I’ve been a teacher for thirty years and I care deeply about electing Shannon Chandley to address education in NH. As a parent of three public school students, she shares my deep concerns about the direction of education policy in our state. These last two years, the Republican legislature has enacted extreme partisan bills that target public schools. Specifically, the NH ‘Education Freedom Accounts’ bill has delivered fiscally disastrous outcomes not only to the bottom line of our state, but to local school districts. This bill, which provides public funding for private or religious education, was initially only supposed to cost the state $115,000. That has since ballooned to almost $15 million. That funding would’ve gone to our public schools but instead, now goes to private institutions.
With the loss of funding, our town’s property owners will be asked to pick up the difference through higher property taxes. We simply cannot afford this misdirected and extreme partisan education policy. The hamstringing of our educated and professionally certified teachers with “divisive concepts” legislation that promotes a false narrative of indoctrination must be remedied. Our public school students, public school teachers, and property tax payers all deserve better. This November 8th, we have the opportunity to do something. I’m voting for Shannon Chandley for State Senate. Shannon understands that a strong public education is the bedrock of our communities and our economy. She will fight to keep our tax dollars in our public schools. Please join me in voting for Shannon Chandley.
Beth Haverkamp Powers
Amherst