C.K. Burns School in Saco. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)

Two longtime educators are throwing their hats in the ring to challenge the chair and vice chair of the Saco School Board. 

Maureen “Moe” Cahill is seeking to unseat Chair Sarah Truman in Ward 6, while Arianna Parks is seeking to replace Vice Chair Jennifer Preble, who represents Ward 2. 

Cahill and Parks say they’re running because they want to bring about change on the school board. Only one current board member has an education background, they said, leaving a gap between what district leaders recommend and what teachers believe is best for their students.

Truman and Preble, on the other hand, pointed to their years of experience, saying the board benefits from a variety of perspectives who bring different backgrounds to the table.

All four candidates have submitted nomination papers to the town clerk.

In addition, a third seat is up for grabs this fall: Ward 4 board member Kevin Roche is facing a challenge from Donald Pilon.

RUNNING FOR CHANGE 

Cahill, an occupational therapist who has worked in Cape Elizabeth schools for 24 years, said she is energized by the support she has received from Saco teachers, parents and taxpayers. 

“Again and again, I heard a strong desire for thoughtful leadership and a willingness to see positive change within our schools,” she said. 

Educators Maureen “Moe” Cahill, left, and Arianna Parks are challenging the chair and vice chair of the Saco School Board in this fall’s election. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)

Parks, who has worked in special education for eight years, said she has had several teachers reach out to share their experiences and concerns because they know she also has teaching experience. 

“My experience as an ed tech gives me a perspective grounded in actually working alongside students, educators and support staff,” Parks said. “I want educators to know they have someone they can talk to and that their voices have a place in school board conversations.” 

Saco’s special education programming in particular has fallen through the cracks in recent years, Parks said, and both challengers are concerned about turnover in the department. The district has lost 16 special education teachers over the past two years, which they say hurts staff morale and student stability. 

“I don’t believe this issue is receiving the attention it deserves at the school board level,” Parks said. “I want to bring these concerns to the table, start meaningful conversations about why we are losing dedicated staff, and work toward changes that better support the students and teachers who need our advocacy most.” 

INCUMBENTS HOPE TO CONTINUE WORK 

Preble, who has served on the school board for seven years, including three as chair and one as vice chair, said she hopes to prioritize work on new school buildings for Saco students. Two buildings — one for pre-K and kindergarten, another for first through fifth grades — are expected to be completed in time for the 2028-2029 school year.

She also hopes to continue fostering a productive relationship with Thornton Academy. 

(Thornton, a private school, serves Saco’s public school students through a long-standing agreement with the city; the school and district were at odds earlier this year amid a contract dispute that was resolved in June.)

“This work is my children’s future, my community and my neighbors’, so I’ve done everything I can to improve it,” Preble said. 

She said her career as a social worker has lent her the skills necessary to make a positive impact on the school board. 

Truman, who has served on the board since 2020 and was elected chair in January, said she is running for another term because she believes in the work that teachers do. Truman’s mother was a special education teacher for 26 years, so she said she knows firsthand how important the job is.

She also hopes to negotiate meaningful salary raises for school staff and looks forward to seeing the new school construction completed.

“Building a new campus for all of pre-K through grade 5 means every student will have access to the great opportunities this building brings,” Truman said. “This creates equity for all students across the city.”

TEACHER CONCERNS

Nick Fuller, a teacher at C.K. Burns School, said many teachers in the district are in favor of putting educators on the school board, which he thinks would fill a blind spot and benefit students.

“I have hope that educators would hear what other educators are concerned about,” he said. 

Fuller said that in his 15 years of teaching, he’s never seen a leadership crisis as serious as what he says Saco is facing. Some of the issues affecting students should have been solved already, he said, while also pointing to high turnover in special education and flagging staff morale.

“There were so many times last year where I didn’t know the person who was emailing me to come take my student or evaluating my student with an Individualized Education Program,” he said. “Students need familiar faces, not strangers.”

Fuller also criticized current school board members for “taking orders” from Superintendent Jeremy Ray. Putting educators on the board, he said, could help. 

“Can you imagine if the board at Maine Medical Center had no doctors or medical professionals on it?” he said.

Preble disagreed with Fuller’s contentions and said the board is its own entity that collectively makes its decisions through a majority vote process.

“We ultimately direct the superintendent on any actions to be taken or questions we wish to have more information on,” she said. “Jeremy Ray has a mountain of knowledge that we take under advisement.”

Ray and his team work in tandem with the school board, Truman added, and are committed to taking direction from the board.

“They’ve proven that collaboration works,” she said.

Voting will take place on Nov. 3 at Thornton Academy, 438 Main St. The winning candidates will take their seats in December and serve three-year terms.