Meet Troy School Trustee candidate Cliff Barra

School trustee elections for south Lincoln County are being held Tuesday, May 6. The Western News is publishing information about the candidates for the benefit of our readers. Candidates were emailed and their responses are listed below. 

Name: Cliff Bara

Occupation: Retired

Family: In 1996 I was fortunate enough to marry Mary Ann Drury, also a Troy Schools teacher, and inherited three daughters. We now enjoy eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Background (boards and committees): Besides my background as a classroom teacher, I have served on the board of directors of the Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics since the 1990s, including a term as President. I have worked statewide and nationally to improve math education for all students, and recently served on the OPI Task Force that rewrote the K-12 Montana state math standards.

Why do you want to serve as a school trustee?

I have lived in Troy for 40 years and taught math and science at Troy High School for 35 years before retiring in 2020. The community of Troy and Troy Schools have always treated me kindly and I would view service on the board as a way to repay some of that kindness.

What is the top issue facing the district and what would you do to address it?

I believe a quality education is essential for students entering adult life and seeking careers in the modern world. To that end, the most important thing is having a qualified and effective teacher in each classroom. 

That is getting more difficult to do as a complex constellation of issues face small schools across the country. Those include lack of candidates, suitable housing, depletion of district Covid funds and competition from urban areas. 

Long term solutions to this problem involve the local district, but also state and national entities. As a board member in Troy, I will do what I can to address this need.

If elected, I will approach my board duties with an open mind. I have no preconceived “axe to grind.” I will do the appropriate research, listen to all concerned citizens, and try to make the best possible decisions to advance the education of Troy students.