MARION — Two candidates are facing off to be Marion’s representative on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.

Incumbent Margaret McSweeny is running for her second term on the Committee. She was first elected in 2020 and has navigated challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic during her tenure.

According to McSweeny, she is seeking reelection because she has “always been civically minded,” and hopes to continue “affecting change.”

“I've always believed it's important not to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk,” she said. “So if you want change to happen, you need to be an effective piece of it and do something about it. And I've always felt that way.”

With over 15 years of experience in schools and a master’s degree in education, McSweeny said she brings that classroom experience to her role on the School Committee.

McSweeny’s goals for the future of the school district involve a focus on students’ social and emotional well-being.

“I want [the district] to be able to help kids recognize the struggles that they'll deal with, and then give them the tools to be able to understand those things [and] persevere and overcome obstacles,” she said.

According to McSweeny, one of the biggest issues facing the Old Rochester Regional School District is the “contention” surrounding LGBTQ+ and transgender rights.

“I know kids … they are smarter than we think they are, they want more from us than we often give them … they are inclusive by nature,” she said. “How dare we try to stop them from creating the world that they want to create for themselves, we should support them in that.”

This year, ten library books held in the Old Rochester Regional High School and Junior High Schools were challenged for alleged explicit content. This has sparked discussion over suitable in-school materials.

“Some of the books they are talking about, I have actually taught,” said McSweeny, who pointed to her own experience reading “The Bluest Eye,” which was challenged in the district. “It showed me that there was a whole world I didn't know out there that was completely and wholly not my own. To think about limiting that for children, I'm not for it, nor will I ever be for it.”

McSweeny also pointed to teacher retention as a major issue in the district.

“We have to retain educators who are passionate about what they do and have positive visions for the future for our students,” she said. “And to do that we have to have a district that is inviting and equitable and strong — at all levels, administration and educators.”

According to McSweeny, the biggest strength of the Old Rochester Regional School District is “the people who are there every day who care and are passionate about their work and who aren’t afraid of productive change.”

McSweeny is facing first-time candidate Jennifer Stewart for a seat on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee in the town election on Friday, May 12.