Lewiston School Committee at-large

John Butler and Megan Parks are running for Lewiston School Committee at-large on Nov. 3, 2015. Learn about more candidates and issues in our Election 2015 guide.

Name:

John T. Butler Jr.

Email address:

jbutler@butlerbros.com

Occupation or primary source of income:

Outside sales person for Butler Brothers.

Education:

B.A in political science from Saint Michael’s in Winooski, Vt.

Family information:

Married to Ann Butler for 33 years I have three grown children, who all attended Lewiston public schools. I have three grandchildren, with one at Montello School. Lifelong Lewiston resident.

Public offices sought or held:

Sixteen years on the Lewiston School Committee; four years on the Lewiston City Council; member of Maine Department of Education Safe and Drug Free School Task Force; member of the DOE Truancy Dropout and Alternative Education Committee; past regional director of the Maine School Board Association.

Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?

I am running because I feel I have a lot to offer as I believe I have done in the past. I believe in the best education possible for every student and that in a safe, respectful environment it occurs.

Was the last $64.7 million school budget passed too low, too high or just right? And would you support a school budget that boosts program spending, maintains or cuts program spending and why?

The school budget passed was at the minimum local requirement as determined by the state funding formula of Essential Programs and Services. Any lower we would have lost $2.50 for every dollar we cut. On a $100,000 cut we would have lost $350,000.

I do support to continue our minimum local requirement as a practice and see what the numbers allow us to do.

After rolling out Proficiency Based Learning and new diplomas for the Class of 2018, the administrators changed direction and have now delayed the new diplomas until 2021, while other parts of PBL are being implemented now. Is that a good idea or not? Why?

Proficiency Based Learning can work as long as everyone is involved to include students, parents,teachers, support staff and administrators. They all should be on the same page of understanding how PBL works.

This is a process that is knowledge-based and that is why we send our children and grandchildren to school.

Classroom overcrowding has been a concern. Do you favor hiring more teachers to reduce classroom sizes? If yes, where should the money come from?

Classroom size is an issue that deserves further investigation. We have to look at a budget that all citizens approve in a referendum and our Essential Services and Program numbers to determine future staffing levels.

In an ideal world low student-teacher ratios are best for learning.

The school committee recently voted to build a new elementary school near Lewiston High School that combines and replaces the Martel and Longley schools and gives the city improved athletic fields. Do you favor this plan?

The new proposed school location is a great site. It is in the Longley district with no additional transportation cost in the Martel district, and we own the property. Moving and improving the fields is a bonus and the state is willing to pay for that.

This is win/win situation and a great opportunity for all of Lewiston residents.

Name:

Megan D. Parks

Email address:

megandparks@gmail.com

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/ElectMeganParks

Occupation or primary source of income:

Mental health case manager and substance abuse counselor

Education:

I started kindergarten at Pettingill Elementary in 1983 and after a period of homeschooling through middle school, I graduated from Lewiston High School in 1995.

I spent a year at USM in the elementary education program before giving a year each to dental school and cosmetology school.

Desiring a career change in 2009, I returned as a non-traditional student, earning multiple degrees in business administration, psychology and human services through Kaplan University and Muskie School of Public Service/USM, and will graduate with my master’s of social work in September 2016.

Family information:

I am a third generation Franco-American, proudly born and raised in Lewiston. I am married, have a daughter in eighth grade at LMS and a son in first grade at Geiger, and a deaf Boxer named Lily.

Public offices sought or held:

Lewiston Public School’s Redistricting Committee 2014-15. I am also a member of the board of directors for The Jubilee Center; a volunteer at the Androscoggin Humane Society, and Lewiston Little League (formerly Elliot Ave Little League); and a proud supporter of Community Little Theatre and The Woman’s Literary Union in Auburn.

Why are you running for office? Why should voters select you for this job?

I’ve found that many parents and teachers feel like they do not have a voice in decisions that directly affect us, or they may not have the free time to devote to fully participating in these decisions that can sometimes carryover from month-to-month.

If elected, I will commit not only to attending meetings, but to participating fully in each meeting, and soliciting input from those who want to contribute but cannot. I am not afraid to ask the questions that no one wants to hear, and I will aim to always take a multi-perspective look at each subject.

I have no personal or political affiliations to sway my vote, and I will never vote with the majority for the sake of peacekeeping only. I am passionate about my community, and I would be proud to be chosen to represent all of Lewiston’s residents. My political/civic experience may not span decades, but I feel very strongly that my dedication and fresh ideas come as a benefit to our aging School Committee.

Was the last $64.7 million school budget passed too low, too high or just right? And would you support a school budget that boosts program spending, maintains or cuts program spending and why?

I don’t think any budget is ever “just right,” but I do think committee members do the best they can with what they have.

With this year’s budget there was a lot of back and forth, which indicates to me that the process was taken very seriously by those involved, and that alone deserves respect. When millions of dollars of taxpayer money is being discussed, committee members have the obligation to examine each and every line item, big or small, to see where this money is going.

We all want our schools to have as much money as possible and understand the importance of a well-financed education and competitively paid staff, but we also want this money to be spent as effectively as possible. I feel that it is very important to solicit input from our teachers for their front-line perspectives on what is needed where the rubber meets the road and what we could afford to sacrifice, finding financial balance while still providing a quality education.

I believe that the program was introduced prematurely, having a negative impact on students and teachers. I am glad that implementation has been delayed until 2021, giving everyone time to ease into these changes in a more organized and well-informed manner.

Classroom overcrowding has been a concern. Do you favor hiring more teachers to reduce classroom sizes? If yes, where should the money come from?

Classroom overcrowding is a big concern for me. I do feel that hiring more teachers would be beneficial, but I also believe that through restructuring of current staff and space, and possible slight adjustments to current district lines when the new elementary school opens, much of our current overcrowding problems can be managed with very little added expense.

Adjusting district lines is another hot button topic, but I think historically it has been approached in unnecessarily drastic ways, which I do not agree with, causing understandable fear and very little acceptance.

As a member of the Redistricting Committee I took my role very seriously when making decisions that I felt were in the best interests of Lewiston students as a whole, and I am so pleased that the new school will be in a central location for both Longley and Martel families, but I have some questions and concerns over the location and its proximity to the high school.

Improving our athletic fields is a very enticing draw and I’d love to see LHS acquire Drouin field as the new softball space, but I would like to know more of the fine print details on the expense for this and who will cover that expense.