Rochester 2023 School Board candidate Nick Bellows
Name: Nick Bellows
Education: Spaulding High School graduate. Bachelor's degree in social science education from Plymouth State. Master's degree in library science from University of North Carolina.
Occupation: Teacher-librarian.
Political or civic experience highlights: I served a term as trustee for the Rochester Public Library. My family has participated in Rochester Cares clean-up day. I strive to give my time to programs that improve and enrich people’s lives. I volunteer at the Willand Pond warming center. I help coach my daughter's soccer team. I helped build sets for the Chamberlain Street School drama production. I am the treasurer of the Chamberlain Street School PTA. I am also the treasurer of the Oyster River Teachers’ Guild.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?: Attract and keep high quality staff: We have a staffing crisis in our schools. We can’t give our students an excellent education if we can’t hire and keep excellent staff.
Increase the school budget without raising taxes Our taxes are high, and our schools are under-funded. We need to work with our City Council to get more funding from the state and the feds.
The new elementary school - we must get it right: Our students need a safe, efficient and modern school building. I will request a seat on the Joint Building Committee to ensure the residents of our ward get the school we need.
How should the school district handle requests to remove books from the library or curriculum?: The School District has a policy for handling book removal requests. The policy explains how to request removals and the decision-making process. It is important that we follow this policy.
The principal forms a Book Review Committee. Here, the policy gets vague. This committee should have a diverse makeup. The committee's members should include teachers, librarians, parents, and community members. Transparency is important. We should communicate the committee's decision in a clear manner.
I would like to see this policy revisited. Specifying the makeup of the book review committee would strengthen the policy. Clarifying the criteria used to assess the book would be beneficial. Only people within our school community should be able to request reconsideration.
Intellectual freedom is a right all people should enjoy. Access to ideas is part of a good education. We should protect freedom of thought. We should embrace differences, while still focusing on students' learning. By following policy, the school district ensures a fair, beneficial decision-making process.
What should the school district do to ensure the continued safety of the school community?: The district should have a safety plan that covers various emergency situations. Regular drills ensure that both staff and students are well-prepared. We should enhance security measures by implementing access controls and surveillance cameras. We can increase the presence of school resource officers. We should also set up clear visitor check-in procedures.
Physical safety is not the only concern. We must focus on the emotional well-being of students, teachers and staff. We can do this by supplying access to mental health resources. Creating an inclusive environment also involves implementing effective anti-bullying policies.
To address potential threats, we should put in place a system that can find and manage them. We can keep an elevated level of security by supplying adequate resources. A regular review of our safety measures allows us to adapt to emerging threats. Ongoing staff training in handling crisis situations is essential. This work allows us to keep our school community safe.
How, if at all, would you work to strengthen the district’s mental health and wellness efforts for students?: Our students are struggling with mental health issues at unprecedented levels. Failure to address this issue can have fatal consequences. I am not an expert in mental health. That said, there are steps the district can take to strengthen its efforts for students.
As a district we can assess students' mental health needs. The district can raise awareness through campaigns and educate parents, teachers, and students. It is important to destigmatize discussing mental health. The budget process can ensure that qualified school counselors are available. The district can empower schools to set up peer support programs. We can involve parents in mental health discussions. Schools can teach mental health in the curriculum. Effective advisory programs foster a supportive school culture. The district must continue to address bullying.
How can the school district succeed at recruiting and retaining high quality staff?: This issue is my number priority. It comes down to making our schools places people want to work. To attract and keep high quality staff, we should focus on several key strategies:
We can start by offering competitive salaries and benefits to staff members. Competitive compensation is a fundamental element in attracting and keeping talented staff.
We can supply professional development opportunities to support staff growth and continuous improvement. This commitment to their development can motivate them to stay.
We can create clear pathways for career advancement within the district. This fosters professional growth. It also gives staff a reason to remain in the school system.
We can foster a positive and supportive school culture in the workplace. A positive atmosphere can contribute to job satisfaction and staff retention.
We can promote open and effective communication channels. Involve staff in decision-making processes. Hear and value their voices.
We can set up and keep effective student discipline policies. Maintaining a conducive learning environment reduces staff stress.
We can supply comprehensive classroom management training. This equips staff with the skills necessary for keeping orderly and effective classrooms.
These strategies could help Rochester schools become an appealing place to work.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester 2023 School Board candidate Nick Bellows
