September 25, 2024

BOE Candidate Mara Franceschi is Running For Reelection Because Experience Matters

To the Editor:

I am writing as a 14-year resident of Princeton, mother of three (college and two at PHS), longtime community and school volunteer, and current Board of Education member.

I am running for reelection to the BOE because experience matters. My background makes me uniquely qualified among the other candidates running to assist our schools from the very first day. With an MBA from Columbia, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter, and over a decade’s work experience in finance, I am well-qualified to manage financial oversight of the district. I currently co-chair the Personnel committee and sit on the Operations and Long-Range Planning committees. I have served as treasurer for the JP PTO, Nassau Nursery School, and Friends of the Library and on the town’s now disbanded Citizens Finance Advisory Committee (CFAC), among other volunteer positions.

Rising test scores, renewed facilities, stable finances, and thoughtful planning reflect the hard work and exciting new initiatives happening in the district. Elementary staff have been trained in the proven Orton-Gillingham structured approach to literacy. Focusing on early intervention, the district aims to remedy literacy skill deficits before third grade to narrow persistent achievement gaps. The math program has been restructured to standardize how children are placed and improve math course progression. The district budget was balanced and Aaa bond rating retained despite a challenging fiscal environment. Facilities are being properly updated and maintained after decades of deferred maintenance while a cost-efficient capacity planning solution has been proposed to address rising enrollments.

Significant challenges remain for the district as the Board balances student needs, rising enrollments, inflationary pressures, mandated budget caps, and high community expectations. My financial background is indispensable in helping guide the district as we balance critical, necessary investments in our schools while keeping tax increases to a minimum, which is always at the forefront of my decision-making.

I applaud the town for taking steps to acquire Westminster. Unfortunately, this is not a near-term solution for the schools. Should the district be offered land, it could be a decade before students are in actual seats as legal issues must be settled, proper environmental and other clearances obtained, community engagement and approval on possible uses sought, and construction completed. Fortunately, when the dust settles years from now, there will be more information on the additional growth implied by the recently adopted Master Plan and future rounds of affordable housing obligations. At that time, Westminster may offer a future Board a perfectly situated property to creatively and cost-effectively address possible future capacity needs. In the near term, the January referendum offers a necessary response to critical capacity needs resulting from new housing already being built.

As the only incumbent running for reelection, experience matters to ensure the continued success of our district. I respectfully ask for the community’s support as I seek a second term on the BOE and the continued opportunity to serve the students and our community. The BOE will always be my highest volunteer priority.

Mara Franceschi
Greenhouse Drive