School Committee candidate Lynne Burroughs says she sees budget problems and low enrollment among the many challenges for Wareham Public Schools and hopes to combine her work experience and service in the town to bring the community together.

"In the last several years enrollment has decreased 15% in our schools. MCAS scores have receded," said Burroughs. "I see frustrated teachers, students, and parents, and I'd like to get away from 'quick fixes' and continuing 'red-lining' responses year after year."

Burroughs, who has twice run for the School Committee, said that school officials need to work to increase enrollment and help kids graduate, and should be looking to add more arts, more creative programs, more after-school programs and sports, "things that make kids want to come to school today."

"I have many ideas to increase enrollment. Add programs that entice those who are not motivated by the very limited options available," she said. "Why is our town growing and our student population decreasing? I believe it is a lack of faith in our schools on behalf of the townspeople and I want to change that."

Burroughs is also dismayed at the number of students she says she sees dropping out of school and completing graduation requirements at night school, "paying $400 to $700" to attend those classes.

"They're still our students. We're still responsible for them," Burroughs said, and wondered if the district is getting paid twice since the students who drop out start the school year in day school, and thus are accounted for when state aid is doled out.

Burroughs, who has three children -- 18-year-old Caleb, 15-year-old Sarah, and 11-year-old Hannah -- said she brings "a certain understanding of the kids who are struggling in our schools." Her husband, Michael, works as a family therapist and helped develop programs for Wareham's Junior/Senior Cooperative School, she said.

Burroughs wants to explore creating a "second-shift kind of school" with classes in the afternoon, which she said is being done in Taunton, to help students stay in school and get their diplomas.

"I think we need to look really closely at what Taunton is doing and I think that is a good possible option as one of the ways of increasing enrollment and getting kids who would otherwise drop out [to stay] in school," she said. "There are people with medical issues who struggle in the morning, both adults and students."

Work must also be done to decrease class sizes so there isn't such a heavy workload on individual teachers, Burroughs added.

"I think we've got a lot of burnt-out teachers ... and I don't think it's fair for the teachers or the students," she said, adding: "I think our schools need to be rewarded at all levels, whether it's the students or the staff."

Burroughs noted that the community has big decisions to make regarding major expenses over the next few years.

"I desire transparency throughout the whole process. People have to have all the information in order to make informed decisions," she said. "I am anticipating Proposition 2 1/2 override requests by the School Department for purchasing buses as well as a debt exclusion for books. I don't believe that those are necessarily the right answers to meeting those demands."

Burroughs said she is frustrated with the addition of instructional leaders to the schools, which she sees as another layer of administration.

"Our current superintendent ... said he was going to reduce administrative costs. And he's done the opposite. I think he's almost doubled them," she said, referring to the instructional leaders.

Burroughs said the administration is "adding middle management ... rather than adding things to lower levels where the kids are."

"That breaks my heart," Burroughs continued. "If we didn't have these guys, we could afford the books! I believe that we have staff in our schools who are capable of doing this already."

Burroughs said she'd also like to "get a handle on the many nonprofits involved with our schools."

"They're enough to make one's head spin, and according to a local principal, it does," Burroughs said.

She said principals should have more control over nonprofit scheduling in the schools and the recording of cash receipts from events.

Burroughs, who graduated from Burdett School of Accounting, said her experience in bookkeeping and business can help in that process.

"We have to improve and make sure we're keeping our eyes on the money," she said.

Burroughs, 47, has decades of experience coaching and involvement in youth sports. She currently serves as president of the Wareham Special Education Parent Advisory Council (WSEPAC) and was recently appointed to a full member of the Council on Aging after serving as an associate member.

"It's through coaching and working for families that I get information and knowledge about what the needs of the community are," she said. "By networking with parents and teachers, you hear the good things and you hear the things that could use some improvement."

In coaching cheerleading, Burroughs noticed that students would truly understand how to do a certain stunt or move when she helped them do it, rather than just showing them how to do it. This, she said, she can apply to Wareham's schools.

"I know that kids in elementary school might need extra help at getting them to do the things that we require them to do," she said. "More of a hands-on approach."

Burroughs, a Christian singer-songwriter, said she hopes to combine all of her roles in town to build a better community. She wants to get students involved with the seniors at the Council on Aging and its food pantry for school-to-work experience, and see if there is work that students can do in other town departments, such as Municipal Maintenance.

"I see us all being able to come together," Burroughs said. "I think I can take my three hats and make them into one big hat, just glorify the town in the process and open doors for us."