Melissa Hanlon, Exeter Regional Cooperative School District

Melissa M. Hanlon

Age (as of Election Day)

45

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Exeter Regional Cooperative School District (Brentwood)

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband Dan - 5th grade teacher at Lincoln Street School, Daughter Amelia - freshman at Exeter High School, loves soccer and surfing, Daughter Nora - 7th grade at Cooperative Middle School, loves hockey and lacrosse

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband is a 5th grade teacher

Education

BA in Economics, Colby College (1999) Juris Doctor at Boston College Law School (2002)

Occupation

Attorney (20 years experience)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

previously an elected member of the Brentwood Municipal Budget Committee

Campaign website

www.melissahanlon4sau16coop.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Many of our incumbent School Board members have been on the Board for years, often running unopposed. While I am thankful for their service, I think having new voices and perspectives on the School Board will be a tremendous asset. I believe that School Board service is a non-partisan civil service position. In addition, I believe that I can effectively collaborate and start to diffuse the divisiveness currently seen in our community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Even before the pandemic, SAU 16 administration and School Board members had identified weaknesses in achievement, particularly in mathematics. Coming out of the pandemic and extended remote learning, the gaps have significantly increased. This needs to be analyzed, and we need swift intervention. Despite a significant decline in enrollment, I support retaining teachers so that we have smaller class sizes and children can have more personalized assessments and instruction. Our current School Board supported a budget that would have cut an entire team of teachers at CMS, while adding administrative staff. Actions like that will not help us address the knowledge gaps.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe I will be more effective at bringing together different stakeholders and creating consensus than my challengers have been. I have a demonstrated record of success in this, having joined the Brentwood Municipal Budget Committed during a time of significant divisiveness over their role in our community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I would not say that the incumbent has filed the community. However, she has been ineffective at creating change, and her position as a State Representative brings politics into her role on the School Board. I believe that politics should not dictate policy in our schools.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am interested in placing the children first, supporting our fantastic professional educators and staff, and increasing transparency from our administration so that trust with the community can be restored.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been an attorney for 20 years, and in that role have learning to collaborate effectively, zealously advocate, and to be detail oriented. Our schools were kept remote last year until the Governor's Order due to rigid terms in a Memorandum of Agreement executed by our School Board. It is important to have School Board members who can appropriately anticipate unintended consequences of key decisions like this.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't be afraid to speak up for what you believe in.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am a proud public school graduate (Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School on Cape Cod) and believe strongly that our public schools, and in particular our top notch teachers, are an important and treasured asset for our community. Every child deserves a quality education.