Editor’s note: The Houlton Pioneer Times will once again be profiling candidates for local offices with a question-and-answer format. This week, the two candidates for the RSU 29 School Board, Fred Grant and Karter Kenney, are profiled.
Fred Grant
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? I am the current RSU 29 School Board Chairman; former member of the Houlton Town Council.
What is your career background? After college I worked in higher ed at Adelphi University on Long Island and Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. serving as the director of campus life. In 2005 I moved back to Houlton to run my online business full-time, CollegeHelpers.com, and in 2011 purchased WHOU radio. I still run both businesses today.
What made you decide to run again for the RSU 29 school board? I’m passionate about education and know how important a quality education is for both the student and the community. As a Houlton High School alumni I owe a tremendous debt to the teachers and staff who helped me become a lifelong learner and I believe I can continue to help the District carry on their tradition of creative problem solving and excellence both in and out of the classroom.
What do you feel is a school board member’s top priority? The quality education of all students is our top priority. We must continually adapt to the challenges our students face and find new ways to solve these problems. While learning hasn’t changed, the roadblocks to learning continue to challenge schools here and around the country.
These challenges include hunger, homelessness, generational poverty, strained or missing family support systems, technology, politics, financial stability, and many others.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the school district today and in the future? We must find ways to support every student to be successful regardless of their need and to do so in a financially challenging environment.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? The success of our students will determine the continued success of our community. We must not fail in developing graduates who are ready to take on the challenges that currently exist and to adapt to emerging needs in the workplace and community.
Why should people vote for you? While I chose a different career path I have a teaching degree and have also had 12 years of managing schools at the college level. This gives me a unique perspective into the management needs of an educational institution and also the educational challenges facing a wide array of stakeholders. As a business owner I understand the skills needed by employees to be successful in the workplace while also knowing the importance of creating success with the limited financial resources schools around Maine are facing. I take my responsibilities as an RSU 29 Board member very seriously and believe in the success of every learner as if they were my own child.
Karter H Kenney
What other political offices have you held? If none, what other offices, honors or titles have you earned? I am on the Board of Budget Review for the town of Houlton.
What is your career background? I have been at Pioneer Broadband since its inception in 2001. Prior to that I was a helicopter pilot for the United States Army.
What made you decide to run again for the RSU 29 school board? I was elected to finish out a term that only had one year left. I wanted to run again because I feel I just scratched the surface on what is involved in being on the school board. I also have young children and feel this is an important way for me to stay involved and have a say in regards to their education.
What do you feel is a school board member’s top priority? To assure that RSU 29 students receive the absolute best education that they can, while also being fiscally responsible.
What do you see as the most important issue facing the school district today and in the future? Trying to balance dwindling budgets while maintaining the quality of our children’s education.
What do you see as your primary goal, if elected? To continue and encourage RSU 29’s history of providing a top notch education along with maintaining our longstanding and well respected reputation in regards to extra-curricular actives.
Why should people vote for you? I have three children enrolled at RSU 29 so I have a vested interest in their education. Due to an accounting background, I also have extensive experience in budgets.
