To the editor,
I am an 11-year-old. I am writing to you as a citizen of the City of Laconia. I am writing to you about a concern I have. The concern I have is about homeless people. I think that there should be a free shelter that people should not have pay so they can have warm clothes and a family. I think that they should do that because in the winter they get freezing and they could get hypothermia. The homeless people sometimes don't have money for food or clothes. If the homeless people don't have a mattress they could have to sleep on branches and they could get hurt because they're sleeping in the nature. They can't keep themselves physically strong because they don't have the proper health to.
I also know that there is the Carey House. What can the homeless people do if they can't afford to get into any of the places that they can stay and be warm.
Adam Michalewicz
Laconia

To the editor,
As I read the article in Friday's Daily Sun, I really had to scratch my head and I have some questions. The Smith Track was completed in 1998 and in the course of the last 15 years of use, I do know after a lot of usage things wear out, However, this track has been resurfaced three times and now we need to redo the complete track, as I read, from concrete/drainage/and a total resurface.
What is wrong with this picture? Where is all the prior results of the tracks past records? Was anybody reviewing this deterioration? Also, I read other tracks around the state are having the same problems. Is there any collaboration out there? I feel we the taxpayers are blind sided by this. Why was there no money or a contingency plan over the past years to absorb this cost? This lack of oversight will cause more pain for all taxpayers. The worst of all it will be affecting school activities this spring and summer. What a terrible shame for all.
Marty Neylon
Laconia

To the editor,
My name is Mark Billings and I am running for the Inter-Lakes School Board as a representative from Meredith. I am running for the open seat resulting from the retirement of Jack Carty. These are big shoes to fill and we all owe Jack our sincere gratitude for his years of service on the board. The children, the families and the three communities in our district have all benefited greatly because of Jack's commitment to educational excellence.
I believe I bring a number of qualifications that will serve the board and all the constituents in our three communities.
My wife Martha and I have lived in Meredith for the last 12 years and have raised three sons, now in their thirties. We have always been involved in the public schools in the communities where we lived. Martha was an elementary school teacher in Mill Valley, California during the eighties and nineties while I coached youth sports for many years. We both believe our public schools lie at the heart of who and what we are as communities and that our most important responsibility is the preparation and education of our children.
I am the proud product of a small town regional school system and will be forever grateful for the wonderful education I received. That school district, now in its fiftieth year, has consistently ranked in the top three in Massachusetts. That is my vision for Inter-Lakes.
I am uniquely prepared for this position after having attended every school board meeting, budget workshop, public hearing and district meeting for the last three years. I am currently a member of the Inter-lakes School District Strategic Planning Committee and for the last 15 months have been working with teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members in the drafting of the Core Value Statement, the Vision Statement and the Mission Statement. That work and my participation continue as five subcommittees are now working towards action plans designed to achieve the goals outlined in the Core Value, Vision and Mission Statements.
I don't come from a background in public education as the majority of the board does. My background is in the financial services industry as a financial analyst and economist. Because of that different skill set, plus my current position as treasurer for the Town of Meredith, I would bring to the board a strong understanding of both municipal and public school finance and budgeting. I believe this would be value-added to the Inter-Lakes School Board.
As a member of the Meredith Conservation Commission I have actively promoted greater collaboration between our public schools and the work of the Conservation Commissions. We are blessed with our natural resources and the phenomenal life science laboratories we have in our own backyard. I played a small role in the awarding of a $5,000 "Green Grant" to the Sandwich Central School to enhance their Environmental Studies program. I then had the wonderful experience of serving as an adult assistant for a field trip by the three upper grades of Sandwich Central School out to the Cold River where the school's new scientific testing equipment was used to enhance the curriculum lead by Mr. Hillger and Mr. Chapman.
My Education Philosophy:
I believe every child is unique in how they learn and that the educational resources available today allow us to personalize each student's education in ways that will have a positive impact on student achievement.
I believe in flexible, anytime/everywhere learning — learning beyond a traditional school day, school year or building. Education should include online or blended learning, hands-on opportunities, and instruction offered by a range of teachers, experts, or technologies.
I believe in early education/intervention and that the investment made in our pre-school children has the largest return by all societal measures.
I believe in a student driven, competency-based education, not the antiquated "industrial age" production line approach based largely on date of birth.
I believe our teachers, administrators and support staff are the most important resource we have in determining the quality of the education we provide our children and that hiring and retaining great talent is critical. I also believe we have amazing educational resources in the residents in our three communities that needs to be embraced and utilized as mentors, advisors, coaches and where appropriate instructional adjuncts.
Politics has no place in our communities school system; it is divisive and damaging to all constituents. Our children, our schools and the three communities are best served when the school board represents the differing perspectives within our communities. Yes, I am a fiscal conservative; I believe we owe the taxpayers our best efforts in making sure every dollar we spend is appropriate and necessary. I am also progressive and pro-reform when it comes to education. I see no conflict in those two philosophies and strongly believe we can take our school system to the top and better prepare our children for success in the twenty-first century. Please come to the Meet-the-Candidate events, call or email me with your questions. I will answer them honestly so that you can best determine if I would be the right choice for the Inter-lakes School Board. The first Meet-the-Candidates event will be Thursday February 21, at the Meredith Community Center at 6:30 PM.
Mark Billings
Meredith

