Six-year Raymond School Board member Brenda Stevenson has decided not to seek a third term.

Although she has enjoyed serving the community in this capacity, her decision not to run was based on family priorities. “[The School Board] is a tremendous time commitment,” said Stevenson. “I’m looking to free up some time to get involved with my family before my kids go to college.”

Coming from a family of educators, Stevenson had long recognized the importance of a good school system as well as community involvement. She first ran for the Raymond School Board when her children were in the elementary grades, believing this opportunity would allow her to participate in the direction of the school while fitting into her work schedule.

During her six years on the Board, Stevenson has witnessed a number of changes. Her first term focused largely on the construction of the new elementary school and the retrofit of the old building, which created Jordan Small Middle School. Along with this, the Board oversaw the development of appropriate curriculum for these children in grades 5 through 8.

Another major change was the introduction of an all-day kindergarten program. Although initially met with apprehension, Stevenson feels that “it has panned out to support everything the research said it would, from an opportunity to provide intervention to spending more time on phonics and development.”

Stevenson believes that the most significant changes in her second term have been in the educational, financial, and political landscapes. Although the Maine State Learning Results have been around for a while, schools are moving toward a more assessment- and measurement-based foundation. While she approves of the concept, Stevenson acknowledges that work is still needed to accomplish these goals without producing negative consequences.

In addition to state requirements, the country’s No Child Left Behind program adds even more requirements for teachers to meet. “I sit on the board,” said Stevenson, “and through my exposure have an opportunity to see more firsthand some of the work the staff in Raymond has done to be in compliance with where we need to go, and it’s a tremendous amount of work. We applaud the work that they have done…They’ve channeled their energy to figure out how we can get from here to there, how we can make it happen.”

In the financial and political arena, state and local focus these last few years has centered around some of the tax initiatives and state funding. Because of these issues, many decisions that must be made by the School Board have become much more complicated and controversial. “There are no easy solutions,” said Stevenson, “because if there were we would have found them. But we still continue to plug away and give it our best thinking.”

Stevenson considers the School Board’s greatest challenge to be communication. She acknowledges that, as a member of the Board, her perception might be different from that of the general public because she has different or additional knowledge. The goal is to be able to communicate that information effectively to the public, she said.

Regarding her personal accomplishments over the past six years, she is most proud of her service to her community and to the Board. “I feel like I was able…[to bring] a sense of balance and calmness in what can be some very challenging and tenuous times.”

Even as she prepares to leave, Stevenson is aware of how much she will miss the people she has worked with and come to know so well. She is enthusiastic in her praise of these members and the knowledge and dedication they offer the Town of Raymond.

And, in speaking to her successor, she has this piece of advice: “Don’t be discouraged by the challenges…Know that we will have to make some decisions that introduce change. And none of that is easy.”

Although Stevenson may no longer be on the Raymond School Board, she said she will “certainly” continue to be involved in school issues and in the community. She originally moved to Raymond because of the education system’s reputation of excellence and she feels her daughters’ experience in the system bears out that reputation. She is confident that Raymond will continue to support its schools, citing the concept of “One Raymond,” an idea that combines the perspectives of the schools and the town.

“It is all about preserving the best of Raymond…” says Stevenson, “so that the heritage that Raymond has to offer both its current citizens and its new citizens remains intact.”

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