Unopposed for reelection, school board member aims to serve all residents

In an era of heated conflict for the local school board, Harpswell resident Frank Wright seeks to bring down the temperature with his calm, deliberative, respectful demeanor.

“You’re (often) trying to bridge two sides … and it’s really important to listen to all sides so that (they) feel like (their) input was valued,” Wright said in a recent interview. “And so, to navigate it all, you have to be willing to put your own gut feeling about something to one side and just kind of listen with an open heart to what (others are) saying.”

He is running unopposed to retain his seat on the Maine School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors, one of four seats representing Harpswell on the 14-member board, which also includes six members from Topsham and two each from Bowdoin and Bowdoinham.

Wright has served on the board since 2019, when the Harpswell Select Board appointed him after two of the town’s four representatives resigned. He was then elected to a three-year term in 2021 and went on to serve as the board’s chair for the 2022-23 school year.

Wright grew up in Harpswell. He attended Brunswick High School, then Springfield College in Massachusetts, before starting a career in education. He worked in public schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for 27 years as a science teacher and coach. He also has worked in private education.

Recently, Wright has led a local chess club, helped with a Lego club and has been reading to students at Harpswell Community School. He has two children in MSAD 75 schools, in sixth and ninth grade.

Wright said serving on the school board is “about paying it forward” and honoring the educators who mentored him and taught him the value of education.

“I’m trying hard to support all the people in the town of Harpswell, but I’m also trying to be a good steward of public education for our district,” he said.

Wright’s current responsibilities on the board include serving on the Facilities Committee, which he chairs, as well as the Finance Committee and the Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee.

MSAD 75 has endured unusually high turnover among its top officials in recent years and has seen several board members, educators and administrators resign over political divisions.

Wright expressed admiration for the district’s recently appointed superintendent of schools, Heidi O’Leary, who has stated a similar desire to calm tensions within the district.

“We’ve found a gem in Heidi, and I’m very, very happy to have her on board,” he said.

Wright is the only Harpswell school board member whose term expires this year. The election will coincide with the annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 9, at Harpswell Community School. The polls for the election will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the business meeting will commence at 10. Absentee ballots are available until Wednesday, March 6.

Have a comment or news tip? Email J. Craig Anderson at craig@harpswellanchor.org.