Residents of Wilton heard from current and aspiring members of Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board Thursday about their visions for local education.

At the Meet the Candidates forum at Town Hall, School Board Chair Dennis Golding of Wilton and member Darlene Anzalone of Lyndeborough answered questions alongside Erin Collins and Rich Gorron. Golding, Corron and Collins are running for two, three-year Wilton seats. Tiffany Cloutier-Cabral of Wilton is not running for another term. Anzalone is running for a three-year at-large seat against Paul White of Lyndeborough, who was unable to attend the forum.

Asked about their hopes for what the board could accomplish, Anzalone said “I’d like us to retain our great teachers but I’m conscious of taxes,” adding that she is a parent of two children in the district, and that she’s proud of the negotiations that resulted in the current teacher contract. 

Golding’s goals for his second term on the board include keeping “the budget small and making the schools places for opportunity” for students. He added he’d work for “each child getting the best education for the dollars we have, and retaining staff.”

Collins has taught preschool and worked in addiction recovery, a background which she said helps her to “hear many voices before making a decision.” 

“I also want to give back, which I could do in the arts. Comments from Concord suggest that they’ll be cut,” said Collins regarding state funding for education.

In addition to volunteering with the Wilton Junior Athletic Association and having two children in the local school system, Gorron said that his background in business prompts him to “take a pragmatic approach to problem solving.”

A question about whether school funding in New Hampshire is done fairly elicited a unanimous “no.”

“New Hampshire is dead last (in funding) and how the state pays - it just isn't living up to its obligation,” said Collins.

Golden agreed about the perceived unfairness of the process, and Gorron said,  “We have to see if there is an alternative to just property taxes." Anzalone said, “I'm thankful that we don't have income taxes.”

On the matter of whether the district should hire a school resource officer, which is a ballot question this year, Gorron said that he was not familiar enough with the issue to respond, while Golding and Collins agreed that hiring an SRO was not an appropriate use of funds for the district. The amount budgeted for it in a warrant article is $166,000.  Anzalone said that “60% of the community wanted the SRO, so we brought it forward.”

Following a book being challenged in Wilton in 2022, the question of book-banning was raised.

“I’m not a fan of it,” said Gorron.

“It’s a waste of time. A library can forbid a child's access to books,” said Golden.

Anzalone said, “As a mother of a sixth-grader, there were some things of a sexual nature (in a book that was available in a school library) not appropriate for middle school. There were other books I had concerns with. I want parents to go online and see what books are in the library, but what parent has time to look at all the books?”

In terms of controlling costs, Collins said "We have to be nipping at the state's heels,” while Anzalone suggested that community involvement and volunteers could help with some programs. Golden said that one constant and huge issue is transportation, and Gorron suggested that his business background could be helpful with this challenge.

White wrote in to the forum that he would "try to find middle ground on issues” and that he has children in the district schools.”

The second part of the forum had three candidates who are running unopposed for their posts sharing their goals for the positions. Gareth Krausser is seeking a three-year term on the Select Board and said that “People have to step up” to public service, adding that his private sector experience would help him bring strategic thinking to the post. 

Jane Farell is looking to return as town clerk, and said that “Volunteerism makes a small town great.”

Joe Torre said that “Service is a citizen's duty.: He is seeking another term as trustee of trust funds, and said he brings a conservative approach to managing the town's funds.

The Wilton-Lyndeborough district meeting and vote on election articles is Saturday, March 8, at 9 a.m. at Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High School. Wilton’s town and school elections are Tuesday, March 11, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Town Hall, and Town Meeting is Thursday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. at Florence Rideout Elementary School. Lyndeborough’s town election is Tuesday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Citizens’ Hall, and Town Meeting is Saturday, March 15, at 10 a.m. at Citizens’ Hall.