Office sought: Hollis Brookline Coop School Board – one seat, three-year term, Hollis

Name: Frank Cadwell

Age: 55

Address: 71 Depot Road, Hollis.

Contact information: flcadwell@charter.net.

Years of residency: 11.

Family: Married to Heidi D.L. Cadwell for 32 years; two children Tanina , 6, and Linds, 15. Foster children, Brian, Darrell, Sarah, Josephine, Tina, Dawn, Juan, Sammy, Willie, Craig, Tanya, Mary Ellen, Zaniel, Leah, Holly, James, Anya, Sandra and Morna.

Occupation: Owner, Frank L. Cadwell & Associates, marketing consultants since 1986.

Education: Attended Northfield Mt. Hermon 1970-74, and Syracuse University 1974-78.

Political history: Hollis Selectman, March 2008-present; Hollis Historic District Commission 2005-present; Heritage Commission 2007-11; Conservation Commission 2010-present; and Rec Commission 2009-11.

Affiliations: Board member, Gift and Decorative Accessories Association 1995-2006, 2010-present; treasurer, Gift and Decorative Accessories Association 1997-2006, 2011-present; Youth Soccer coach HBYSL 2002-05; Recreation League Baseball coach 2004-05; Recreation League Softball Coach 2004-11; Recreation League boys basketball coach 2007-11; Recreation League girls basketball coach 2007-08; Souhegan Valley Storm U14 softball team coach 2009-10; and Souhegan Valley Storm U16 softball team coach 2011

Question 1: What is the most pressing issue facing the Hollis Brookline Coop School District and how would you address it?

The most pressing issue facing the Hollis Brookline Coop High School is the economy. The most formidable issue facing the school board today is balancing the needs of the students with those of our taxpayers in a time when increasing taxes challenges the middle-class taxpayer. We must maintain the integrity and excellence of our school system, without making our community’s property taxes unaffordable. At this time, we need to direct our resources to academic programs, extracurricular programs and faculty. We should be looking to save on contractual services, infrastructure costs and administrative costs. I don’t believe we need to cut academic or extra-curricular programs, even those with limited enrollment. I would not advocate limiting offerings and choices for our high school students. I do believe that we need to direct resources towards hiring and retaining highly qualified faculty members. The quality of the faculty that serve our children is the most important endowment that we can give them. During my high school years at Northfield Mt. Hermon, two of the three buildings in which I attended the majority of my classes in were antiquated at best. The legacy of the education provided was the quality of the faculty and the array of choices. We should be looking at aggressive, thorough, multiple bid policies for all contracted services and suppliers. And we need to maintain the infrastructure for less in a down economy. Currently, the Town is making some headway on the infrastructure and maintaining a flat tax rate by adopting these practices.

Q. 2: If you could make one change to improve education in the Hollis Brookline Coop School District, what would it be, and how would you achieve this within budget? Please explain.

The basis for a full and rich high school experience begins with student participation in as many programs as possible. One change that would improve the overall quality of education for every student at the high school would be to encourage them to participate in as many classes, extra-curricular activities, sports and clubs as possible. We should encourage every student to play a sport, join a club or take an extra course. Adopting the scheduling changes to allow multiple interests would be necessary. I don’t believe the budget impact would be significant even with widespread participation in the teams, clubs, bands and other extracurricular groups.