In the race for two spots on the Bow School Board, incumbents Melynie Klunk and Jenna Reardon are facing off against parent Judson Malone, whose perspective on education freedom accounts sets him apart from the serving board members.
Klunk, an educator and Bow resident for 20 years, is running for re-election to a second term. She believes her educational background gives her a unique understanding of the complexities of the school system.
She said that no matter how difficult things are, she tries to see both sides of the issue before making a choice.
“While I’m willing to compromise, if I see something is is wrong, I’m not able to be intimidated easily,” said Klunk. “I’m somebody who is not doing the job for myself. I really am doing it to try and give back to my community.”
Reardon, who works as a nurse practitioner, is seeking her third term on the board. She said her time on the board has given her experience in negotiating teacher contracts and managing budgets
“I feel like the amount of knowledge I have from going through all of those processes gives me a good perspective and a good insight to where we need to go to stay strong,” said Reardon. “I am dedicated to the community and I’m dedicated to our public schools.”
Malone, a mechanical engineer and father of four in the Bow school district, is running to bring a fresh perspective to the board. While not an educator himself, Malone believes his problem-solving background and engineering skills will help him tackle the district’s challenges, particularly in funding and policy.
He said he attends school board meetings regularly but felt that it was time to be on the other side.
“I just decided this was the year I could commit myself to joining the board, going a little deeper, and actually getting involved in those actual board-level conversations, outside of just the public sessions that I was able to attend,” said Malone.
Reardon said the state’s school voucher program is neither effective nor functioning as intended.
“I feel that funding would be better spent being put towards public education,” said Reardon. “
Klunk said the money would be better spent directed towards public schools and thinks expanding the program to any family regardless of income would be misguided.
“If you keep it to the people that their school district, for whatever reason, isn’t working well for them and they cannot afford to do something else, I think that that made sense,” she said.
Malone, on the other hand, sees education freedom accounts as a creative solution. He agrees that the program needs evaluation but doesn’t think comparing how EFA money is spent to public schools is a fair assessment.
“To look at individuals who are maybe choosing to spend their money that’s provided by the government for things that aren’t strictly curriculum books is taking a pretty narrow view on it,” Malone said.
WHEN AND WHERE: Election Day is March 11, with voters able to cast their ballots at the Bow Community Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The annual school district meeting will be held on March 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bow High School Auditorium.
