Six vie for two open Durham School Board seats [click on link to see candidate pictures]

Six vie for two open Durham School Board seats

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By LAURENNE RAMSDELL
lramsdell@fosters.com
lramsdell@fosters.com


Monday, February 21, 2011



DURHAM — Six individuals are vying for two vacant positions on the Oyster River School Board.

In the race to fill a one-year term as a Madbury representative on the school board are James Kach and Susan Willer.

Kach, 67, has been a resident of Madbury for 14 years. As he is filling in as a Madbury representative on the current School Board, Kach said he has had a "blast" and hopes to continue to work toward maintaining the superior quality of education in the Oyster River school district at a sustainable cost. Kach has been married for 36 years and has one child. He cites experience working closely with teachers as he serves the Exeter school district as an Internet technology technician.

Willer, who has had a child go through the Oyster River school district, said she wants to serve on the school board as a way to give back to the community that offered her daughter so many opportunities. The 45-year-old is the owner of Nails to Tails Pet Grooming and has held many management positions at various companies. Willer is currently working on a Bachelor's degree in organization management at Daniel Webster College. A resident of Madbury for over 19 years, Willer said she hopes to help solve some of the School Board's current problems by bringing a fresh perspective to the board.

Vying for one three-year at-large position on the school board are John Collins, Chandler Hull, Megan Turnbull and Ann Lane.

Collins, of Lee, has taken a hiatus from the board since his six years of service on the board from 1997 to 2003. The 57-year-old lives at 59 Belle Lane and has been a resident for 19 years. A professor of genetics at the University of New Hampshire, Collins has a PhD in molecular biology. He said he hopes to be elected to the board once again so he can work to smooth over some of the difficulties it has faced in recent years. Married with six children, Collins said he would foster civil debate among board members so that high quality education throughout the district remains a top priority of the entire school board.

Hull, 18, is a 2010 graduate of Oyster River High School. Currently, Hull is a freshman at UNH working toward a Bachelor's degree in biology. Having served as president of his class and a member of the student senate, Hull said he could bring new ideas to the board that directly relate to the students. A resident of Durham for five years, he lives at 24 Canney Road. Hull has followed the works of the school board closely throughout his time in the Oyster River school district and said he wanted to take advantage of the open position to work toward keeping the district together as a team.

Turnbull said she will use her 20 years of experience in project management to support the public education system. A four-year resident of Durham, Turnbull lives with her husband and two young children at 29 Sandy Brook Dr. She runs a consulting business from her home and has many degrees in subjects including political science, East Asian studies as well as strategy and marketing. Turnbull, 42, is heavily involved with the Parent Teach Organization and has participated in many school district-related meetings and working groups. She said she will work to improve the fiscal practices of the board while going through the budgeting process.

Lane, 52, resides at 43 Stagecoach Road in Durham and has been a resident for seven years. She has been an active volunteer in the community and the Oyster River school district. Lane has served as chair of the PTO for two years and has participated in the long range planning committee. Married with three children, Lane said she is suitable for the at-large position because of her constant advocacy for sustaining quality education. Calling herself a consensus-builder, Lane said she would like the opportunity through the board position to foster district unity.

In addition, Richard Laughton is running unopposed for the position of moderator. A resident of Durham for more than 23 years, Laughton, 53, resides at 188 Wednesday Hill Road. A 1975 Dover High School graduate, Laughton said remaining a neutral moderator is one of his strengths. Having three grown children, Laughton said he hopes to fill the role as moderator so he may give back to his community. He said he hopes to see the School Board become more fiscally conservative while trying to be lean in areas they can be while budgeting.

Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 8 at Durham, Lee and Madbury town voting locations.