Ward 7 — Martel, Farwell and Montello schools area

Thomas Shannon

Age: 58

Address: 53 Androscoggin Ave.

 Occupation: retail management

Education: John Bapst High School graduate, two years at University of Maine at Orono

Political experience: Veteran member of Lewiston School Committee

What is the biggest problem you perceive in Lewiston schools, and how will you work to correct it?

Space to deliver educational services is at a critical juncture. We must work to economically find the space needed. This will involve the city leaders, community leaders both seniors citizens and Somali residents, and the compilation of budgets going forward.

What do you think is going right in Lewiston schools, something you want to support?

We have gone to a growth model (or how much students have learned) in our student evaluations. This is a much truer evaluation of student needs and performance. As we move toward growth of student learning in the state’s evaluation process, Lewiston is well placed to be a leader again.

Lewiston’s student population of Somali immigrant students, many who are learning to speak English, continues to climb. Do you approve of how they’re being taught, where they’re going to school, how their needs are being met?

Our English as a Second Language services have grown in both size and quality. As we go forward in seeking adequate space for our growing student population, equitable demographic distribution of students needs to be a priority. Each of these factors will affect any budget proposal coming out of the Dingley Building this year.

Superintendent Bill Webster has released projections showing Lewiston’s enrollment will continue to grow at 100 students a year. He’s recommending turning the Multi-Purpose Building into a Pre-K school for the city, expanding the middle school, and expanding McMahon. Lewiston senior citizens do not want to give up their space at the Multi-Purpose Building. Do you approve, or disapprove?

I do not support senior programs being tossed out of the Multi-Purpose center without an acceptable relocation that won’t work equally well as a Pre-K location.