Candidates for D-R Regional School Committee

Incumbent Katie Ferreira-Aubin is facing Robert Owens and Karen DaSilva in the contest for two open three year seats on the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee. The town election is April 2. Profiles are below.

Katie Ferreira-Aubin
Ferreira-Aubin says providing a “quality curriculum, a productive, transparent budget process to help the taxpayers understand how their tax dollars are being spent, and protecting girls’ sports” are her top priorities.

“I bring a passion for quality education to our community, a voice for community members that may feel uncomfortable bringing forward,” said Ferreira-Aubin, who was elected in 2021. “I am an active listener and solution focused in resolving problems.”

Ferreira-Aubin serves as chair of the policy subcommittee. “I have fixed and passed many neglected policies that have been overlooked for years,” she noted. “I am a part of the negotiations subcommittee as well and have negotiated successfully with the other School Committee members contracts with secretaries, paras and teachers.”   

Ferreira-Aubin is married with one daughter and one stepdaughter. She has her own mental health practice. She attended Rhode Island College, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, then attended Providence College for a Masters degree in Educational Counseling. 

Most residents have responded positively to her candidacy. “I don't think any political campaign is all positive or all negative,” Ferreira-Aubin added. “If anyone states it's all amazing they are not being truthful.”  

Karen DaSilva
DaSilva, who grew up in North Dighton, promises to bring a “fresh perspective” to the school committee. “I would like to have a say, or a greater depth of knowledge of what’s going on in the schools,” DaSilva said, noting communication between the school department and parents has improved.

She is married and has three children, one of them attended D-R, the other Bristol-Plymouth. One is attending Palmer River Elementary School.

The school budget is a top concern, as well as school safety. “We’re going to be faced with a lot of issues in town,” DaSilva said. “We will probably have to make some tough decisions and do some cuts.”

DaSilva has a background in finance, which she believes will be an asset to the committee. She currently works in the field of computer information systems. DaSilva has been a member of the PTSA, the Town Fair Committee, and the IT Advisory Committee.

DaSilva’s family has been supportive of her candidacy: “they’re excited for me.”

Robert Owens
Owens grew up in Rehoboth and is employed as a senior biochemist. Owens is married and has a daughter who attends Palmer River Elementary School.

His top priorities include a greater focus on curriculum development, testing and assessment, teacher training, and technology use.

The shrinking population at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School is one of his concerns. “If you look at the numbers, what really hurt is Covid,” Owens said. “During that time, the population throughout the district really declined. It’s starting to bounce back, you can see that in the numbers. I believe the numbers will improve (at the high school) to the pre-Covid numbers but that’s going to take time.”

The district has hired retention coordinators in an effort to keep eighth grade students from leaving the district after graduation.

Owens is also concerned about cuts which have been made to various programs in the district. “The schools do need to ask for more funds. They need to do that in a way that is very clear and concise and consistent and really spells out where the money is going.”

Owens has been active in the school community and said residents are enthusiastic about his candidacy.

Owens also believes in “collaborating, finding novel solutions, and trying to make things work.”