Forum hosts Island school board, Deer Isle select board candidates

A Meet the Candidates event hosted by the Deer Isle Sunset Congregational Church provided an opportunity for the community to interact with two candidates running for one seat on the Deer Isle select board and four candidates vying for two Community School District 13 school board seats: three declared candidates and write-in Jessica Lynne Witham.

- BY JENNA LOOKNER

On Monday afternoon, February 17, approximately 50 people gathered as candidates fielded a variety of audience-submitted questions. The forum was moderated by Alan Chesney.

"The Island has a proud tradition of democratic decision making," Chesney said. He added that the event was conducted to give voters an opportunity to learn about the candidates and make informed decisions at the polls.

Chesney asked each candidate to briefly introduce themselves, beginning with select board candidates Ken Kral Jr. and Patricia Oliver. Next came school board candidates Skip Greenlaw, incumbent Darian Gove, Sarah Heanssler and Jessica Lynne Witham.

School board candidates address questions

Questions were submitted to Chesney, some in advance and others throughout the event.

During the forum, candidates addressed a myriad of questions, from facility maintenance to bullying, including what they would do to help restore stability to Deer Isle-Stonington Schools.

"I am really concerned about the scores recently published by the state," Greenlaw said. "I don't know what the issue is right now."

He added that he thinks it is imperative that parents read to their children and sees an opportunity for former teachers and community members to come into the schools and mentor students. He said he has emailed the Commissioner of Education about techniques for reading proficiency. "It really takes a whole community to get our children educated." Greenlaw added that he would be in favor of hiring someone to do an evaluation of school building needs in order to begin them.

Gove said that staff retention is one of the biggest issues the schools face.

"We need to listen to the teachers and administrators and provide the resources they need to do their jobs," she said. "Getting and keeping those resources are really important."