When I made the decision to run for school board, it wasn’t about politics. It was about people—students, families, educators, and the future of our public schools.
As a parent of three — including two Littlestown graduates and a rising high schooler—and someone who has spent the past several years working with and supporting local nonprofits, I care deeply about student success and the well-being of our entire community.
But lately, I’ve watched political division make its way into what should be a space for thoughtful, solution-focused conversation.
One example is the criticism of cross-filing, a transparent and long-standing part of Pennsylvania’s election process. Cross-filing allows school board candidates to appear on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots—a practice designed to reflect the non-partisan nature of school board service. In fact, more than 90% of U.S. school board elections are nonpartisan and have been for over a century.
This isn’t about hiding affiliations. It’s about encouraging leadership that serves everyone, not just one side. And there’s good reason for that.
Research shows that high-quality school board governance depends on collaboration and shared goals, not political point-scoring. Studies of board members in states like Georgia and North Carolina indicate that when school board elections become partisan, the board’s decision-making suffers. Members become more adversarial, less able to collaborate, and more likely to evaluate ideas through a political lens — rather than focusing on student outcomes.
In contrast, effective boards are marked by trust, cooperation, and a shared commitment to student achievement and well-being. Their work is grounded in policy, not partisanship — and their goal is clear: helping the nearly 50 million public school students in this country grow into responsible, capable adults.
That’s why I chose to cross-file. Because I believe leadership on our school board should reflect the diverse voices of this community — not divide them.
I stand with students.
I stand with parents and caregivers.
I stand with teachers, administrators, and support staff.
And I stand with community members who expect respectful, responsive, and responsible governance.
If you’d like to know more about my values or vision, I welcome the conversation. I’m here to listen, learn, and lead with integrity.
It’s time to take the politics out of our classrooms—and return our focus to what matters most: students, schools, and a future built on respect and reason.
Rachel Hutchison, Candidate for School Director, Littlestown Area School District
As a citizen, one of the most maddening things I face at election time is the near total lack of any information about candidates and what they stand for. Groups like Spotlight PA (free online statewide news coverage available free to state media) provide hand guides to candidates for statewide office like judges and major offices, but coverage of local school boards is woefully inadequate. I agree with the author that we have too much politics in school board elections these days, but I also am deeply opposed to efforts by some candidates to politicize the process by trying to… Read more »