Two Canterbury parents are facing off for a seat on the Shaker Regional School District School Board, which oversees Canterbury and Belmont schools. On the town side, Calvin Todd is running unopposed for selectman
Katelyn Fehn’s motivation for running to join Shaker Regional’s school board was simple: She saw a need. “I like to help the community, and I want to maintain quality education in our district,” she said.
Fehn, a purchasing professional in the Finance and Administration Department at the University System of New Hampshire, also volunteers with the Canterbury Recreation Committee. Previously, she worked in purchasing for the Concord Police Department.
She has two children enrolled at Canterbury Elementary and a 2-year-old.
As the need to replace the Shaker Regional HVAC system approaches, Fehn said her priority for the district is to make sure it is financially prepared. The replacement project is one she’d like to “make possible without adding to the property tax” by exploring alternative funding, such as grants and partnerships with community nonprofits.
Fehn is mindful of how new housing developments add to the student population at Shaker Regional, posing a challenge for administrators and teachers.
“We want to make sure the quality of education stays the same if we’re adding students to the district,” she said.
If elected, Fehn said she would attend State House meetings related to education to “keep an eye on” issues that affect funding for public schools, such as a potential expansion of the Educational Freedom Account program. “If we lose funding in some areas, we may end up needing to get creative,” Fehn said.
Edgar Antonio Rivera operated the camera recording Shaker Regional school board meetings for two years before deciding to run for a seat on the board.
Rivera, a medically retired veteran, has five children enrolled in Shaker Regional schools. After two years behind the camera, he decided he no longer wanted to be an observer.
For one, he’d like to see the 1 to 4 grading scale eliminated in favor of a more expansive range — the more common 1 to 100 grading scale, for example — that better reflects student improvement.
“On paper, it looks good, but the implementation of it creates problems for teachers and students,” he said of the current grading scale. If elected, Rivera would propose restructuring school schedules to accommodate a larger number of shorter classes.
He said he also would like to see more meticulous bookkeeping and budget oversight from the district, which he believes has met some of his concerns in a dismissive way.
Rivera, who grew up in Texas, which he characterized as a charter school stronghold, said he understands the appeal of non-public schools for disillusioned parents who feel “they’re not being listened to.”
But as a matter of policy, Rivera said that “until we find a big mine with a lot of money in it or a lot of gold,” New Hampshire won’t have the financial means to adequately fund public schools and expand the state’s school voucher program.
“We need to be advocates for funding and we need to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions,” he said.
BUDGET: In Canterbury, the proposed town budget of $3.5 million represents an increase of $161,798, or 4.9%, over last year’s budget. Without accounting for the tax impact of other warrant articles, the proposed operating budget will cost $2,444.63 for the owner of a $400,000 home. In addition to the town operating budget, Canterbury residents will vote on Shaker Regional’s proposed school budget of $29,392,202. The proposed budget represents a 0.93% increase over last year’s budget, but the combined tax impact of Canterbury’s local and state education taxes will decrease by 0.29%.
NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES: Article 7 proposes the installation of new solar panels and battery storage at the Canterbury Municipal Complex, a project associated with a $210,000 bond. Article 16 proposes setting aside $6,500 for a feasibility and sustainability study to determine whether the town should renovate or expand the transfer station. In addition to the town warrant, Canterbury residents will vote on Shaker Regional warrant articles, including several additions to expendable trust funds and the adoption of an official budget committee.
WHEN AND WHERE: Election Day is March 11. Polls will be open at Canterbury Town Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Town meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at Canterbury Elementary School.
