The Weare School District covers Center Wood Elementary School and Weare Middle School, which together have more than 800 pupils in kindergarten through 8th grade. High schoolers attend John Stark High School, which is located Weare and overseen by a regional school board.
Three candidates are seeking two open seats on Weare’s five-person School Board. Incumbents Christine Heath and Katie Lipp are running, as is Ermelinda Timmins.
Heath has lived in Weare for 23 years. Lipp and Timmins have both lived in town for 10 years.
The Monitor sent questionnaires to all select board and school board candidates running in towns within our coverage area.
What is your occupation or experience?
Heath: I have been teaching for 29 years, also working as a Cooperating Teacher for local colleges. I have been on the Weare School Board since 2020, and I belong to the Weare Friends PTO. But my most important experience is being the mom of two amazing young ladies.
Lipp: I work as a behavioral health consultant providing clinical, strategic and operational support to government agencies and health care organizations. I have served on the Weare School Board for one year.
Timmins: I’ve worked in higher education technology for over 12 years, focusing on systems that support students, faculty and institutional operations. My work has involved long-term planning, cross-functional collaboration and ensuring technology and resources are used effectively and responsibly to support educational goals.
Why are you running and what do you see as the most pressing issues in town?
Heath: I am running again to continue to support the good work that Weare Schools are doing. We have been working on teacher retention with improving salaries and implementing quality curriculum, and we’re starting to see the positive results. Our teachers and staff do a great job supporting the whole student, so that they can reach their potential, and I want to help this continue.
Lipp: Families in our community are feeling stretched and many are turning to the school budget, one of the few costs we can control, as a relief valve. As a parent and taxpayer myself, I feel that, too. At the same time, we have a constitutional and moral responsibility to provide an adequate, appropriate and equitable education to all students. My role is to make sure every dollar we spend locally is justified, transparent and directed to supporting student learning, while also advocating at the state level for a fair funding system that doesn’t over-rely on local taxes. A strong public school system is not only good for kids, it’s a financial investment that stabilizes property values and strengthens our community long term.
With several pieces of legislation pending, school boards will need to adapt quickly and thoughtfully. Our board has been working hard to stay ahead of upcoming changes and has built strong relationships that help us respond effectively. I am running for reelection because I care deeply about ensuring our district has the stability it needs.
Timmins: I’m running because in New Hampshire, we value local involvement and thoughtful decision-making, and I want to be part of that work. The most pressing issues I see are strengthening communication and trust, planning responsibly for the future and ensuring our schools remain safe and supportive places for students to learn.
What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected?
Heath: I would like to continue to participate in working on efficiencies across our SAU and find more ways to encourage community members to participate in our meetings to learn about our schools.
Lipp: Like many districts, Weare is experiencing significant growth in special education needs and the costs that come with them. We’re especially noticing higher needs in our youngest classes and this is something we’ll need to keep paying attention to. As the needs grow, so does the potential for Medicaid reimbursement. Medicaid billing can’t cover all costs, but it’s an important lever we should continue to strengthen.
We also have room to improve communication and engagement between the School Board, families and taxpayers and make participation more welcoming. We share a lot of information, but we’re realizing it doesn’t always reach people or may not be presented in a way that feels helpful. Offering plain language summaries, child care at hearings and deliberative sessions and clear explanations of how board meetings work could help more community members participate and feel connected.
Timmins: If elected, I hope to help reinforce the strong sense of community that defines New Hampshire — where local voices matter and decisions are made thoughtfully. I want to ensure students are supported, families feel heard and decisions are transparent and grounded in long-term planning.