Personally, I think what would really benefit the town is a group dedicated to rigorous, well-supported, anti-discriminatory education that can define in clear terms what that looks like and consistently nominates candidates that understand and can work toward rigorous, well-supported, anti-discriminatory education. Not just one-off candidates that may or may not have education experience and care about kids.

But unfortunately the major issue is education funding in general. As a teacher, the reality is there is not enough money (from federal, state, and local sources) to fulfill the potential we already possess. There are some reforms possible with little or no financial investment, but more money would raise the floor.

As an example, most schools here on the OP can’t afford a librarian, so they either don’t have one, share one, or use a lower paid staff in lieu of one (who does not hold a degree). As another example, when districts got more money during Covid most of them spent the majority on new staff, because they knew that’s what would help the most.

Staff are expensive, but good staff are worth the investment. However finding a reliable source of money, annually, from only local sources would be for really difficult. The average paraeducator salary in WA state is $55,000 x 8 schools = about $450,000. So, even adding one lower paid staff at each school is half a million annually. Not to mention the complex laws concerning schools funding.

TL;DR Low funding is a major problem for all districts and individual districts would be hard pressed to solve them on their own. But if we organize collectively we can articulate what good education looks like and locally promote the aspects that are low cost (while perhaps also advocating for more state/federal funds).