They may not be the most popular people in town, but Chair Gracinda Knox said the Mattapoisett School Committee has worked hard to preserve and improve the town’s schools in a tough financial climate.

Now, the uncontested school committee candidate is looking to continue that work with a third term.

A New Bedford native, Knox moved to Mattapoisett 18 years ago with her husband David.

Knox took a hiatus from her technology-based job in Rhode Island to stay home with her two daughters and to help with her husband’s business.

During this time, she discovered that her eldest daughter’s half-day kindergarten was in danger of being cut.

By working with then principal Jack Murphy, she said, “What came out of it was just terrific. The compromise not only preserved choice but lowered tuition cost for those who desired full day kindergarten.”

The victory encouraged Knox to run for her first term on the school committee where she set to work improving policies.

“My favorite area is policy. The biggest reason is that when I’m gone, when I’m done with the school committee, policy lives on,” she said.

In her sixth year on the school board, the committee chair has been instrumental in the approval of several major policy changes.

One was a hiring policy that brings experts from the community onto hiring teams, which Knox said can be especially helpful when trying to fill specialized positions.

“It helps you hire the best that you can possibly hire for what you can afford. That’s really the goal, especially in the economic times today,” she said.

Knox was also influential in developing a safer technology policy that makes students, teachers and parents more aware of responsible internet use.

The committee's most recent policy allows its members to have more of a say in professional staff salaries and contracts. Before the regulation, Knox said information about new and revised contracts could disappear into a “black hole”.

“This policy creates transparency,” she said. “It sets expectations based on best practices,” she said.

But the committee's most significant accomplishment may be with the budget. Increases have hovered at only one percent for three years running.

While local tax dollars have decreased, and special education, health insurance and retirement costs have increased, the committee has helped keep classes small, preserved arts courses and maintained professional development.

As she looks to a new term, Knox said she will take what she’s learned so far to create better policies.

Knox also plans to be more involved in the food program.

“I think 2013-14 will present very specific challenges to school programs in the area of nutrition,” she said. She said other Massachusetts schools have “accomplished better nutrition and lower food costs at the same time. If we can do that, then we have a responsibility to the students first and the taxpayers second.”

She will also continue her ORCTV talk show, “Education Matters”, her effort to keep the community current on local education issues.

Knox said all and all, “the headaches and sleepless nights are worth it. Look what we’ve been able to do for our students and programs.”