Court Booth

Court Booth – Candidate for School Committee

Website: CourtBooth.com

Email: court [at] courtbooth.com

Telephone: (978) 758-9599

I am running for a second term on the Concord School Committee because I am committed to the very important objectives we’re now working on. My priorities include:

• Protecting student and staff health
• Planning for restoration of more in-school programming
• Developing new agreements with employee bargaining groups
• Transitioning responsible budgets toward post-COVID operations
• Building a superior new middle school, within budget
• Overcoming challenges related to diversity and equity
• Realizing the potential of our excellent school leaders 

My background includes teaching and serving as a department head in the Concord-Carlisle district for many years. I was a two-term President of the Concord Chamber of Commerce. I currently teach at Northeastern University and Hale Reservation, and I manage a small department for Wachusett Mountain Ski Area. I was incorporator of the Thoreau Farm Trust and I am a member of the Board. I volunteer with the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. I enjoy community service and have been active with many groups in the town and region.

I will bring my experience as an educator, K-12 through university level, to my work. My experience with local non-profit groups, the business community and the government sector will inform my decisions. As a parent of two CCHS graduates, I am sensitive to the complex challenges of 21st century learning and the demands on parents and families. A longtime community health educator, I also offer that perspective as we continue to navigate COVID. As a recent retiree, I recognize the financial sacrifices necessary for superior school and town services, and the resulting difficulties that older citizens may encounter.

As the current chairperson of the School Committee I strive to make our thinking and decision-making visible to the community we serve. I want to encourage diverse ideas, and I recognize that conflict in the political arena can be healthy if managed ethically and openly; better decisions typically emerge. 

What in your opinion are the biggest challenges/issues facing the committee that you hope to serve?

The major challenges facing the schools can be found within the priorities outlined above: fiscal stability and responsible budgeting, increased in-school services when prudent; a middle school that supports the team teaching model, within Town Meeting cost expectations; schools that welcome differences and close persistent achievement gaps; and a dynamic relationship with the Superintendent, in order to inspire and support our staff and teachers. I’ll do my very best to focus on these challenges while attending to the main responsibility-the well being of our children.

                                                       *****School Committee Candidates' Virtual Coffees*****

 –Please  Email court [at] courtbooth.com (Court Booth) for Zoom link--

• Time: Mar 1, 2021 07:00 PM
• Time: Mar 9, 2021 10:00 AM
• Time: Mar 18, 2021 01:00 PM
• Time: Mar 22, 2021 09:00 AM