Victoria Parisi, Amherst School Board Candidate

Victoria Parisi

Age (as of Election Day)

37

Position Sought

Amherst School Board

Party Affiliation

Undeclared

Family

My husband, Mike, and I moved to town in 2012 with our (then) preschoolers. Our kids are now 11 and 12, and we are thankful for the sense of community that Amherst has provided our family.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

I received my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Concentration in Management from UMass Lowell and graduated magna cum laude.

Occupation

I have chosen to be a stay at home mom since our daughter was born. Once our kids entered school, I have immersed myself in the Amherst School District as an active volunteer and substitute as I believe education of children is instrumental in the health and vibrancy of our town, state, and nation.

Are you a candidate running for office in Amherst? Fill out this Patch Candidate Profile Form, and email a photo to tony.schinella@patch.com, and we'll let voters know about your candidacy.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am currently in two appointed positions in town: Amherst School District Ways and Means Committee Chair and SAU 39 Joint Facilities Advisory Committee (JFAC) Vice-Chair. I have served as a Ways and Means committee member under Frank Brown’s leadership since 2018. I have been following JFAC leadership experience: Clark School Exploration Subcommittee Chair (2021), Souhegan 2.0 Subcommittee Chair (2020). From 2016-2020, I served as the Amherst PTA President, an elected position.

Campaign website

I have a Facebook Page set up with more information and ways to contact me directly- Victoria Parisi for Amherst School Board.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe in community service. I believe that we can support students, faculty, and community in a way that is educationally exceptional and fiscally responsible. I will bring a balanced and measured voice to the board. I support smart, long term financial planning that will benefit students, the school district, and residents.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The aging facilities of our district is an issue that has risen to the top after years of behind the scenes discussion. A lack of classroom space to fulfill our traditionally high standard of education isn’t appropriate for our town. Aging systems will require costly repairs, and the Amherst School Board has made a resolution to bring a facility renovation project to the ballot in 2022. I am currently the Vice-Chair of the Joint Facility Advisory Committee who has been tasked with focusing on facility planning with Amherst students and residents in mind. I know the ins and outs of our situation and will continue to ask questions regarding refinement of the plan and expansion of community outreach.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have 7 years of experience in various areas within Amherst. I am also intimately familiar with the Amherst school budget history through my experience, and, while I was able to influence smart reductions in the budget through my role as Ways and Means committee member, I hope to further influence fiscally responsible spending. I am a parent to two children who have recently attended Amherst School District at both Clark-Wilkins Elementary and Amherst Middle School.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think Superintendent Steel led our district through a very challenging time with confidence. I was deeply involved with the parent group assembled as stakeholders in the Reopening Task Force during the summer of 2020-2021 and will participate again this summer. Gathering input from various perspectives is important with any decision making. As a member of the Amherst School District Ways and Means committee, I was aware of the budgetary spending that was the result of the pandemic. I look forward to being part of the June 14th Amherst School Board meeting to determine any funds available to return to taxpayers at the end of the fiscal year.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

For several years, our district has acknowledged that while we serve learners who are performing below growth targets and help them rise, we aren’t seeing the growth from their mid to top level peers.
Amherst draws families to town for our excellent schools, and our standards need to reflect those expectations as we must protect that reputation.
Our community deserves clear, straight forward answers regarding the performance and finances of our school district. Our district has work to do in this area. We have a vision, it is time to align that vision to measurable goals available for all to see.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I know the importance of engaging the community. As the JFAC Clark School Exploration Subcommittee Chair, I have engaged with various community stakeholders as we held more than a dozen meetings to discuss the facility projects and begin the conversation with residents.
My Amherst PTA presidency is riddled with evidence that I can handle this job. I forged relationships with administrators, teachers, and parents as we all worked for the same goal. Unification around a goal is imperative to a well-functioning school board.
On the Amherst School District’s Ways and Means committee, I have worked for an orderly and transparent budget process. I have consistently advocated for budgets that support the needs of the district to deliver top notch education to the students while balancing the impact to Amherst’s residents. I have balanced varied opinions, run meetings, and presented at public meetings in this role.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have been committed and honored to be serving Amherst since moving here in 2012 and have a proven track record in town. I am action oriented and am ready to take my experience with our town and get to work as a member of the Amherst School Board to represent our community. Look for my signs in yards around town, and come out to vote on June 8th! If you would like to reach out, please email me at parisi.victoria@gmail.com.