Middleboro School Committee candidate: Christopher Benson

MIDDLEBORO — As the only sitting committee member on the ballot, Christopher Benson is running for reelection with experience as both an educator and elected official.

Teaching since 2004, Benson runs a youth works and evening school program and is a social studies teacher at Quincy Public Schools. He said his love for the town of Middleboro makes the commute worthwhile.

“It can be long some days but it’s worth it,” Benson said. “I love teaching there but I love living here.”

He said his past few years on the committee have been great. He hit the ground running after he was elected, and has learned a lot. Getting to be within the community and to work with different organizations and agencies has been a highlight.

“I feel there’s more work to do, so I thought, you know, go for another term,” he said.

Benson wants to make kids feel safe in school, and hopes to continue that if reelected.

“When I first got on the board, I pushed at almost every meeting to keep the safety audit in the forefront of the conversations,” he said.

He also plans to keep focusing on future-ready education, which includes getting students interested in further education and preparing them for post-high school. No matter the path the students want to take after graduation, he wants to advocate for preparedness.

“A student can go to Middleboro High School and not have to go to either a technical school or they can have every pathway exposed for them so they know what's out there.”

With four children in the Middleboro Public Schools, Benson said he brings some experience to the committee and works to bridge the gaps between the town and school with the ability to see things from both sides.

Benson said he was able to serve with a unique perspective as an educator, and gave the community a voice as a resident. While the position was rewarding, it didn’t come without challenges.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rescinded a $73,705 grant for students' social and emotional health services. The grant was rescinded due to claims that the town of Middleboro refuses to comply with the The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Communities Act.

Benson said he’s confident the town and school will make things right.

“The biggest thing is to really work together as a community and to contact the legislature and our representatives when there’s something like this,” he said.

Committee members agreed to draft a letter in opposition to the decision at the Thursday, Feb. 27 meeting. The following day, Friday, Feb. 28, the Town of Middleboro filed a suit against the state over the Communities Act.

From problems to celebrations, Benson wants to continue to be someone the community can go to and act as a voice for the stakeholders to try to improve the district.

“I think sometimes that element gets lost, I want to be there for that all, and I want to continue to improve the communication and the relationships between the district and state,” he said.

The Middleboro School Committee elections will be held on Saturday, April 5 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Benson is running against newcomers Abbie Gonzalez and Shannon Breen.