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School Board Candidate Kenneth Martin
| Name: | Kenneth Martin 
|
| Office: | School Board |
| Term of Office: | 3 |
| Years Resident: | 3.5 |
| Contact Info: | kmartin1000@comcast.net |
| Website: | kenmartin4schoolboard.com |
| Offices/Community Involvement: | New Hampshire Music Educators Association Executive Board 2010-present |
| Why am I Running: | I'm running for school board because it's something I've always wanted to do, regardless of where I have lived and what has gone on with my local board either currently or at the time. I lived and taught in the same town for a long time so there was a clear conflict of interest there. But I'm in a situation where I believe I can do both now. I am a big advocate for public schools having been a part of the public school system my entire life. I'm also a huge believer in public service and feel that everyone should be involved in the decision making process in their community. It just so happens that discussions around schools and education is where I feel most comfortable and so I think my skill set is best utilized in this area. |
| What do you plan on accomplishing while in Office: |
My top 4 priorities if elected are: * Rebuild curriculum from the ground up to fill in the gaps the pandemic has created and establish academic recovery programs * Re-establish trust and transparency. Trust between the community and our schools and ensure everyone's voice is heard * Address our student retention rate and find where the disconnect occurs * Create a 21st century learning environment that provides tools for our students to be successful in the real world. |
| Candidate Statement: | I am very new to town and my son has just begun his schooling in the Merrimack School District and I still have a lot to learn about the inner workings of our schools. I feel I make up for lack of history with our town with a lifetime of experience in a wide range of public school settings and in multiple public school districts, both as a student and a K-12 educator. With so many great candidates running this year our community has a very tough decision to make. I look forward to working with all of you in an effort to move the Merrimack School District forward whether it's as a member of the school board or as community member supporting our students. |
| School District Articles Below were questions asked of the candidates running for School District Positions |
|
| Article 2 Accept Gifts: |
Yes |
| Comments | This is standard language in town agreements with their school board and allows for school districts to accept donations from the public and community without having to put said donations to a vote. |
| Article 3 Support Contract |
Yes |
| Comments | Support staff are the backbone and unsung heroes of all school districts. With the contract saving the district money over it's years, I see this as a win-win situation our these valuable employees and the community. |
| Article 4 Spec. Mtg A3: |
Yes |
| Comments | It would be necessary if the contract does not pass. |
| Article 5 Ventilators |
Yes |
| Comments | The pandemic has brought the deficiencies in school ventilation systems to the forefront of conversation in regards to bringing students back to school safely. This is a long overdue upgrade for some of the oldest and most frequently used buildings in our town. |
| Article 6 Disband Budget Committee |
No |
| Comments | The budget committee doesn't cost anything for the to town maintain and provides multiple sets of eyes and opinions on the school operating budget to allow for transparency. Additionally it provides more opportunity for community members to serve their town. When headed to the voting booth, I always look to the recommendations of both the board and the budget committee when making my decisions. |
| Article 7 Budget |
Yes |
| Comments | The increase reflects obligations that will be felt by all school districts in NH and are mainly centered around the increase from the NH retirement system employer contribution, which we are legally obligated to meet, as well as an increased need for student support services to address technology and academic gaps created by the pandemic. I commend our budget committee, administration and school board for their efforts by finding ways to limit the tax impact while maintaining the integrity of our K-12 curriculum and program offerings during these unprecedented times. |
| School District Non Ballot Questions Below were questions asked of all candidates |
|
| Question 1 |
What is your stance on travel and quarantine policy? Do we make up our own school
policy or do we follow what the CDC and DHHS has a current policy and keep up to date
with them.
|
| Response: | School districts are not made up of scientists and researchers who have dedicated their careers to the study of human health and the effects of disease and illnesses. We need to adhere to the advice of the people whose job it is to educate the country on best health practices when it comes to travel and quarantine. I can understand why many might be frustrated with the constantly changing information coming from these groups but when you're dealing with an unprecedented, once in a lifetime health crisis then you need to be flexible. Choosing your own path that doesn't align with national guidance can create confusion and inconsistencies |
| Question 2 |
What is your stance on continuing the REAL academy for those who cannot safely
return to school or choose not to until there is a vaccine for children.
|
| Response: | Until we're on the other side of this pandemic all academic options need to be on the table in order to accommodate all of our families. I think there were lots of surprised families, teachers and administrators who discovered that not only can we provide a sufficient remote learning model but also that there are families who thrive in this environment. My hope is that school districts will look at possibly continuing this option even once the pandemic is behind us if there is a call for it. |
| Question 3 |
What is the role of the School Board and what differences do you see with their role
versus the role of administration?
