Q&A Candidate: Kathy Bachiochi, 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 Kathy Bachiochi, who is seeking election to the Board of Education.

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Q: Why have you decided to run for the BOE?

A: I have been in education since 1972. I’ve taught 41 of those years and have been a

substitute teacher for 8 years. I retired for good in December of 2024. I wanted to stay

involved with the schools, but not in a way that I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning! I

had been a member of the BOE for four years previously, and I thought this would be a

great time to get involved again.

Q: Have you previously been involved with the schools in any capacity?

A: As I said in the previous answer, I have been in the Stafford School System for almost 50

years. I started as a classroom English teacher; became department chair around 1976

that lasted until I retired in 2013; held the position of co-director of the drama club for

35 years; was on many committees (too numerous to mention) where I headed many of

them. A few years after I retired, I decided that I wanted to get back into the classroom

by substitute teaching. So I applied and spent most of my subbing time in the high

school. It felt good to be working with the students again.

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

pressing problem and how can the BOE help address these challenges?

A: The most pressing problems facing the town in the last school year was getting the

budget passed. This has also happened in other school years too. The Board of Finance,

the Democratic Town Committee, and the Republican Town Committee have to find a

way to encourage their members and their families and their friends to get out the vote.

We lost teachers, paraprofessionals, and other support staff that weakens the education

for all our students because of all the “no” votes.

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

A: Still thinking along the lines of getting the budgets passed, I think it would be a good

idea to have a rotating member of the DTC and RTC go to the Board of Finance meetings

and vice versa. These people would then go back to their respective committees and

report what happened. That way with all concerned at the meetings, questions could

be answered before any of the budgets are finalized. Then everyone involved, plus the

audience people there, will understand what’s the thinking on both sides of the aisles.