Only one contested race for Franklin School Board

FRANKLIN — With only one competitive race, candidates for school board emphasized their priorities in a nonpartisan forum at the Elks Lodge 1280 on Monday evening.

Michael Lombardo and Bradley Camley are vying for the sole contested seat representing Ward 3 for a three-year term.

Lombardo was appointed to the school board a month ago and is now running for a full term.

“My older daughter is 4. She just entered the pre-K program. My younger daughter is 2,” he said. “They are one of the biggest reasons why I am pursuing this role on the school board.”

Camley stated reevaluating the budget is a top priority, and believes he is the right person to do it, as he has a marketing degree.

“We just got to figure out the budgeting, helping our students, and that's why I'm running. It's just to help our students and try to get our budget under control on the state level and on our level,” he said.

Laurie Cass, running for a three-year term in Ward 2; LeAnne Fifield, running for a two-year term in Ward 2; and Ruth MaGina, on the ballot for a two-year term in Ward 3, also participated in the forum. Ward 1 candidate Cindy Dover, running for a three-year term, was absent.

Moderators Bob Lucas and Leah Cote asked candidates about the top issues they would focus on while serving on the board. Communication between faculty and parents, as well as parent involvement, were top priorities for most, along with staff retention.

Fifield, appointed to the board nine months ago, addressed staff and student retention in Franklin School District.

“We're one of the lowest paid districts in the state. If we can offer a better package, more pay to retain our teachers, and by retaining your teachers, a lot of times, you're going to retain your students,” she said.

“But also, a way to keep students is to have more to offer. I'm amazed just being on the school board for nine months to see how much they have done with what little money they have to get these kids the education they need. But when you have one math teacher at the high school, come on. I mean, we got to do better than that. We need to be able to offer the students more options, more classes, more college credits, and then you'll get your kids staying in the district.”

Lombardo addressed school funding. He said in the state of New Hampshire, most towns and cities designate 60% of their budget to schools, and 40% to the municipality. He said that in Franklin, the funding is flipped, with 35% going to schools, and 65% to municipal. This was echoed by other candidates.

“That is wildly upside down, but it is sort of endemic of the system that we've kind of built for ourselves on how we generate revenue in our city,” he said. “As a school board member, that is not really within our purview or control. The best that we can do is work with the city council, work with each other to make sure that we're using the resources that we can get as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

Responding to a question about art in schools, Cass listed statistics that suggested the arts improve test scores and general performance. MaGina told a personal story about the impact of the arts. Her son, who was quiet and felt isolated after moving to Franklin from out of state.

“He went and tried out, and from a kid who was just so quiet, staying in his room, now he's out there performing in front of all kinds of people and talking to everybody, and he just came to life,” she said.

With candidates in general agreement about addressing issues facing the school district, the night's conclusion focused on why residents need to be involved in decisions.

“We, as parents, grandparents, guardians of these children, we have to work with the tools that we have, and these teachers are our tools,” MaGina said. “This is what is going to help these kids become successful in whatever they do.”