LEWISTON — Parent and community member Megan Parks aims to increase her involvement in School Department decisions by seeking the citywide at-large seat on the School Committee.

Parks, who lives in Ward 2, is seeking the seat formerly held by Cynthia Mendros. She’s facing John Butler in the Nov. 3 election.

In a written statement, Parks said she’s started taking a more active role in school department policy by serving of the redistricting committee, which considered the city’s role in replacing Longley and Martel schools.

Parks said she wants to improve representation opportunities for all residents and said she’s not afraid to “speak against the grain when necessary.” Decisions should reflect the best interests of everyone — students, teachers, parents and taxpayers alike, she wrote.

She said she plans to go beyond merely having open meetings and to proactively solicit the opinions of parents and teachers in making decisions, and trying to make the committee more responsive to community needs.

Parks has spent a lot of time researching the opt-out movement on standardized testing, and feels that in this regard the committee’s job is to foster an educational environment where all students thrive, not merely produce adequate test scores. Parks is committed to doing her part to improve the Lewiston school system and restoring pride and confidence in the students and educators, according to her statement.

Parks was born and raised in Lewiston. She attended Pettingill School and graduated from Lewiston High School. She has two children who attend Geiger Elementary School and Lewiston Middle School. She works as a case manager and substance abuse counselor in the community.

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