Kids First Monadnock!

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you today to confirm that the rumors are true; I am running for a Swanzey seat on the Monadnock Regional School Board.

The question I hear most from folks is WHY?

My answer: Frustration and a sense of helplessness.

Do I think I can make a difference?
To be honest…
I am not sure but I feel as though I need to try.

Regardless, I am not asking you to come out and vote for me.

I am asking you to come out and VOTE on March 11th. Please just vote.

Our kids, our teachers, our community need your support.

Our community is so GREAT!! You only need to attend a Monadnock High, Middle or Elementary school academic, arts/drama or sporting event to understand how important our schools are to our community. We all come together to in support of our kids!

The new playground at Mt. Caesar is a truly awesome example of that!!

Our schools are such a critical part of our community infrastructure.

Shouldn’t we feel a sense of PRIDE? Are you proud of our schools right now?

Frankly speaking…
What I see and hear around town is a collective sense of sadness, frustration and disappointment.

Personally speaking…
I am not proud that our teachers have been working without a contract for two years.

I am not proud that schools are in need of serious maintenance and upgrade; our high school is on probationary status; due in large part to year upon year of default budgets.

But there is good news:

The administration, teachers, negotiation committee, school board and the budget committee worked tirelessly to come up with a very reasonable and fiscally responsible agreement…assuming the article is passed on March 11th.

For the first time in recent memory both the school board and the budget committee agree and support a very reasonable and fiscally responsible budget…assuming the article is passed on March 11th.

The only way we can improve this very critical part of our community, the only way we can make a difference is to improve voter turnout! Every vote matters, your vote does count!

We can do better than this for our kids!

Please help me spread the word!

Thanks so much for your consideration.

Best regards,
Kristen Goodenough
Swanzey