ORCSD Candidates' Websites

I attended Candidates' Night yesterday; if you weren't able to be there, try to catch the re-run on DCAT--it will be well worth you time.

While there, I was able to chat with all three candidates and asked them all for links to their blogs, websites, etc.

• Tom Newkirk: www.tomnewkirk.wordpress.com

• Carl Piedmont: www.carlpiedmont.com

• Kenny Rotner: www.kennyrotner.wordpress.com

Candidate's Statement: Kenny Rotner

Editor's note: the following is a statement by Kenny Rotner, candidate for School Board. 

Our publication of this statement does not constitute an endorsement; rather it is posted here as a public service, in order that the voters of the District may be fully informed before making their choices on Election Day.

We welcome all candidates to send in a statement; we are happy to publish any that we receive.

--Tom Bebbington


My name is Kenny Rotner and I am very pleased to be running for one of the at-large seats on the ORCSD School Board.

Background and Qualifications:

My wife, Tracy Schroeder and I moved to Durham in 1986. A major factor in our choosing Durham was the reputation of the ORCSD. I have worked as a family doctor in this area for these past 26 years, first at Durham Family Health (a practice that I started as a solo physician) and now at Woodbury Family Practice. Tracy and I are now “empty nesters” except for our ball and stick loving Golden Retriever, Casey. Our daughter Emma attended the Oyster River Schools from kindergarten through her High School graduation in June, 2012. Her experience throughout her years in the ORCSD has led her to be the critical reader, writer and thinker she is today. After many years of volunteering and being involved, I find myself with the time and energy to contribute to our schools in a different way.

As a physician, I am acutely aware of the financial difficulties faced by many in our area and how those strains limit the options open to some people. I wholeheartedly endorse the recent efforts taken by Dr. Morse and the School Board to contain spending and expect that process to continue. Excellent schools are important, but they must also be affordable. I commend the current School Board for achieving great savings through the re-commissioning of our High School as well as the early retirement incentives that were offered and accepted by some of our current staff

I am currently serving on a Future Search Steering Committee that was put together by our Superintendent with the purpose of deriving a community supported Strategic Plan for our school district. I believe that finally having a working Strategic Plan in place will take our schools to that next level while allocating our tax dollars in a prudent manner.

Beliefs:

I am a firm believer in the importance of a strong public education system. Day by day, the world becomes more complicated and competitive, and only through quality public schools will the children in our society be able to play meaningful roles, however each individual defines that, in this changing world. A solid public education is the necessary foundation our children need to keep our country strong as well as empowering them to take on any challenges they so desire. If I am so fortunate to be on the School Board, I will always be an advocate for a strong public education system.

That being said, the ORCSD faces many challenges now and in the near future. As good as I think our schools are, I certainly believe that they can and must be better. As a district, we face declining enrollments in the coming years. Difficult decisions will need to be made in order to address this reality. Balancing the number of students at our two elementary schools will also need a feasible and acceptable solution.

We are fortunate to live in this supportive community and privileged to have such great staff in our schools. Most of all, we are fortunate to have such special children, no matter what their level of academic skill is or their unique needs may be. We must continue to see that all of the students in the ORCSD reach their full potential.

I hope that I can count on your support on Election Day so that I may participate in the effort to make our high level schools even better. I pledge to be fair, honest and open and will always listen to the many voices in our community. Thank you for your consideration of my candidacy.

UPDATE: Deadline for Submission of Questions for ORCSD Candidates Night Extended

A call to the ORCSD Central Office earlier today resulted in an agreement to extend the deadline for submission of questions for Wednesday's Candidates' Night until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Please submit your questions by calling 868-5100 x2002 or by emailing wdifruscio@orcsd.org.

ORCSD School Board Candidates Night--Questions Due Noon TODAY

The ORCSD Candidates' Night, sponsored by the OR Middle School PTO, will be held this Wednesday evening, February 20, at 7:00 p.m. in Room C-124 at the High School.

Questions for the candidates are due by noon today, February 18.  They can be submitted by calling 868-5100 x2002 or by emailing wdifruscio@orcsd.org.

Union Leader: At Town Hall, Openness Pays, Durham Official Says

This morning's Union Leader ran an article (on the front page, no less) which prominently features Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig's thoughts on the need for openness and transparency in the conduct of local government.  It makes for interesting reading: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130218/NEWS06/130219172

We link to this article with the kind permission of Joseph McQuaid, publisher of the Union Leader.

DPL: Competency Based Learning and the Impact of New State Regulations on ORCSD

Back by popular demand, Fred Bramante will host a Community Forum on the impact of new state regulations on our school district on Tuesday, February 12, from 6:00--8:00 p.m. at the Durham Public Library.  

Preregistration is strongly suggested; send an email to durhampl@gmail.com, with the subject line: Register for Community Forum.

Mr. Bramante will take questions on changes to the NH State Education Regulations and how they could affect local schools. Questions will be submitted in a written format and answered by Mr. Bramante as well as audience members. Questions submitted ahead of time are encouraged; please send them to the email address above.

Candidates for School Board Announced

The filing period for Oyster River Cooperative School District School Board candidates ended Friday; three citizens have announced their candidacy for the two at-large positions:

• Thomas Newkirk (resident of Durham)
• Carl Piedmont (resident of Madbury)
• Kenneth Rotner (resident of Durham)

In addition, Richard Laughton (resident of Durham) will run for Moderator; that race is uncontested.

Mark your calendars:

• A Candidates' Night is scheduled for Wednesday, February 20th, at 7:00 p.m at the High School.
• Election Day is Tuesday, March 12.

DPL Educational Program: Fred Bramante, Author of Off the Clock: Moving Education From Time to Competency

Fred Bramante, Durham resident and author of Off the Clock: Moving Education from Time to Competency, will speak about the redesign of public education at the Durham Public Library on Wednesday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m.

The state regulations were changed in 2005 to move our schools to a competency based model, but how are our schools doing? What's the role of higher education in all of this?
New Hampshire has won the prestigious 2012 State Innovation Award from the Education Commission of the States, but how are we doing on implementation of these innovations?

Bramante speaks around the country about this topic. He is past-Chairman of the NH Board of Education and is a former science teacher. He was charged by Governor Benson to lead this effort toward competency-based learning. Bramante will speak about how this new attitude toward learning will lead to a better, more cost-effective, customized education for every child by pulling the entire community into the process of education.

FY2014 Budget Discussion Wednesday 12/12

The following announcement was received from the ORCSD SAU yesterday:

Superintendent Dr. James Morse would like to remind you that he will hold an informational discussion pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2014 district budget. This will take place on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 at the Oyster River High School in the Auditorium at 6:00 PM. We hope to see you there.

New Edition of "ORCSD By The Numbers" Now Available

Old friend Mike McClurken has recently been in touch; he has revised and (greatly) expanded his earlier report on the ORCSD and it is now available from his website: www.orcsdnumbers.org. Mike tells me also he's planning to post there once or twice a month on topics of interest.

As for the new report when he said "greatly expanded" he wasn't kidding...the first edition was 87 pages and the new one is 42 pages longer! Mike describes it as "a data-driven examination of spending and outcomes in the Oyster River Cooperative School District" and it certainly is. I would further describe it as incredibly comprehensive; the amount of research and analysis that went into the report is mind-boggling.

Despite the fact that some of the math is beyond me (I was an English major) I found it quite reader-friendly. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in our schools take the time to look at it; even if you don't read every word there is plenty here to inform and enlighten.