted in my priorities, our schools have to evolve and adapt to the changing and evolving needs of our student body. There is some level of rigidity built into the system right now that does not allow students the flexibility of pursuing the areas of their interest. As examples:
Students interested in arts and humanities have to wait until their junior and senior years to take some of the more advanced courses.
Starting in High School the system offers many options for students interested in STEM but some of these options should be available even in the middle school. Currently that option is only available for mathematics.
Flexibility when appropriate will ensure an engaged student body where students do not have to double-up (students taking more classes than ideal) to meet their needs.
Cate Steel, D: The most pressing issues in East Lyme schools right now are social-emotional concerns and lagging scores because of learning loss during COVID. Every student must feel valued, important, and included. We want our students to graduate with critical thinking skills and a willing heart to contribute to our town, state, country, and world.
3) How effective do you think the Board of Education is and how could it improve?
Eric Bauman, R: During my tenure of eight years on the Board of Education, I have been consistently impressed by the Board of Education’s operational effectiveness. We are not deterred by difficult decisions, instead, we seek input from a wide array of stakeholders, including, teachers, parents, students, community members, staff and neighboring districts. This inclusive approach informs our decisions, aligning them with the best interests of the district.
One notable area of improvement is our focus on goal-setting and accountability. This year, we introduced outcome metrics aligned with each of our goals. This strategic move enhances our accountability for both decisions and operational effectiveness. It is our commitment to ensure that the Board of Education operates efficiently and transparently for the betterment of our students and the East Lyme community.
Jill Carini, D: In my opinion our board is made up of strong and collaborative members. You ask how it could be improved, we are always looking for new ideas and ways to make improvements we can.
Esteban Garcia, D: Since I joined the board in 2022, we've made some positive changes. We've given more attention and a sense of urgency to our goal-setting process, which has brought greater clarity to the direction we want the school district to head in. One thing we can do better is to involve the community in the budget process at an earlier stage. We're fortunate to have a community that cares deeply about our schools' success, so we should create more chances for them to share their thoughts and ideas earlier in the budget-making process.
Olivia Fairchild, R: I view the Board of Education as effective in carrying out its responsibilities as identified by Connecticut General Statute. East Lyme is known for its exceptional schools; and the Board of Education plays a critical role in preserving this reputation. A few of my goals include promoting community involvement and continuing excellence in public education while being fiscally responsible.
I am always happy to see students following their dreams. The Pathways Program is a fabulous initiative and it coincides with my personal goal of providing students opportunities to pursue their interests. I would love to see this program expand; it’s a great chance for students to learn and build connections within our community.
Community involvement is a priority because when East Lyme residents share their comments it helps board members identify the topics that are important to the public. Identification and representation of all stakeholders is a key factor in the decision making process. I am currently the East Lyme Planning Commission alternate, and I love when members of the public share their concerns during the Public Delegations portion of our meetings.
Another priority is fiscal responsibility. I am a fan of long term budgeting, so that updates can be made on time without “breaking the bank.” It is important to me to create a budget that maximizes student success while remaining fair to tax payers.
Steve Luber, D: I think the BoE cares greatly for everyone affected by the legislation and decisions they create, and I see the results daily in my kids and those of my neighbors and friends. I think the board could more widely advocate for the positive impacts the school system has on the entire community. It helps taxpayers, businesses, and the spirit of the town, not just folks who have kids in the schools.
Jaime Barr Shelburn, U: I think that the Board of Education is very effective when we work together. To be effective we need to attend meetings regularly, keep up with legislative issues that are changing education, perform our due diligence before making decisions, and by keeping politics out of the board room.
Vivek Purohit, D: The Board of Education has done an admirable job in ensuring our schools are the best in the region. My son has benefited from the East Lyme Schools and is pursuing his passions in college. However, past successes are just that. The goals adopted by the BOE for 2023-2024 are a great template to work towards. However the details necessary to achieve the desired outcomes will matter. As I highlighted in my responses to the other questions, our student body is not monolithic. With diversity comes the need to be flexible and adaptable. The board can also do better by reaching out to the students and parents occasionally to seek feedback. Public and student comments at the Board of Education meeting alone are not enough.
Cate Steel, D: Administration and faculty seek bypass strategies to maximize student potential and learning outcomes. The Board of Education uses data to drive its decisions and help inform practices. Each of our administrators is an educational leader and inspires the faculty to use research-based methods to accomplish the greatest good for all learners. We must continue to show good academic and social-emotional results that will benefit our students and our community.
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