Contested race could be forming for school committee
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER
It may be a contested race for the two Westminster seats on the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee.

Joshua Schonborg

Newcomers Joshua Schonborg and William C. "Bud" Taylor II have both submitted nominations papers, and incumbent Leonard Beaton submitted his letter of interest.

"I think by serving on the school committee is an opportunity to serve," Beaton said. "It does take a considerable amount of time. It takes an understanding family."

The nomination papers, which are first submitted to the Superintendent of Schools, are then submitted to each Westminster's and Ashburnham's Town Clerk's Offices for certification of the signatures.

Each town clerk is required to certify the signatures from their respective registered voters; a candidate is required to have received 40 signatures of registered voters from either town before being placed on the ballot. It was expected the signatures would have been certified by the end of the week.

Incumbents seeking re-election simply needed to the Superintendent's office.

People can withdraw their names from the ballot until March 27.

"I've been an observer for a long-time now," Schonborg said. "I've been wanting to run and considering it for a long time."

The 20-year-old decided this was the year because incumbent Jody Tata was not seeking re-election.

Taylor said he wanted to hold off from commenting until the signatures had been certified.

Schonborg said he will bring a different perspective to the committee because of his recent time as a student in the school district.

"I know how these things directly affect the student," says the 2005-graduate of Oakmont Regional High School.

Even though he is not a property tax payer he said he knows how the tax impacts effect everything in a household but he knows that fees and other costs also have an impact on a family's budget.

"It does affect the way things go in the household," he said. "You can feel it when things change."

Over the last few years, he has been a member of the Open Space Committee as well as often attending Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and other committee meetings.

"I think it shows I'm dedicated. I'm interested People wonder how I go to all of these meetings but I'm there and I stay awake," he said.

Schonborg said he appreciates the small town aspects of the community. Even though he is a junior at Assumption College he plans on continuing to reside in Westminster.

He said one of the things that everyone needs to work on is getting people involved.

"I think it's a problem not just for the schools but for the town in general," he said.

Beaton also believes that he adds a different perspective to the committee then some of his colleague both because of the experience he offers after 12 years on the committee but also because he doesn't have children in the school district.

"It is nice not having children in the system," Beaton said. "I hear from people and I take their thoughts into consideration.

… There have always been a couple of us that don't have children in the system. I think just to have the independent thinking is important."

Beaton said he has seen the district through some tough times but also some good years.

"Each year it presents challenges," Beaton said.

"I was there when we had CBS on the field," he said. "It was a tough year. But we got through it. The school buses kept running and the doors stayed open."

The national media started covering Oakmont after the district imposed an entirely pay-to-play program for the athletic program, creating the highest userfees in the country.

"This is probably one of the most difficult years I've had on the committee (because of the negotiations)."

He said he loves hearing about the successes of the students in the district from the low absenteeism, the high graduation rates and the academic and co-curricular achievements.

"It is really nice to be part of the success," he said.

Both Ashburnham incumbents, David Christianson and Ellen Holmes, are seeking re-election for their seats. Both of those are three year terms.