MARION — The race is on for two open seats on the Marion School Committee, and three Marion residents have declared their candidacy for the posts.

Incumbent Mary Beauregard is running for her second term on the Marion School Committee. She was first elected in 2020 and said that her first three years serving the town were “very informative.”

“I didn't realize how much time and effort everyone in the school community puts in,” she said. “From the superintendent down to the teachers, volunteers [and] school committee itself. There's so much work that goes in, it’s amazing.”

During her first term she was a member of the equity and policy subcommittees. She was also the town’s delegate to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

Now she hopes to carry those experiences into a second term.

Beauregard said that as the only stay-at-home mom currently on the committee, she offers a unique perspective that helps to round out discussion amongst her peers.

“We all have different backgrounds [on the committee], we all have different careers, we all have different even political views and it makes us well rounded,” she said.

According to Beauregard, Marion schools are on the “forefront” of diversity, equity and inclusion and socio-emotional learning.

“If we can keep those things moving, I think that would be great for our schools,” she said.

Beauregard said she would like to see more funding go toward student counseling at Sippican School.

“I think that is an important thing for students to have someone at the school that they can go to who's trained and listening to them and figuring out what they need,” she said.

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.

“I think it's super important to keep books in the library so that every student feels represented, they can see themselves in these books,” said Beauregard. “I trust our librarians to do their job. They're educated, they know their audience. I think that they're doing a great job.”

If elected to a second term, Beauregard said she is open to listening to either side of any argument.

“I'm going to put my personal opinions aside and try to do what's best for every student,” she said.

Beauregard is facing incumbent Nichole Nye McGaffey and first-time candidate Mirian Nawoichik for two seats on the Marion School Committee in the town election on Friday, May 12.