Although he’s a school committee incumbent, Stephen M. Morin, 44, is running as one of four write-in candidates after he chose not to take out nomination papers for his seat.
Morin, who was a leading figure this fall in a citizens’ referendum to keep dispatching in Gorham, worried that he might have alienated the Town Council. He now feels comfortable that his role in the referendum wouldn’t have a backlash on the school committee.
“Overall, the mood is fine,” Morin said. “I’m pleased that the atmosphere of my staying on wouldn’t be a problem for the school department.”
He’s served one three-year term on the committee, and he said it takes one term to learn the process. With the community growing, Morin sees “tighter money” ahead for schools and he feels that his experience would be beneficial in the next budget season. He said communication with the council is important to learn their expectations.
He is eyeing the budget, which is now $26 million. He tries to find good values while still providing the best education. “I want to make sure we spend money wisely,” he said. “I look at budgets critically.
But he said he isn’t a hatchet man and said the school committee is obligated by law to act in the best interests of the students. “I want the public to know I’m not a crazy spender,” he said. “We need to keep sharpening our pencils.”
About the possibility of consolidating school districts to save money, Morin doesn’t see anything to gain. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said.
Morin said the future of White Rock School, which needs either a renovation or replacing, and will be a big issue for who is elected. The elementary school now has classrooms in portable buildings. He would like to see White Rock add grades 3, 4 and 5, expanding to include kindergarten through Grade 5.
He feels strongly about decency standards in the classroom. “It’s the job of the school committee to reflect community standards,” he said.
The Maine Educational Assessment tests were never intended to be the yardstick for the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to Morin. He said the act has a lot of merit on a lot of levels, but the measurement system is the biggest problem. “Maine learning results are tough standards,” he said.
Some small sub groups of students in Gorham haven’t met the standards, creating a “quandary,” he said.
Availability of playing fields in Gorham is stretched, he said, and there’s a need for more fields. He said additional fields built in conjunction with an expansion of the White Rock School would help.
But he said more fields would have to compete with other town needs. He said White Rock School and the high school both have classes in portables.
Morin’s educational background includes Southern Maine Technical College after graduating from Westbrook High School in 1979.
A safety manager, he and his wife, Trixi Morin, live on Fort Hill Road. They have four children, Darah, 17; Derek, 14; Stephanie, 13; and Rebecca, 12.
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