In Concord School Board Race, Four Run for Three Seats [VIDEO]

Seven of the eight candidates running for Concord School Board this year participated in a League of Women Voters candidate’s night on Oct. 30, at the McAuliffe Elementary School.

On Nov. 6, voters will go to the polls and cast ballots in two different races. One features four candidates running for three three-year at-large seats; the second features four candidates running for a single two-year at-large seat.

The four candidates running for the three three-year seats are

Three of the candidates – Kassandra Ardinger, George “Rusty” Cofrin, and Clint Cogswell – all appeared at the forum. Michael Gfroerer, the father-in-law of Oliver Spencer, was allowed to offer a short statement in his absence.

The candidates were given time for opening and closing statements, and were asked a few questions about public policy and the future of the system.

When asked about whether or not enrichment programs should be expanded in the school system, Ardinger said it was true that the system didn’t have specific programs for “gifted and talented students” but felt that there were problems with labeling programs that way. She was excited that the district had received about $500,000 in grants to provide expanded enrichment programs in the schools.

Cofrin said the programs were important “but you have to have a balance.” As a former classroom teacher himself, Cofrin said the programs would challenge some students but not all, since they were involved in so many other things. He didn’t think that there would be that many students interested in the program.

Cogswell said his grandson attended the Rundlett Middle School and was surprised by all the enrichment programs, adding that the choices "went on for a page and a half.” He said some of the books his grandson was capable of reading tested him at much different levels and pushed him as hard as he could. Cogswell compared it to writing whereas some children have an easy time with it, others don’t. He also called the advance placement classes at the high school “amazing”

On balancing the many constituents board members have to please, Ardinger said it was something the board was asked to do. She said the downshifting of costs by the state made the job “much tougher” requiring the board to ask more from the taxpayers. But the students, Ardinger said, “never get less.”

Confrin said in his time as a teacher he went through many contracts. He pointed to the economy having so much to do with the focus of taxpayers. He said there still needed to be priorities but also a balance. Confrin said children, “no matter what, are first,” then the teachers and then the tax rate.

In bringing balance to all the interests, Cogswell agreed that children and staff are important but it was a fine line between everything done by the board. He said board members did all they could do to create a great school system while maintaining support in the community.

Facing potential deficits was Cofrin’s most difficult concern noting that if the state was not going to give school districts money, it would be a challenge to find cuts. But, at the same time, he said it was an opportunity to “be creative.”

Cogswell agreed, noting that during the last three budgets, the state had cut about $2.5 million. He said while the district had to absorb the costs, it could be worse.

Ardinger also agreed but noted that instructional issues and how the district reached all the students was another concern. She said students that generally come from a low socioeconomic background are very difficult to provide effective teaching to even if the district strived to do that. Ardinger noted that as the economy declines, “the needs of our students grow … as the social fabric has frayed.”