1.  How many years have you lived in Maine?  25

 Bowdoin from ’84 to ‘87

Portland since then. On Cushman Street since 1995.

 Family ties to Maine – grandparents, brother, cousins and aunt

 2.  What experiences, motivations, and leadership styles will make you an effective member of the School Committee?

 I have been involved with the Reiche PTO (wife is current PTO co-chair) and Parent Advisory Committee since our first child started there. We have a son going into 5^th and a daughter going into 4^th.

 My work involves consulting and developing reports for municipalities, school districts and non-profits across the country. The report writing tool connects with their municipal financials software (MUNIS, based in Falmouth) and I write finance, budget, personnel, property, utilities and receivables reports.

I’m motivated to help our school system be the best it can be. I believe that all of our schools in Portland should be among the best in the state.

I’m a good team member, a good listener and work well in collaborative efforts.

 3.  If elected, what will your top three priorities be?  How do they impact young people in Portland?

 1) We need to operate within our budget. 2) We need to evaluate our facilities to make sure they are safe, functioning and provide the best environment for learning. 3) We need to make sure our curriculum produces the students who are ready and excited about going onto college.

 These priorities benefit everyone in Portland, young and old. Specifically though, young people in Portland want to go to good schools and/or send their children to good schools. Also, safe and strong schools build safe and strong neighborhoods.

4.  Please share one positive change you have seen in our schools and in the School Committee over the last year?

 I have been pleased to see the school committee work well together and with the city, avoiding conflicts that distract from the real work that needs to be done. And I am thrilled with the performance of Reiche School in terms of testing as well as in building a strong sense of community.

5.  Please share one frustrating change you have seen in our schools and in the School Committee over the last year?

 I think the reports that are available from the city and school are not as strong as they could be. I wasn’t impressed when I went to the website and had to turn my laptop on its side to go through one of the budget documents!

 I don’t really have frustrations with the schools themselves.

 6.  What competing responsibilities do you have, both professionally and personally, and how will you juggle those responsibilities?

 I am currently very involved with the school, coaching, WENA, running my own business and staying fit. It is important for the school committee to work efficiently and effectively in order to allow its members to keep up with their own lives.

 7.  How will you make Portland schools more effective and cost efficient?

 In general, I hope that my contributions on the council will lead to an effective and cost efficient school district. Specifically, my exposure to how other school districts around the country are addressing issues may bring some good ideas to the table.

 8.  What is your position on school consolidation? How will you deal with either outcome of the upcoming ballot question concerning school consolidation?

 School consolidation should take place where it makes sense. However it is the school committee’s job to manage the district within the rules that are in place. So, I’ll do my best no matter what the outcome is. You always need to have people who are willing to work with others, listen and collaborate to come up with the best policies.

 9.  What do you think the role of School Committee should be in determining the school budget?  What ways will you improve the process of school budgeting?

 Communication is the key. There should be no surprises. The school committee and the superintendent should work closely together and with the city to determine the ideal budget. If cuts need to be made then the committee needs to make hard choices. Clear and accurate information also needs to be available to make the right decisions.

 10.  With the current reality of the state and city’s school budgets, more cuts seem likely.  What will you cut and why?

 I can’t speak to specific cuts as I don’t really know enough to have an informed opinion of where those cuts should occur. However, I’m very interested in building partnerships with business and community organizations to help fill gaps where they may exist.

 12.  How do we increase the number of graduates that go on to pursue post-secondary education?  What benchmarks would inform Portland schools towards reaching these goals?

 I think family, community, teachers and curriculum all serve to inspire students. Every student who wants to pursue post-secondary should have the opportunity. The benchmarks should include how many students are applying, how many are accepted and how many actually attend.

 13.  How will you improve the quality of education for students who speak English as a second language?

 I’d like to see the schools with heavy ESL student populations do a better job reaching out to those families and bringing them into the school community.

 14.  Do you think student transportation needs any changes?  Why or why not?

 We live 50 yards from school. So, I really don’t know at this point!

 15.  Do you have children and where did/do they attend school?

 A son in 5^th grade and daughter in 4^th grade at Reiche.

 16.  Data shows enrollment is declining in some Portland schools.  Why do you think this is?  What, if anything, should be done about it?

Portland needs to attract more families with school age kids. You do that through good schools and a vibrant economy.