Looking to rectify the problems in Bangor schools

How good are the academics in Bangor schools? The Communique and other public relations pieces of the Bangor system regularly tout the statistics of the high achievers in our system. According to the last Communique, 95 percent of Bangor High School seniors go on to college. What would this number be if it included dropouts? How are we defining college?

Recently at a school board meeting I attended, a report was given on the results of the standardized test taken in a number of grades. The results of this test were compared with national averages or norms. We were higher than the national norm, which I would expect. More appropriate but not given was how do we compare to cities with similar socioeconomic demographics? This would give us a better understanding of the quality of our schools.

This year the Bangor School Department is having a big push on drug education. To formulate a drug program I would think the first step would be to measure drug use and abuse in the schools. The state offers a program to measure drug usage in the schools. Most of the schools in the area have availed themselves of this program, but Bangor has not. If Bangor is going to have a drug education program, which I think it should, shouldn’t we identify the problem as a first step?

Recently Bangor High School was reaccredited. The school board acted like this was a big achievement. I have been through a number of accreditations and I know the huge amount of time and work involved. The staff is to be commended for that. It is necessary for college admissions and other purposes. Is reaccredidation a feather in our cap? No, it is the expectation and minimal standard. Only a handful of schools in New England are not accredited.

Climate is important in any organization. The elected and appointed leadership sets the tone for climate in any organization. As Phyllis Schubert recently cited from the National School Boards Association Key Works, climate is one of the eight areas where school boards should focus attention. The climate demonstrated by the Bangor school board is one for secrecy and inaccessibility. The board refuses to allow the public to address it other than at the first part of the meeting, not on each agenda item as the City Council does. Parental concerns presented to the board receive no response from the board or administration. Recently I was refused documents of public record in a timely fashion by the superintendent. The school board has forgotten that the taxpayer is also a customer.

Some of my goals for the Bangor schools include limited terms for the school board chair. I would like to see upgraded medical facilities and school-based health clinics such as Brewer has had for the past three years. Curriculum matters should be determined with more faculty input. E-mail addresses for all faculty and administrator should be posted on the district’s Web site. Most of the school districts in this area have done this for several years.

My most important goal will be communication. I must visit all the Bangor schools not once but on a regular basis. I must listen to all the stakeholders including, but not limited to, teachers parents and taxpayers. They are the customer.

If I am elected to the Bangor school board I think I can rectify some of these problems. My unique combination of education, teaching and business experience will bring a fresh look. I am a Bangor native and a graduate of the Bangor schools. I have 15 years teaching experience in the United States and international colleges and U.S. penal institutions. In China I worked as an adviser to the National Audit Bureau to train staff in western teaching methods. In Armenia I worked with a consortium of all higher education in the country to convert to western teaching methods and International Accounting Standards. I have been chief financial officer of an organization with 300-plus employees. My most important qualification to serve as your representative on the school board is that I have been a regular attendee of the board meetings over the past year.

For more information on my goals for the schools and more about me, visit my Web site at www.nickbearce.com

Nick Bearce, a semiretired educator and certified public accountant, is a candidate for Bangor School Committee.