About CCGS: Origins
The origins of Concord Community for Great Schools (CCGS) trace back to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, the Concord Public Schools administration showed exceptional leadership in navigating both the public health crisis and the complex political environment. This period was pivotal for many families, as back-to-school guidelines greatly impacted how they balanced work and family responsibilities.
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One of our members initiated a small gesture of gratitude—gathering signatures for a "Thank You" plaque to recognize Superintendent Laurie Hunter and her team for their leadership during that challenging period. What started as a simple gesture of appreciation quickly gained momentum, with 137 families, parents and caregivers joining in to express their thanks in the form of messages compiled into a document and hand-delivered.
From there, he began attending School Committee meetings and reporting back to a group of engaged parents. That organic growth led to the creation of CCGS in 2023, essentially a website and newsletter designed to keep busy families in the know. This same group of parents comprises CCGS today.
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As interest in school-related issues increased—especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, when families were grappling with learning loss and student mental health challenges—the demand for clear, centralized updates became apparent. Parents wanted to stay informed but didn’t always have time to attend meetings or track discussions. The updates were shared informally at first, then forwarded more widely, until the audience outgrew texts and emails. Over time, the platforms we communicate on have evolved, but CCGS’s purpose remains the same: to provide clear, accessible information about our schools and School Committee activities.
CCGS does not engage in fundraising for candidates or make candidate donations. We don’t have a chair or leader, we work in a collaborative way and seek consensus before making any endorsements or recommendations. We have issued calls to action for the community, including to attend town meeting, attend school committee and other committee meetings and support school budgets. Further, we have urged the parent community to contribute to local assistance programs such as the Hugh Cargill Trust and the town’s Tax Relief Fund.
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In response to growing interest in local elections from people who receive our newsletter, we recently endorsed two School Committee candidates. We hosted three candidate forums, where we asked each candidate the same set of questions. Based on these discussions, we have endorsed candidates who demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with all educational stakeholders and across town government. As we deepen our engagement in this process, we continue refining our approach to conducting forums and issuing endorsements.