To the editor,
My name is Chris Mega. I'm running for the 3-year Meredith position on the Inter-Lakes School Board. Many people in the community know me for my music endeavors as pianist and chairman of the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra, and as an active fundraiser for the music programs at Inter-Lakes High School. I'd like to share some of my qualifications, background, and some of the issues that prompted me to run for the School Board.
I'm a 13-year Meredith resident, and have owned property here since 1992. I have two children — now a freshman and sophomore in college — who were successfully educated from K-12 at Inter-Lakes. When our older son was ready for first grade, we visited the Elementary School and were struck by the colorful open-concept library. That first impression spoke volumes about the care and quality of the educational environment. We moved here in 1999 because of that visit.
I have a degree in Computer Engineering from UMass Amherst. I worked in the technology industry for 12 years, at Digital Equipment Corporation where I received two U.S. patents for technology inventions, and as a founding member of a successful technology start-up company.
Regarding leadership qualities, after the startup I became president of an Internet marketing company, managing clients, employees, capital budget, and the technology for our 60-person parent firm. I recently stepped down as chairman of the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra, a position I held for seven years. I currently own my own business, where I primarily work with school music departments throughout New England.
I am no stranger to finance. I was a licensed financial advisor; I managed the Internet banking program at Meredith Village Savings Bank; and I worked at a financial planning firm working with high-net-worth clients.
For community service and educational involvement, I've been working with students in various capacities for the past 13 years. Some notable highlights include:
— Volunteering with I-L Junior High science program on "Weedbusters" — a milfoil awareness campaign that won a $10,000 national prize for students and the science department.
— Teaching Laconia High School math students about compound interest and investing.
— Participating in Junior Achievement teaching kids about banks and saving.
— Working with Laconia High School students to complete their Independent Study requirements.
— Involving Moultonboro Academy students in a symphony dress rehearsal and concert.
— Working with Tilton School to produce their annual school musical.
So why run for school board? I am as concerned as any about the rising costs and continued downshifting of expenses at the state level. Politically I am a conservative independent who tries to see balance in all issues, will cut unnecessary costs, and will fund investment when lasting value can be obtained. I thought once my kids graduated from ILHS I would become the disinterested parent, but that is not the case. I am just as concerned now for our students, our town, and our collective children's futures as I was when my children were attending Inter-Lakes. I am a regular guy struggling to pay college tuition and lie awake wondering how my children's generation will manage in the face of today's technology, economic, and social challenges.
My wife Diane is in her 13th year as a math and computer science teacher at Inter-Lakes high school. Some may raise an eyebrow about potential conflict of interest, but this is not a unique situation and it is addressed in District Policy 8345. Conflict exists with boards of any organization, and rules such as Policy 8345 allow boards to function normally. Over the past three years one former and one current ILSD board member had spouses who were employed by the district. Schools function, administration works, and the board governs despite recusals and absences. The system works. In addition, we are in year one of a 3-year contract cycle with the ILSD teachers — negotiations won't happen for another two years.
Even the State of New Hampshire agrees. On January 30, 2013 a N.H. Senate Committee vice-chaired by Jeanie Forrester unanimously killed SB-73, a proposed bill that would disallow family members from sitting on school boards if an immediate family member was employed in the district. They realized conflict could exist, but local municipalities are equipped to function with policies such as 8345.
I am excited to put my cumulative knowledge — as board chairman, financier, educator, technologist, entrepreneur, community servant, husband, father, and musician — to work for the benefit of students and families of the Inter-Lakes School District. You can read more and contact me through my web site ChrisMega.com. I respectfully ask all residents of Center Harbor, Sandwich, and Meredith to vote for me on March 13th.
Chris Mega
Candidate for ILSD School Board
Meredith