At-large seat representing the entire city

Write-in candidate Abdullahi Abdulle

Age: 53

Address: 37 Spruce St.

Occupation: Business owner, Smart Interpreters, 284 Lisbon St., Lewiston

Education: Bachelor of Science degree, nursing diploma

Political experience: None.

Community experience: Chairman of African Immigrant Association; former member of Many and One rally, a leader in Somali immigrant community.

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

I won’t know until I’m a member of the Lewiston School Committee; I need to go in to know the answer. (But one problem is that many immigrant students in Lewiston) grew up in refugee camps in Africa with no formal education, and the fact remains that the majority of these children did not receive basic education, and continue to experience significant problems learning in our educational system.

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

Every child has a school, a place to go to, a chance to learn. That’s good. Back home in Africa that didn’t happen. I want to support improved ways of teaching to improve student grades.

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

The education is good. The issue is how the families and school and children connect, the language and cultural barriers. … Most of the parents lack education and have no relation to the school system. Some parents find it difficult to help their children with homework and advocate, because of the language barrier and cultural difference. In large families parents struggle to raise children. That makes it more difficult to follow each child in the family. … If I am elected to the school board I will be a role model to our immigrant community in Lewiston and the state. I can help bridge the gap between the school system and immigrants, and together we can improve the quality of education of our immigrant children.

Superintendent Bill Webster has released projections showing Lewiston’s enrollment will continue to grow at 100 students per year, and that more space is needed. He’s recommending turning the Lewiston Multi-Purpose Center into a prekindergarten school for the city, expanding the middle school and McMahon. Lewiston seniors do not want to give up their space at the Multi-Purpose Center. Do you approve or disapprove of this plan?

To improve or expand the school buildings is important, but I believe that community involvement and perhaps approval must be sought first before making the final decision on this matter.

When the next proposed Lewiston school budget comes out, would you favor flat-funding, a higher budget or a lower budget?

I am not sure. I would want to see (budget documents) and think about it.