|
| Response: | The school board's role is to work in collaboration with the superintendent in the best interests of our students. There is a common misunderstanding about what the school board is able to do. Many think it's job is to control and dictate all facets of daily operations in a school district. This is inaccurate. As issues arise and find their way to the board it is their job to discuss, explore and deliberate these issues with the guiding principle of "what is best for our students?". The superintendent runs the school district while the school board advises, challenges, supports and questions the superintendent and their decisions. |
| Question 4 |
What are your thoughts about full-day kindergarten?
|
| Response: | Full-day kindergarten is a big reason why we moved to Merrimack. It lays the foundation for our students to succeed in a full-time educational environment. For years studies have shown that many young students thrive with routine and consistency. Establishing these routines while fostering relationships with educators at this age gives our youngest and most vulnerable students the building blocks to their educational success. We had a great experience with full-day kindergarten here in Merrimack. |
| Question 5 |
What are your thoughts on college and career readiness?
|
| Response: | A key goal of every school district is to prepare our students for the real world. College continues to be a fantastic and appropriate path for many students and schools have historically done very well in preparing those students for those next steps. However, the world has changed and college is no longer the top option for many families. I take issue with how much emphasis many school districts place on going to college. It's a source of extreme anxiety as well as emotional and financial stress for so many of my students. I have many examples of individuals in my own life who have chosen a different path other than college and are doing incredibly well. Many have started their own companies, focused on a trade or explored the armed services and are thriving. I also know so many people who have been out of college for decades, are still paying off their loans and earned a degree they never use. College is not the end all for everyone and schools need to realize this. Schools need to empower students to discover their passions and find a path that works for them. Exposing students to as many career options as possible is critical to preparing our students for the real world. If we want out students to be prepared for the real world we need to look like the real world. |
| Question 6 |
What are your thoughts on Vocational programs and how would you improve the
programs what we have now?
|
| Response: | You can read my answer to question #5 to see where I stand on vocational programs. I support them wholeheartedly and they need to be accessible to all of our students. These programs can show a student a career path they never even considered and can prove to be life changing in the right setting. Being new to our schools I can't pretend to claim I know all of the offerings we currently have but creating relationships with local businesses, trade schools and vocational programs only benefits our students and provides more opportunities. Growing up in Manchester and being able to access the Manchester School of Technology in high school paved the way for so many of my friends to find where their interests lie. I see many of my students utilizing the fantastic opportunities at the Seacoast School of Technology and how much they benefit from them. |
| Question 7 |
What are your thoughts on ELO's (extended learning opportunities)?
|
| Response: | I see the positive impacts of ELO's first hand in my school district as our program is incredibly strong and vibrant. I've even had the opportunity to work with a number of students to accomplish their ELO goals. Some of the ELO's I've had the opportunity to guide students through have included; conducting an instrumental ensemble, composing and arranging a piece of music for a jazz ensemble as well as music production and recording. Working one on one with a motivated student in their area of focus has been such a thrill to literally watch their learning and passion activate in real time. The highlight has always been the capstone project at the end of the ELO experience to showcase what the students have learned. I've seen students build houses, intern with hospitals, create a clothing line, establish a jewelry company and so many more. I can't say enough positive things about ELO's. |
| Question 8 |
Do you find value in benchmarking us against other districts and if so, how?
|
| Response: | I think it's important to know what happens in other school districts so we can hear and learn about best practices and what works along with what doesn't. Collaboration with our educational partners is critical for our success and I value those partnerships greatly. I get so many wonderful ideas from my colleagues around New Hampshire. But I do think we have to be careful when comparing ourselves to other school districts. Town demographics, culture and climate, size, location and so many other factors play a huge role in a school's offerings and day to day functions. There's no harm in a compare and contrast exercise but it's important to keep in mind how many different elements come into play when it comes to how a school district is run. |
| Question 9 |
Please share your thoughts on how Merrimack is currently doing working with
students who have additional and special needs, and if you see any changes that should
be made, etc.
|
| Response: | Without any personal experience with the additional and special needs programs in our district I have had to rely on my conversations with the families that have used them. Like most things, opinions vary. Some have raved about those programs and educators and credit them with their students' success. Others feel unheard, ignored and disenfranchised. This difference in opinion exists in every school district I've ever worked in. As hard as we try to make education as accessible as possible to all of our students, we don't always succeed and we need to own that and learn from that. If a family feels we didn't provide the necessary support and accommodations for their child then we need to hear that and build a better program. Adversely the families who have benefited from these programs can provide insight and guidance into what works. |
| Question 10 |
If there is a budget cut, what would you cut first?
|
| Response: | I could be mistaken here and showing my ignorance but I don't believe the role of the school is to make cuts in the budget. I believe that is the responsibility of the superintendent and the budget committee. |