As your former superintendent of schools for the last 10 years, I believe that I am in a unique position to share observations and information regarding the talents and abilities of mayoral candidate, Colleen Hilton.
Colleen served on the Westbrook School Committee for those 10 years as a member, vice chair, and chairperson. In her roles as vice chair and chairperson, I worked extremely closely with Colleen on difficult personnel issues, budget and policy development, financial matters, large school budget cuts from the Department of Education and the multitude of issues that are normally part of the management of nearly 500 employees and a $30 million-plus school budget.
Colleen worked tirelessly over that 10-year period, numerous times attending late night meetings and being back at Central Office the next morning for policy, finance and curriculum meetings or to meet with school officials about specific issues. I have no doubt that Colleen always did what she thought was best for the students of Westbrook. However, her vote also reflected consideration for the impact of her decisions on the taxpayers. Always aware that the citizens of Westbrook were supportive of education, she was also mindful that there was a limit to the amount of money taxpayers could afford.
Colleen always scrutinized the school budget with the goal of reducing spending in areas that would not hurt the students. She was a major contributor to the consolidation between the school department and the city, which has been in effect for approximately five years and has resulted in substantial savings while improving services for both entities. Colleen attended numerous meetings with Westbrook, Windham and Raymond to discuss possibilities and determine whether consolidation was an option for saving additional money.
When consolidation with those units did not materialize, Colleen encouraged me to explore combining certain functions with those districts that resulted in a combined food services department, additional savings within the Sebago Alliance and discussions regarding a combined transportation department.
I sincerely believe that the wisdom, energy, dedication, fiscal responsibility and transparent style of governance that Colleen brought to the schools will be her style of leadership in the mayor’s office. Her vision for Westbrook will enable the community to prosper while keeping taxes at a minimum. I fully expect that the positive changes that her leadership influenced in the schools will be mirrored in her leadership of the city.
Stan J. Sawyer
Brunswick
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