Doris Hohensee, Nashua Board Of Education Candidate

Doris Hohensee

Age (as of Election Day)

69

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

Board of Education

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Husband, Paul, and six grown children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA in Mathematics (College of Mt. St. Vincent)

Occupation

Software engineer, home-maker

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Previous member of the Nashua Board of Education from 2016-2019

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/NashuaBoardofEducation

Why are you seeking elective office?

Good education is essential to the future of our community. I want the best possible education for our children in public schools.

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

Redistricting for the middle schools will be a major challenge in the coming year as well as the question of whether or not to close elementary schools due to decreasing enrollment.

As a former school board member I voted against the Nashua middle school construction project in 2019. The former superintendent believed that middle school students from private and home schools would enroll in the new middle schools if built. Clearly, that didn't happen.

I asked for, but never received, demographic studies, which we now know would have shown a decreasing student population. The middle school project demonstrates the need for better research and analysis before making irreversible district decisions.

Before deciding to close any school, we should investigate bringing home to Nashua special education services for which many Nashua students are currently being bused at great expense to distant schools for specialized services that the district does not provide.

If we have space to provide in-district specialized classes, Nashua could become a destination for students from nearby districts, reducing or balancing out the cost of hiring specialized teachers. It would also eliminate long commutes for our special education students, not having to travel so far for their lessons, and allow them to become part of the Nashua school community. This could be a win-win situation for reducing costs and providing in-district services.

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

The primary mission of our schools is academics. It's of great concern to me that only 32% of Nashua public school students are proficient in math and only 41% of students are proficient in reading.

Why are board members supporting the implementation of non-academic programs such as social emotional learning? We can’t afford to continue on this path. We must focus on academic excellence.

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

The board needs to work closer with parents to provide transparency and information regarding the district. It’s a matter of respect. Parents are our constituents. They fund our schools. Board members should be answerable to parents and taxpayers.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

School board members are public servants elected to serve the interests of the voters and families of Nashua. If elected, I will put students, parents and taxpayers first over the special interests of the union members and administrators.

If elected, I will:

(1) listen respectfully to students, parents and taxpayers;

(2) ensure transparency of district information; and

(3) support fiscal responsibility

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

As a concerned parent, I've worked to improve state education laws to protect the rights of parents and to promote academic excellence. I was instrumental in changing and passing several state laws, including the law recognizing the right of parents to opt their child out of objectionable materials in a public school. I’m very familiar with state education laws and regulations as well as with local district policies.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen to others to understand their perspective. That’s the best starting point for a good discussion.

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

I believe that education is critical. Public schools need to produce graduates capable of self-government, which is the reason for the funding of public schools.