![[Picture of Denise Rose.]](rose.gif)
I am 37 years old. I am married to Richard Rose and we have a 10 year old daughter, Jennifer, who attends Mast Way Elementary School. I attended Manchester Memorial High School. I enlisted in the Naval Nuclear Power Program and served in the US Navy for eight and a half years. I am currently employed by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as a Physical Science Technician.
I am running for a position on the School Board because I am concerned with the current direction of the Oyster River School system. We need to improve our communication, accountability, and responsibility. Also, we should adopt a measurable process designed to improve our children's education.
I moved to this area because of the reputation for educational excellence. However, I have been disappointed. I believe one of the reasons for the decline in Oyster River's educational quality is that we lack effective communication. Information is not readily shared in a complete and timely manner. The school board and the public have repeatedly requested specific data. If they get any information at all, it is often not what was asked for, or the information is so untimely that any change in direction would be futile. I am also concerned with communication within the School Board itself. The Board is polarized. An attitude of "We have the votes, so let's get on with it" presents an unacceptable example to our children. I believe we must have more of a consensus approach.
Our educators are just that, educators, learned in teaching methods and subject information. We cannot expect them to be all seeing and all knowing. This is why the voters of the community shoulder the responsibility of determining the direction of our public education.
The School Board must be accountable to the community. Under current policy the Board does not have to answer any questions from the community. This is a completely unacceptable policy from our elected representative. The community has a RIGHTto know each members position on any topic presented to the Board. We need a School Board that is continually accountable to the public, not just on a three year basis.
Finally, we do not have visions and goals with specific measurable objectives to determine if we are getting better, staying the same, or falling behind. We make decisions based on how we feel about a subject in lieu of what the data tells us. We continue to pour more and more money into our school system without requiring specific educational objectives to be met; nor do we develop ways to measure these objectives. I believe we have many conscientious educators in our district. However, without a process based on facts, we are not efficient educationally nor fiscally. It is not my goal simply to provide less money, but to provide a better education for our educational dollars.
As one of only a few women to successfully complete the Naval Nuclear Power Program, which has been acknowledged as one of the most academically rigorous in the military today, I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve on the O. R.S. B. While stationed on the USS Emory S. Land, I was in charge of all officer and enlisted radiological training and training records. During that time, I developed numerous training programs and I am a certified instructor at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
In addition, I was a volunteer for the Aids Hot Line, the Easter Seal Center and the Child Abuse Center, in Norfolk, Virginia. I was a certified Emergency Medical Technician. I also taught numerous national and international drum and bugle corps and marching bands, including the Rochester High School and the University of New Hampshire Marching Bands.
In recent years the School Board has not represented the community as a whole. I do not come to the School Board thinking "I know what is best for the community, no matter what they say". I believe I must always represent the voice of the people.
Commons
Schools
Newsstand
Library
Voting Booth
Soapbox
Last update on 29-Mar-99 at 9:26 PM.
http://www.orol.org/district/elections/1996/rose.html
This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.