LEWISTON — Lewiston School Committee Chairman Megan Parks, 45, is seeking reelection for her at-large seat. She is a senior clinician for inpatient behavioral health at St. Mary’s Health System. She is seeking her fifth term and has chaired the committee for three of those years.

Community engagement:

Trinity Jubilee Center board member, 2013-present; American Red Cross disaster responder, 2020-present; Androscoggin County Jail board member, 2019-present; Lewiston Area Public Health Committee, 2020-present; The Store Next Door board member, 2023-present; Lewiston Poverty Committee, 2019-2022; City Spirit Committee, 2018-present; Lewiston Public Schools Redistricting Committee, parent appointment, 2013; Lewiston High School Swim Team boosters, 2016-2020; Lewiston High School Softball boosters, 2016-2020; St Mary’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, 2022-present; Maine Department of Education, Leadership Development Fellowship cohort member, 2021; Community Little Theater, volunteer/parent/cast member, 2010-2015; Lewiston baseball/softball/Little League (formerly Elliot) volunteer, 2006-2014; Greater Androscoggin Humane Society volunteer, 2001-Present

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

I don’t believe that allocating more funds or pulling back spending are the only two options. I believe that current funding levels can be maintained and better allocated to meet the unique needs of our community’s schools while respecting taxpayers and those on fixed incomes. I am a proponent of hearing the biggest needs directly from our educators and school-level administrators, and using that information to build the best budget that addresses those needs.

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

Yes, student and staff safety is the top priority in our schools. I support evidence-based initiatives that address student safety, including reducing the prevalence of weapons, fighting and bullying in our schools. Addressing lower-level behaviors as they occur can often prevent situations from growing into some of the bigger offenses that have come before the School Committee, such as group fights and threats of violence. Enforcing a zero-tolerance bullying policy with greater consequences for first offenses would also prevent a lot of safety issues we see.

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

Following two years of pandemic living, students’ social and emotional needs have been at an all-time high resulting in increased behavioral issues in our classrooms. Our educators and support staff have done amazing work at meeting these needs and addressing behaviors while providing a quality education but everyone is spread so thin. We need to be able to hire, retain and appropriately pay quality staff to reduce class sizes, address behavioral issues before they impact other students’ learning and restore much needed structure and expectations to our classrooms.

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 believe most parents and community members have adequate access but there are many non-English speaking families that might not have the same ease of access. Anyone can email or call committee members, or attend committee meetings to speak during public comment. Interpreter services can be available when needed. Additionally, community meetings are held monthly within the immigrant community to provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions and voice any concerns. A few School Committee members attend these monthly meetings. I think School Committee members are mostly accessible but we could always do better to hear from the folks we serve.

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