Shannon M. Barnes Seeking Re-Election on School Board

To my Merrimack neighbors,

I am asking for your support on Tuesday, April 12th as I embark on another 3-year term on our School Board. Although I am running unopposed, I feel it is out of respect for those I serve in this role that I ask for your vote.
Over six years we have accomplished a lot--including increasing AP (Advanced Placement) offerings for students from 6 to 16 classes, added courses through local colleges for college credit (including Mandarin Chinese and Accounting to offer a couple of examples), and maintained infrastructure that both protected the investment (including acres worth of roofing and asbestos removal projects) and the students and staff (such as secured entrances in all buildings).
There is more to do and more ways for Merrimack to grow. I look forward to hearing from you, the residents and parents, on what areas of the school operation matter to you and what we are doing and can do to strive for continual improvement.
I will continue to serve on the NHSBA Board of Directors in this upcoming term and have been elected to 2nd Vice President of the organization, with the organization's plan of having me serve as President in 2018. This will also give me continued enhanced insight into the state and federal trends in education legislation and funding which will continue to be shared with administration and with you via reports at school board meetings.
I also ask that you support the operating budget as the actual operating costs are lower than prior years. It is because of the identification of needed capital improvements that can no longer be delayed (Middle School Roof, High School Ventilation, High School Track) that the budget is higher this year than it was last year. We do see an end in sight for roofing projects in our Capital Improvement plan and the result will be not having roofing in our plans for at least 30 years once these projects are complete (which will give the district time to design a long-term plan for these high cost roofing expenditures in the future).
Thank you for your support these last six years. I look forward to another three years serving the children and residents of this great community.

Sincerely,

Shannon M. Barnes