LEWISTON — School Committee Ward 5 incumbent Ashley Medina is running for reelection. The Maine Community Integration program coordinator hopes to serve her second term on the committee.

Community engagement: Healthy Neighborhoods president, Community Concepts board of directors member

How would you manage the school budget? Allocate more funds to schools or pull back spending? Why?

Transparency is important and I believe in a balanced approach to managing the school budget. It’s important to address the community’s concerns about the cost of living and potential tax increases, however we must also prioritize supporting our schools to ensure a quality education for all students. I advocate for a careful examination of the budget to identify areas that can be efficiently improved without compromising educational quality and without compromising important resources needed for our most vulnerable students. I advocate that we explore opportunities to secure additional funding to meet our schools’ unique needs.

Do you believe student safety is a priority and would you support initiatives that address safety issues?

Absolutely, student safety is a priority and I fully support initiatives that address safety issues within our schools. I think it’s important that we implement measures to enhance physical safety, such as security protocols and emergency response plans, as well as focusing on the emotional and mental well-being of students. It’s also important that we invest in professional development opportunities for our educators and school personnel. It will equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to strengthen their ability to ensure the safety and well-being of students while also promoting a productive learning environment.

Do you believe students’ social and emotional needs are being met in schools? What could be done differently?

I think that educators and school personnel work hard to support all students as best as they can. I think that it can be challenging to tend to all students’ needs, especially with big classroom sizes. It is also important to remember that our district has many students living in poverty with elevated Adverse Childhood Experiences. These students often face significant emotional and behavioral challenges due to their circumstances and they need a lot of support that extends beyond the classroom. Holding educational sessions on social-emotional learning that families can attend would help align their efforts with those of the school.

Do you believe parents and community members have adequate access to the committee members at meetings or through other methods to express concerns and frustrations?

I think there is adequate access to the committee for those who understand the system but many people don’t know how to do that, nor do they understand the school committee’s role. Language barriers also hinder effective communication and the constraints of time, particularly for working parents or guardians, limit their ability to engage meaningfully with both the committee and the schools. To encourage more engagement from different parts of our community I believe we should educate people about the committee’s function, inform people about how to navigate the system, hold flexible workshops for community members and educate students.

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