Voters Guide: Sandra Ziehm for Nashua Board of Education

Name:  Sandra Ziehm

Age:  70

Occupation:  Owner/Broker Harmony Real Estate, Lowell Road,Hudson

Office Running For:  Nashua School Board

Background/What Uniquely Qualifies You For this Position?  

As the owner of a business I understand the concept of living within your checkbook means!

Previous Office/Elected Position Held:  

This will be my third term on the board.  I am also currently serving my second term as Hillsborough County Commissioner.  Served on the NH Housing and Finance Authority, Board of Directors Salvation Army, Board of Directors Life Coping Village Network. 

Why are you running for election/re-election? Unfortunately the school board is a complex multi-diverse role which took me several years to wrap my arms around.  I am only now accomplishing any of the goals I set for myself when first elected.

What are the top priorities, in your perspective, for Nashua's Schools right now? 

Our classrooms are too large with much diversity. 

What is the top priority for the school district moving forward?  With 42% poverty, 2,000 special education students,  1,000 non-English speaking students, and a no fail policy that places many of our students beyond their necessary achievement level for learning, my priority is now – and has been for my eight years – to strengthen the classroom by reducing class sizes, adding paraprofessionals, reading specialists, behavior interventionist and other classroom amenities.  

Why should voters select you to represent them on the School Board?  

With eight years on the board I actually feel that most know who I am and what I fight for.  If they agree with my philosophy, that the MAGIC of learning happens in the classroom, then they should vote for me.  If not, they should vote for someone else.  Politics often costs us classroom quality with unfunded mandates. Discretionary spending is almost non existent.  Someone in DC who has no knowledge of the size or make up of our classrooms should not be making decisions for us.  Offering carrots in the form of grants to force us to their will when it isn't in the best interest of our students is bad policy.