A police officer and a former teacher in Oakland are seeking to replace Laura Tracy, the chairwoman of Regional School Unit 18 school board. The district’s schools are in Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney.

Tracy’s term expires in January. Seeking to replace her are Oakland residents Althea Holz, 48, and Rick Stubbert, 45. Neither of the two candidates have held office before.

Holz has a combined total of 10 years experience as a school teacher and is the former operator of an at-home daycare business. She has degree in child development with a certificate in elementary education from the University of Maine.

Stubbert is a captain with the Oakland Police Department, where he has worked for the past 14 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Anselm College in Goffstown, N.H.

Holz says she hopes her experience as an educator and a parent will bring a different perspective to the board. She vows to focus on community relations if elected.

“What are we doing to make sure parents and community members know what our school is doing?” she said.

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Stubbert said he wants to be more involved in the school system.

“I’m not going in with an agenda,” he said. “I think it’s a challenging time for the school district, because the state has cut so much funding, so we’ve got to find new and innovative ways to provide high levels of education, so I just want to be part of that process.”

Holz has five children, two of whom are adopted. Four have graduated from Messalonskee High School and one is enrolled in seventh grade.

Stubbert has two children, one pre-school age and one in second grade.

Evan Belanger — 861-9239

ebelanger@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @ebelanger


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