Each spring, NGX runs candidate profiles of candidates for local offices. This year, there are two candidates for three open seats on the MSAD 15 Board of Directors: Penny Collins and Misty Coolidge. Both are incumbents.
See their profiles below, in alphabetical order.
PENNY COLLINS
OCCUPATION: Project Consultant, Collins CEA
EDUCATION: BA in Communications from University of Maine; Masters of Social Work, University of Southern Maine
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/ SERVICE:
MSAD15 Board Member/ Chair; GNGHS Performing Arts Booster parent; Cumberland County Children’s Theatre
INTERESTS/ HOBBIES:
Being outside in Maine on a paddleboard, kayak, mountain bike, or my feet. I enjoy gardening, reading, and meeting new people
FAMILY STATUS: Married with one child at the middle school and one child at the high school
WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE DOING RIGHT TO PREPARE STUDENTS? WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED ON?
I believe the administrators and staff at our schools put children at the center of decision making and see the whole child. There is a nice balance of academics, co-curriculars, and life skills across all grades. Our students have access to a variety of tracks for the future, be it in trades, college, or professional programs post-high school. The district could do more to communicate what is happening within the schools so the community is more aware of the good stories we have to tell.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR INTEREST OF ISSUE THAT MOTIVATES YOU TO RUN TO SERVE GAIN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD?
I am excited about the future of the district as we continue to attract and retain excellent professionals across our administration, teaching, and support staff. As our facilities and programs age, I want to see our next generations of learners have access to the materials and buildings they need to be successful. What was ‘good enough’ in years past will not last forever, and I believe we need to be good stewards of these aging schools.
WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR LAST TERM, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH NEXT?
I am proud of my service on the Board for the past three years, particularly in the work we have done to evaluate the needs of the district with the Bond Committee. The work beginning with our Air Quality bond and state grant is exciting to see. This Board undertook a hiring search for a new superintendent that resulted in an excellent hire and a three year contract that begins for Dr. Turner this summer. With a second term, I would look forward to supporting future growth for our staff, students, and schools.
WHAT KEY CHALLENGES DO YOU SEE AHEAD FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THEM?
Politics at the federal and state level have enormous implications for local school districts. I believe we will continue to see a period of instability that will require close management at the local level to ensure as stable a learning environment for our kids as possible. My number one priority as a Board member is that children continue to feel safe, secure, valued, and are learning in their day to day. I would look to our Board and admin team to ensure that our support staff and teachers are working in spaces that motivate them to continue in these careers that serve GNG families. In times of turbulence, kids need stability and we may need to take the time to ensure a steady ship focused on our mission, vision, and values.
THE BOARD TOOK INPUT FROM STUDENTS, STAFF, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ASSESS NEEDS, AS PART OF DEVELOPING A FACILITIES BOND PROPOSAL, BUT IT FAILED TO PASS AT THE POLLS. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS NEXT STEPS IN REPAIRING AND IMPROVING FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS?
SAD15 manages six properties and a significant inventory of vehicles, equipment, and mechanical systems. Buildings built in the 60s and 70s will need significant and thoughtful investment in the coming years. We did pass the Air Quality Bond, which represents a significant improvement for four schools and will be underway this summer. The other identified needs are not going away, and we will return to those issues. I believe we need to look at ways to invest our capital reserves, look outside the box, and continue to invite the community in as stakeholders in our facilities. The district would be well served to create a 20 year plan that shows how we will maintain, replace, consolidate and/or repair our schools.
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER SPENDS LESS PER PUPIL THAN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS, YET ITS HIGH SCHOOL RANKS 6TH AMONG THE 126 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, ACCORDING TO US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT CONTINUING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS’ SUCCESS IN AN UNCERTAIN FISCAL ENVIRONMENT?
SAD15 offers one of the best values in education in the county, and our academic performance at the high school level is a point of pride. Yes, we should be wise with our spending and work hard on a fiscally responsible budget. However, I believe the budget should be set on the needs of the district and the responsibility to the children who live in our community. As the cost of salaries, insurance, curriculum, and maintenance continue to rise, it is unrealistic to expect a flat budget year to year. I believe the administration and Board did a lot of work to put forth a budget that had unanimous support by the Finance Committee and passed 10-1 at the Board level.
