Shrewsbury 2022 Candidate Profile: Erin Boucher, School Committee

SHREWSBURY, MA — Shrewsbury will get at least one new school committee member after the May 3 town election.

Sitting member B. Dale Magee is not running for reelection this year, although incumbent Lynsey Heffernan is. That leaves at least one open spot on the committee for a new member to pick up. Three non-incumbents — Erin Boucher, Jennifer Luke and Sanam Zaer — have signed up to run this year.

In advance of the election, Shrewsbury Patch asked each candidate to answer our questionnaire to help voters get to know them better. Here's how Boucher responded:

Name: Erin Boucher
Age: 51
Occupation: Attorney
Experience as an elected official: Town Meeting member since 2014

Why are you running for a seat on the Shrewsbury School Committee?

I am running for a seat on the Shrewsbury School Committee because I believe that all children deserve a high-quality education which puts them on a path to a successful future. The past two years have shown us what a vital role schools play in our society. The academic needs, as well as the social and emotional needs, of the students at the Shrewsbury Public Schools must be thoughtfully examined in order to provide needed support for all students as we emerge from the challenges caused by the pandemic. I am committed to listening to all viewpoints and to working collaboratively with all stakeholders in order to continue to provide the children of Shrewsbury with a high-quality education in a cost-effective manner.

I believe that my leadership skills, professional background, and my volunteer roles in both the Shrewsbury Public Schools and town government will allow me to make an immediate positive contribution to the School Committee. As an attorney, my business acumen, analytical skills, and expertise in negotiation and dispute resolution will be an asset to the role of School Committee Member.

What is the biggest issue facing Shrewsbury Public Schools and what would you do about it?

The most pressing issue facing the Shrewsbury Public Schools is student mental health. Thanks to the community’s support of the override in 2021, the Shrewsbury Public School’s budget recommendation for next year is allowing for significant investment in addressing students’ mental health issues. The budget seeks to add two additional adjustment counselors at the high school, an adjustment counselor at the middle school level, two additional clinical coordinator positions across the district, and a social worker to coordinate with outside social services agencies. Additionally, the proposed budget establishes the position of a Director of Clinical Counseling & Mental Health Services to coordinate the district’s team of adjustment counselors, school psychologists, and clinical coordinators, and to be the primary connection with outside mental health providers. I strongly support the proposed staffing additions as mental health and behavioral needs have grown since the pandemic. Educating the whole child involves strong educational services and ensuring their social and emotional needs are met.

DESE lifted its mask requirement earlier this year, but coronavirus continues to circulate widely in Shrewsbury and Massachusetts, and there will likely be surges next winter. Would you support bring back a mask mandate? Why or why not?

I believe that the Shrewsbury School Committee should look to the Board of Health and public health officials for guidance regarding whether bringing back a mask mandate would be appropriate. There are several factors to consider such as the unique complexities of school environments, the conditions inside school buildings, the health and vaccination status of the school populations, and the conditions in the immediate and surrounding communities. The school district should work with public health officials and the Board of Health to develop plans to respond to surges and/or outbreaks of COVID-19 in order to maintain safe in-person learning.

If you could snap your fingers and fix or change one thing in the school system, what would it be?

If I could change one thing in the school system it would be the loss of seats for Shrewsbury students at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. Given a change in state regulations, vocational technical high schools must now give preference to students who live within their member district communities for admission. Unfortunately, the change in regulations means that there will be very few seats, and possibly no seats, for Shrewsbury students at Assabet next year. To address this issue, I will strongly advocate for our district to further partnerships with businesses and higher education to provide opportunities for job shadowing, internships, and dual-job skills programming. Finding alternatives to address the needs of students who would benefit from vocational programming will remain a priority.

This article originally appeared on the Shrewsbury Patch