WILTON — Two residents of Wilton will be facing off against one another in a race for a seat at the Regional School Unit 9 board of directors as Vice-Chair Gwendolyn Doak will be seeking reelection against Louise Hiltz, who will be making her second attempt to serve on the board.

Doak joined the board in 2021 and since then, she has joined the Education Policy Committee and replaced Debbie Smith as Vice-Chair in July of last year. Hiltz previously ran against Amanda Caruso in June of last year for the seat belong to former director Irv Faunce, with Caruso emerging victorious.

Both Doak and Hiltz took some time to answer a few questions for The Franklin Journal about the upcoming election. Voters will decide on Tuesday, June 11, at the Wilton Town Office, located at 158 Weld Road.

• Why are you seeking the term for RSU 9 board of directors?

Doak: I am grateful that Wilton voters elected me to a first term and have supported me in this position over the last three years. I am seeking a second term so that I may continue to serve Wilton townspeople in this role. I am a passionate advocate of public education and believe that, with the right guidance, our schools can continue to foster successful graduates ready to enter the workforce and strengthen our community with their skills and confidence.

Hiltz: I would like to learn more about our school systems so I can be a part of some of the solutions in our community. I was working in the school systems for a lot of years before I started working at the post office. So, kids are the main thing that I care about, and I want to help out as much as I can with the school system.

• What do you think are some important issues facing the RSU 9 School District?

Doak: Teacher shortages are a major factor in recruiting and retaining qualified individuals and this challenge is nationwide. Here in RSU 9, we need to find a balance between offering competitive pay and easing the burden on local taxpayers. We must also provide adequate classroom support and sufficient opportunities for professional development to retain our current teachers.

In terms of issues facing our student-body, fast-paced technological advancements and digital literacy are important factors in creating a prepared workforce in our day and age. In particular, we need the State of Maine to continue support of our career and technical education with modernizing equipment and attracting talented professionals to teach our students. I’m excited about the expansion of our career and technical education to our middle school and believe it will be of great importance in helping develop the skilled workforce we need.

Hiltz: I feel like there are a lot of social and emotional problems going on that sometimes academics are left not being able to be dealt with, and that is one of my main things.

Kids need to graduate with being able to carry out what an adult would: being secure and confident and independent and all those things that we would like the kids to be when they leave, and I feel like academics is a big part of that because they have to be able to take care of themselves.

• If elected, what do you hope to accomplish?

Doak: I strive to ensure transparency and accountability of the RSU9 board and our school administration to the people of Wilton and our RSU9 district. If re-elected, I will continue those efforts and stay dedicated to promoting positive developments and maintaining high standards in our schools. Communication and interaction with the public keeps our relationship with our schools respectable and productive.

Hiltz: I would like to get more information to the parents and the public, so they can feel engaged and we can be able to do it together.

• What is your experience with community organizations, and have you held positions in any organizations? [Committees, Select Board, Other Districts]

Doak: I am proud to serve my community in numerous roles in community organizations. I am currently Vice-Chair of the RSU 9 School Board and Chair of our Educational Policy Committee. I’m also the RSU 9 board representative on the Foster Career and Technical Education Center Advisory Committee, a role dear to my heart, and I’m a parent and RSU9 board representative for the Academy Hill PBIS [Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports] Team.

Here in Wilton, I am on the Wilton Planning Board and am Chair of the Wilton Finance Committee. I am finishing my second [and final, due to bylaw term limits] term on the Wilton Free Public Library Board of Directors where I am currently Vice-Chair, and I’m a member of the Western Maine Community Action Board of Directors and their Program Planning and Review Committee. Finally, I’m a member of the Wilton Parent-Teacher Forum [PTF] and the Wilton Homemaker’s Extension groups. Serving in these ways is important to me, and my family and friends are supportive of my involvement and efforts to better our community.

Hiltz: Before I started working six days a week I used to do different things, but what I have been doing the last 20 years is I’ve been a support group leader for NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] in the area, and I’ve done a lot of trainings, Family to Family trainings for mental [illness]. Mostly, the families of the people who have the mental illness are what my focus has been on, and I’ve done suicide trainings.

I feel like that would help me with the things I’ll be a part of in the school system because we know that suicide is a big, big [issue] and everything they’ve gone through with COVID-19, it’s very mentally challenging for parents and kids and everyone, and so I think that would be a plus for me if I was on the board.

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