I have been a teacher for 30 years and I care deeply about electing Shannon Chandley to address education in New Hampshire. I know that as a parent of three public school students, she shares my deep concerns about the direction of education policy in our state. These last two years, the Republican legislature has enacted extreme partisan bills that target public schools. Specifically, the New Hampshire Education “Freedom” Accounts bill has delivered fiscally disastrous outcomes not only to the bottom line of our State, but to local school districts as well. This bill, which provides public funding for private or religious education, was initially only supposed to cost the state $115,000. That has since ballooned to almost $15 million! All of that funding would have gone to our public schools but instead, now goes to private institutions. With the loss of funding, our town’s property owners will be asked to pick up the difference through higher property taxes. We simply can not afford this mis-directed and extreme partisan education policy.

Further, the hamstringing of our educated and professionally certified teachers with “divisive concepts” legislation that promotes a false narrative of indoctrination must be remedied. Our public school students, our public school teachers, and our property tax payers, all deserve better.

This Nov. 8, we have the opportunity to do something. I am voting for Shannon Chandley for State Senate. Shannon understands that a strong public education is the bedrock of our communities and our economy. She will fight to keep our tax dollars in our public schools. Please join me in voting for Shannon Chandley.