About the Candidate: Meredith Trimble

Name:  Meredith Trimble           

Party:   Republican

Position Seeking:  Board of Education

Family information: I live in Unionville, with my husband, who is a small business owner, and two young children.

Occupation, if applicable:  I served as the Director of Education for Connecticut’s Office of State Ethics from shortly after its formation six years ago to its consolidation this summer. 

Political Experience:   During my tenure with an executive-branch state agency, I was intimately involved in the budget process including ensuring progress at the legislative level and heading up the agency’s results-based accounting studies in all program areas to determine success measures compared with program spending.  I developed the statewide ethics education program, which included a middle school civics curriculum, and made education and communications policy and program recommendations to the state’s Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board.

Why are you running for office?  My unique experience in state ethics education policy, programming and agency budget prioritization positions me well to bring a fresh perspective to the Board.  As a child of public school teachers, I also have a unique awareness of the classroom-level perspective.  Finally, I’m a mom – I am counting on Farmington Schools to be the best they can be for my children.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?  We must prioritize and protect what the students need in order to be successful in college admissions and in life.  For example, Farmington’s excellent student to teacher ratio is one of the things that make our system successful.  That should be protected.  Once priorities are in place, we must find resources to support them.  Now is also an opportune time to advance capital projects, as this economy lends itself to low labor costs.

What issues or opportunities is the town facing today?

The challenge is a threat of reduced resources and the will to provide our students with an excellent education and programing that will continue to entice families and businesses to make Farmington home.  The value of our schools drives value in our property, but educating the public and ensuring large referendum turnout has historically been challenging. 

How would you propose to address them?
Our schools are excellent, and no doubt drive people to the area.  I will listen carefully and learn voraciously.  I will ask questions from a fresh perspective, and offer unique solutions to challenges based on my relevant background with programming and budget work.  I will strive to increase the public’s understanding of School Board processes, which will increase a sense of partnership with town residents, whether or not they have children in the schools.