For Pat Nugent, public service is a good fit both personally and professionally.
A lifelong Lowell-area resident and graduate of Lowell High School, Nugent was first elected to the Board of Education in 1998. As the senior school board member he has now served under three superintendents. A math and history teacher at West Catholic High since 1993, Nugent called the board “a natural place where I can put my skills to use in the community.”
| Pat Nugent was that student He was the Lowell High School valedictorian. “I’ve always enjoyed school and did very well in school,” said longtime Board of Education member Pat Nugent. In high school he served on the debate team, in forensics, and participated in Close Up where he visited Washington D.C. with classmates. Not in it for the money His advice to today’s students |
“There is something to someone in the room having a store of knowledge and context that they can bring to the table. I can provide that,” Nugent said. “I have a desire to serve my community and as long as the community wants me, I think it’s a good fit.”
Serving in public office goes back at least a couple generations for Nugent. Both his grandfather and grandmother were involved in Grattan Township business, and an uncle was a township trustee. Another grandfather was a school board member in Orleans.
He also serves as secretary of the Grattan Township Historical Society, and with his father maintains cemetery functions and records. “When people die, we figure out where to put them,” Nugent said. He spends his free time — mostly in summers — researching and documenting township history. His most recent project has been area Civil War soldiers, which he suspects will become a book.
Nugent said the biggest challenge to board members is lack of local control, especially when it comes to finances.
“Our district is very conservative in our spending and relatively very stable in enrollment, yet we are constantly facing the threat from the state that we could have less money in future years,” Nugent said. “Whereas if we could control things on our own we would be a little more stable.
“That’s academics also,” he added. “There’s great benefit of working with other districts in terms of curriculum and assessment. But sometimes we’re not always sure that the state knows what’s best for Lowell Area Schools.”
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