Candidate Q&A: Aaron Hoffman, BOE

Several weeks ago, Stafford Free Press sent questions to the Selectmen, Planning & Zoning, Board of Education, and Board of Finance candidates via the Democratic Town Committee and the Republican Town Committee. We gave them a deadline of August 31 and a promise not to edit their answers (even for grammar and spelling). Now, we're sharing the answers we received.

Here are the answers provided by Aaron Hoffman, who is seeking re-election to the Board of Education.

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Q: Why have you decided to run for the Board of Education?

A: I have decided to run for a second term because I believe that I bring an important perspective to the Board and to Stafford Public Schools.  I am running again because there is a lot of great work that is already in motion in the district and I would like to continue to serve and support this work being done on behalf of our students and the community.  

Q: Have you previously been involved with the schools in any capacity? If so, please share

your experience with us.

A: I have served on the Board of Education for the past 4 years where I have also been a member of the Curriculum and Policy Committees.  This school year marks my 23rd year of teaching high school history and I also coach high school baseball.  In addition to my role in the classroom, I have served on various committees, written curriculum focusing on students at the center of the educational process, and helped shape schoolwide policies from schedules to grading and attendance.  

Q: Stafford’s schools are faced with many challenges. What do you believe is the most

pressing, and how can the BOE help address that challenge?

A: I believe that there are a number of key challenges that Stafford schools face.  The most challenging is that the budget will be a constant hurdle for our small community.  Costs within the budget will inevitably continue to rise yet we must meet the needs of the community to have very minimal increases in the budget each year.  We need to be more creative in the budget process compared to other communities that have a larger commercial tax base.  We need to create cost saving programs and hopefully turn them into revenue generating programs.  I am proud that after three years of pushing the district to create special education programming to keep students in the district, this fall the Effective School Solutions program began.  This will help stop the flow of Stafford money to other districts and private schools while also providing important, mandated services to students who will no longer have to travel far from Stafford to get the services they need. 

I also believe that a part of this process must include being an advocate for our district at the state level.  Our state representatives must hear about how unfunded mandates from the state are impacting our district.  Our state representatives must be our voice in Hartford to make sure the state is allocating funding to the smaller towns and not just the urban areas of our state.  I believe that the BOE must have a budgetary vision for how to positively impact the district, serve the needs of students while keeping in mind the importance of respecting the hard working taxpayers of our community.  

Q: How can the BOE and the town collaborate to enhance outcomes for students?

A: The relationship between the town and the BOE is vital to the success of both.  I believe that putting systems in place for communication and accountability is an important start.  I also feel that, despite challenges that present themselves, it is important to focus on collaboration that is grounded in mutual respect.  When town entities can not collaborate students will be negatively impacted.  As we move forward from the revolving door of personnel in both town entities, a fresh start is needed so that the children of our community can be served the way they deserve.  

The town and BOE should work together to keep costs down by sharing services, while also working together to provide programming such as the summer recreation program, recreation sports programs to make sure our children all have similar experiences compared to peers in neighboring towns.