Ali LaSala for Merrimack School Board

To the Residents of Merrimack:

My name is Ali LaSala and I’m running for Laurie Rothhaus’s school board seat this coming Election Day, April 14^th. This being Laurie’s seat makes my candidacy much more meaningful to me. I was in fourth grade when the Rothhaus family moved next door. In middle school, Laurie was my softball coach. In high school, I was her student when she taught health. As an adult, she helped my family navigate the intricacies of IEPs and special education.

This relationship exemplifies one of the reasons I’m running for this position. I’ve lived in Merrimack for essentially my entire life. The school system and the connections I’ve made here have carried me through adulthood. I am in the career I have now because of the chemistry teachers I had at the high school. I am consistently checking for redundancy in my writing because my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Ross, wrote, “Sending back to the redundancy department of redundancy,” on a paper I wrote at Reeds Ferry.

At the very highest levels, I want to join the Board to give back to this town and its schools; to ensure that the children growing up here have the same chance to experience the district in the ways I did. As a parent, I understand it is difficult to provide the same experience to kids of varying interests, aptitudes, and energy levels. As a taxpayer, I understand we are under an increased burden to provide the funding to support exemplary educational opportunities while receiving less money from the state.

My goals are three-fold:

·Improve communications between district stakeholders. For example, minimal details about the Extended Learning Opportunities and Career and Technical Programs at MHS are buried in the Program of Studies, but the programs have great potential for kids who may not thrive in a traditional classroom environment. These programs should be more visible to parents.

·Explore and evaluate pathways to competency-based learning. Competency-based learning programs would allow students to test out of certain classes; freeing up classroom space and resources for those that need it and giving advanced students more chances for growth.

·Promote extraneous revenue sources to supplement district funds. I want to encourage the schools to take advantage of revenue-building opportunities by hosting community events or elevating those that already exist.

With all this said, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the upcoming change in administration. As a member of the School Board, I will provide support and stability during this transition. It will be paramount to work as a team alongside the new administration to improve existing systems for staff and students.

Merrimack is a wonderful town and putting myself out there in this capacity has only strengthened that opinion. I firmly believe that with a little creativity and a lot of collaboration, we can continue to improve the school system for our students and teachers. We all have a role to play in public education and it would be an honor for me to serve the role of School Board Member for the next few years. I hope to see you all on April 14^th!