Patricia Brigham is running unopposed to fill the remaining two years of former board member Kevin Sweeney's term.

Patricia Brigham
Rock Crest Drive
Education: MBA, Babson College; BS Accounting, University of Rhode Island
Occupation: Volunteer and stay-at-home mom
Age: 46
Party Affiliation: Independent
Political experience: Three years on the Cape Elizabeth School Board.
Statement about candidacy: I am running for re-election because I believe in the importance of community service and volunteerism. I believe that my experience as a School Board member, community volunteer and my professional background have provided me with a set of skills which will allow me to make a positive difference in our schools.
Tax-reform priorities: I am not in favor of any TABOR or Palesky-type initiatives. All seem to be blindly focused on lowering taxes while ignoring why taxes are high here. There are reasons particular to Maine– lots of undeveloped and preserved land, low population density, geographic characteristics– which cost money to maintain. While I agree that our taxes may be relatively high as compared to our incomes here in Maine, I think the focus should be on raising the income levels through investment in education, infrastructure, etc. that will generate higher paying jobs.
Curriculum development: There is currently a lot of great work being done in this area. We are focusing efforts on a K-12 curriculum that is truly a continuum of instruction and knowledge. I support this wholeheartedly. I also believe that our curriculum has to be fluid enough to accommodate strengths and interests of individual teachers as well as the changing world around us.
District consolidation law: I do not support the state’s mandatory consolidation law. I am skeptical that it will save taxpayer money, and even more concerned that it will do absolutely nothing to improve the quality of education in this state. The logic behind the various requirements of the law seems to lack depth and ignores the unique attributes of Maine and its school districts. The cost of the law’s implementation – consultant fees, town-wide votes ( until a budget is passed!) etc. and the time demands it is placing on school district leaders and educators, are diverting resources from the students of Maine.
Special education: We are required by law to educate all of our students. We must utilize resources that are available to us and work toward the goal of meeting the educational needs of all of our students. Typically, it costs a district more to educate a student with different instructional needs. As many of the requirements involved in educating these students are federally mandated, it would be desirable for the federal government to provide the necessary funding. As they are not, the burden falls on the local taxpayer. However,  the investment made in educating these students, with the goal of making them self-sufficient and productive adults, saves taxpayer money in the long run.
Infrastructure needs: Recent budget constraints have forced us to defer some maintenance items so that we could maintain educational programs. We have had to abandon the replacement schedule for furniture and computers. We have turned to parent groups and other volunteer organizations like CELT to fund playground maintenance and upkeep. If we do not maintain our physical plant now, we will pay more later for repairs.
School spending priorities: Federal and state legislation around public education has resulted in fewer options and far less control for determining spending priorities at the local level. There are areas, however, that I think that we need to invest in, including technology and its integration into curriculum, instruction and learning. I also believe that we need to invest in our teachers and coaches as the expectations we place on them are constantly changing and increasing in response to things such as globalization, politics, economic cycles.
Areas of school spending to be cut or eliminated: Our school district is so fiscally conservative and has been in maintenance mode for the last three years due to the Town Council imposed spending cap, I do not see any areas that I would suggest need cutting or elimination.
Goals to accomplish in the next term: 1. A sustained commitment to the district’s Future Directions Plan. I would like to see the strategic plan becoming an integrated and guiding force for decision-making. 2. Cultivation of an upbeat and innovative climate in our schools. We need to constantly strike a balance between the dictates of standardized testing and mandated accountability measurements with the creativity and curiosity, which accompanies the learning process. 3.Strenghten community connections. The worn out saying “it takes a village” means that we all have a responsibility to our youth to contribute to their education. But often the rewards for the teacher/community volunteer are as great as those for the student.