Dennis C. Libby, 38, is on the ballot as a candidate for one of the three school committee seats in Gorham.
He’s been involved with schools for several years. “I’m an advocate for kids,” he said.
Libby, who has lived in Gorham five years, is making his first run for political office. He’s been a volunteer in the schools and said he’s ready to serve on the School Committee. “It’s the next natural step for me,” Libby said.
With a background in commercial construction, he feels his experience would be valuable, as Gorham faces either reconstruction of the White Rock School or replacing it with a new building. Now a stay-at-home dad, he previously was a foreman on a school construction project in another community.
He said the school is small with some classes in portables. “The school has run its course,” he said.
Libby said White Rock has limited athletic fields, and there’s a need for more district-wide. “I see there’s a shortage of fields in Gorham,” Libby said.
The transition between schools for students is important to Libby. He sees pros and cons to elementary schools having Kindergarten through fifth-grade. He would like more information before supporting any change in Gorham.
A need to increase parking at the high school has Libby’s attention. He said parking is “tight” there. “No easy solution,” he said. “It’s a tough issue that’s important to address.”
He categorized the state’s new funding formula, Essential Programs and Services, as a “step” in the right direction. But Libby said the state hasn’t lived up to its responsibilities in paying for education.
In addition to sports, he sees the value of other extra curricular activities. The kids need the opportunity to learn whether it’s chess or debate clubs, he said.
The Maine Education Assessment testing, Libby said, seems to be a good system. “It gives a well-rounded assessment,” he said.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act is a “great concept,” he said, but the lack of money to support it is tough on teachers. He said the act holds teachers accountable, but the “lack of funding is ridiculous,” he said.
As a member of the School Committee, he would wonder where’s the money for the program. “As a parent, I like to know how my children are progressing,” Libby said.
He and his wife, Denise, have three children, Gabrielle, 9; Narissa, 6; and Nevin, 2. They live on Queen Street.
The “nuts and bolts” decisions in the school department, he said, should be made by the superintendent. He describes the school committee role as “mainly a policy maker.”
As a School Committee member, Libby would stress vocational education and encourage more kids to participate. He said many trades people own and operate businesses and he would like to push for more vocational training in the school system. “I would like to put emphasis on the vocational program,” he said. “It should be a vital option for kids.”
Libby, who had two years at Bentley College, said the School Committee has to have a balance between state education mandates and the people in Gorham who elect them to the committee.
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