WHAT IS ONE SURPRISING THING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU?
My children are 9th generation Mainers, which may not be a surprise, but is a constant source of pride for my tried and true Mainer father.
MISTY COOLIDGE
OCCUPATION: Self-Employed by Coolidge Family Farm, Coolidge Chapel, Maine Mixologist, Keller Williams Realty
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science / Minor in English from Husson College,
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS/ SERVICE:
MSAD15 School Board; Good Shepherd Food Bank; Junior League of Portland; 100 Women Who Care of Southern Maine; NACE Maine Chapter President; Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce
INTERESTS/ HOBBIES: Traveling, Flea Marketing, Fashion
FAMILY STATUS: Married to Peter deBear, Three Children Eva & Caden (Age 10), Grace (Age 8)
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: School Board Member Misty Coolidge
WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE DOING RIGHT TO PREPARE STUDENTS? WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED ON?
By hiring amazing teachers and staff, providing excellent curriculum, and providing superior extra-curricular activities for well-rounded students, our schools ARE preparing our students for bright futures! I’d love to see us hire a part-time Communication Manager for more transparency, press releases and news articles (to reach more non-parental neighbors), reaching out to local businesses who would help support our schools with donations/grants, selling ads and banners for sporting events for fundraising, etc.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR INTEREST OF ISSUE THAT MOTIVATES YOU TO RUN TO SERVE GAIN ON THE SCHOOL BOARD?
Having three children in our school system motivates me to ensure that our schools CONTINUE to provide an excellent education for mine and others.
WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR LAST TERM, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH NEXT?
I’m psyched that we were able to pass our Air Grant that secured free State funding to go toward clean air in our schools. Being state mandated, we would have needed to fund the entire project on our own if this didn’t pass.
WHAT KEY CHALLENGES DO YOU SEE AHEAD FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND HOW WOULD YOU APPROACH THEM?
One of the major challenges is figuring out how we’re going to tackle some major facility projects due to the failure of our facilities bond that we’ve been working on since 2019. With a lunchroom that doesn’t hold all our students to eat lunch, a gymnasium that is unsafe, doesn’t hold all the attendees, and doesn’t meet regulations, and no proper theatre or music room for the vast demand of our students, we need to focus on how we can make these improvements a reality.
THE BOARD TOOK INPUT FROM STUDENTS, STAFF, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ASSESS NEEDS, AS PART OF DEVELOPING A FACILITIES BOND PROPOSAL, BUT IT FAILED TO PASS AT THE POLLS. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS NEXT STEPS IN REPAIRING AND IMPROVING FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS?
Despite its failure, those NEEDS do no go away. We need to figure out HOW we’re going to pay for those improvements as they can no longer be ignored. Students, staff, and parents asked for these improvements, but it still failed. Our students deserve to eat IN the lunchroom (and not in hallways), have a gym that complies with basketball regulations and is safe, to have functional locker rooms, and have an actual theatre instead of performing in a cafeteria! And have you seen the ridiculous size of our music room? We need to think outside the box on how to get these projects completed so it will have less of a taxpayer impact. Perhaps starting the process of combining our elementary schools and selling two of the three school buildings to pay for the facility needs of the other schools?
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER SPENDS LESS PER PUPIL THAN NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS, YET ITS HIGH SCHOOL RANKS 6TH AMONG THE 126 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, ACCORDING TO US NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT CONTINUING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS’ SUCCESS IN AN UNCERTAIN FISCAL ENVIRONMENT?
Regardless of the fiscal environment, our job is to ensure the success of our students. Period. This ranking proves that everyone is doing their job very well. We need to continue on this trajectory, think toward the future, and continue to grow and improve our schools because (our) children deserve it.
WHAT IS ONE SURPRISING THING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU?
I’m the 4th Generation granddaughter to the 30th President of the United States!
