Oyster River School Board candidate John Colwell
Name: John Colwell
Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, bachelor of arts in German language.
Occupation: Engineer for a battery materials startup.
Political or civic experience highlights: This is my first time running for any office. The only other civic experience I have is that I founded and ran a 501(c)(3) charity for 10 years in high school and college.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: My primary goal in running for school board is as an opportunity to get more involved and informed in the ORSD. We moved to Durham in 2022 and have a daughter in second grade and another entering kindergarten in the fall. A major driver for us moving here was the school system, between the ratings, the parent testimonials, and the proximity to the university. We've not been disappointed, and so I put my name in the running not from a desire to make drastic changes, but rather to learn, get more involved and understand what makes the school system such a great one. It's a huge part of our children’s lives (around a third of their waking hours) and so impactful that I hope to help steward a great experience.We do love the emphasis that is put on social and emotional learning. My daughter raves about Moh-time and the messages she learns there. There seems to be a good balance of teaching basic fundamentals of reading, math, science, arts, music, etc. with play, freedom and community so I would hope to continue to foster those values.For a third item, I would be curious to learn more about the prevalence and use of screens in the school. We're a primarily screen-free home, with no TV or tablets set up. We take them out for specific uses such as movies, the Olympics, family video calls, work etc. I feel it's important to have a balance, as screens and technology are a critical part of our lives now, but also critically can't be all of our lives.
How should the school district handle requests to remove books from the library or curriculum?: I think that any request should be formally issued and reviewed according to a school district’s policies and in accordance with state and federal laws. Ultimately that process should be transparent, clear and allow for all sides to be heard, and arguments to be distributed after the decision is made. That’s a very generic (answer) because I wanted to answer before looking up how ORSD actually does things. It took me some time to find the policy, but it turns out it’s is in a very logical location. If interested, it’s on the school board policy website (www.orcsd.org/school-board/policies), Section I: “Library and Instructional Materials Selection and Reconsideration Policy”.Our current policy is well laid out there with a reconsideration process. It includes a review by a committee inclusive of: Two to six members of the teaching staff, a school administrator, up to two (age appropriate) students, two adults (not employees of the district) and one school board member. They are responsible for reviewing the material against the policy, generating a report, and discussing the findings with the person requesting the removal (if desired). I’m in support of the policy as it stands, though one thing not clear to me is whether there is recourse in the case that material is removed and someone desires to have it reinstated. It seems to me that removal of material should have general notification to the district parents, with the opportunity to have their input heard if they disagree.
Do you support the expansion of education freedom accounts in New Hampshire?: In general, I support the ability for parents to guide their child to the educational resource that is best for them, and as far as the EFA programs support that, I am in support of them. I grew up in the public school system in Rhode Island, and my mother specifically moved school districts as my brother and I entered high school with our education in mind. As my wife and I have moved a few times settling into our careers, we’ve focused on districts with good public school systems as we place a high value on that experience. I do want to ensure that our district continues to have a system that is a highly desirable choice for parents but recognize that it may not be the best choice for all families.
What else should voters know about your views on local schools and public education?: I am a big proponent of the public school system, it is foundational to our country, state, town, community and is incredibly impactful on the children who spend so much of their time immersed in the experiences it offers. Schools provide a safe (physically and emotionally) place to learn, explore, play, grow, and form lifelong bonds. I place a lot of value on unstructured creative learning, tolerance, diversity, inclusivity and nature based education. I appreciate the obvious investment that the parents and tax payers of Durham, Lee and Madbury have made in the well being and education of our children, and the infrastructure to support. It demonstrates a strong commitment to learning and will serve our children well as they enter the adult world.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Oyster River School Board candidate John Colwell
