Question: What is your assessment of the working relationship between the school committee and town council? Do you feel there is room for improvement?

Sarah Whiting — Democrat:

I think every working relationship can get better. The School Committee and Town Council have different responsibilities, but they serve the same community, so their relationship matters. Strong governance requires trust, direct communication, clarity about roles, and a willingness to have difficult conversations when priorities or perspectives differ. In my professional work, I help teams navigate exactly those kinds of conversations, and I would bring that same approach here, with students at the center.

Adam Stearnbourne — Democrat: 

Yes, there's room to improve, and I hear it often while knocking on doors. Both bodies want strong schools and responsible spending, but they work best when they're at the table early, not reacting to each other's decisions. In the SRO discussion, one counselor suggested a working group with the School Committee. I'd welcome that; we need to ensure open lines of communication.