Lamontagne Discusses Education Policy with Literacy Task Force

Sets the record straight on false attacks

 

Manchester, NH – Ovide Lamontagne, candidate for Governor, spoke with educators at the Adult Literacy Task Force meeting held at the Manchester School of Technology over the weekend.  Throughout the meeting, Lamontagne stressed the importance of the work being done by task force members to equip students with the vital skills they need to be active members of today's workforce.  He also used the opportunity to refute a number of false and misleading claims made about his record by his opponents.

“My opponents are misleading New Hampshire voters and attacking me daily - telling them that as governor I will refuse federal education funding.  Let me be very clear - nothing could be further from the truth,” said Lamontagne. 

As chairman of the State Board of Education, Lamontagne turned down federal Goals 2000 funds because accepting the grants would have turned over significant control of New Hampshire classrooms to the federal government.  However, local school districts were given the authority to contract directly with the federal government to accept federal grants if they felt it was right for their communities, and some did.  

The same year the School Board turned down Goals 2000 funds, however, Lamontagne led the Board in accepting federal monies for School to Work, a program that helped high school graduates enter the workforce.  

“Making decisions about how we implement these complex programs is about a lot more than a simple yes or no,” said Lamontagne, “it is about evaluating each based on there merits and trying to decide the best course forward for our students and our schools.  It is about thinking though all of the possibilities and the consequences, and that is what I will do as governor.”

Lamontagne also stressed the importance of working with the federal government to fully fund its share of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which the federal government has failed to do since the program's inception.  Full funding would bring millions into the state to help fund programs for students with disabilities.  

Lamontagne also reiterated his support for public kindergarten saying, “I am a former school teacher and I fully support public kindergarten and the benefits it offers our children.  While I believe the decision on whether or not a local community should have it should be a local one, I have no intention to change the law as written.”

Open House Seacoast School of Technology

Regional Career& Technical Center opens its doors to parents and community

Exeter - The Seacoast School of Technology (SST) in Exeter invites all area parents, community members, and employers to its annual Open House on Wednesday, October 3. The Open House will be a drop-in event from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, with formal classroom presentations occurring at 6:00 pm and 6:45 pm.

SST provides career and technical education programs designed to empower students by teaching them a tangible, marketable skill. Many of the programs are taught at the college level and enable students to earn college credit while completing their high school graduation requirements. Over 75% of SST students will continue their education after graduation, and their technical, hands-on training makes them uniquely ready for both college and career.

Students from Epping, Exeter, Newmarket, Raymond, Sanborn Regional, and Winnacunnet High Schools take courses in one of 12 different subject areas including Animal and Plant Science, Automotive Technologies, Biotechnology, Building Construction Technologies, Computer Programming, Culinary Arts, Digital Communications, Early Childhood Education, Health Science Technologies, Marketing Technology, Pre-Engineering, and Welding Technologies.

This year’s Open House will offer an opportunity to tour our newly renovated, state-of-the-art facilities that include a 13-bay automotive technologies building, aquaculture tanks, greenhouse, cutting-edge biotechnology lab, restaurant-grade kitchen and dining service facilities, and much more. Teachers and staff will be on hand to give tours of the campus and to answer questions about the unique opportunities available to students at SST. A special invitation is extended to middle school students and their parents to help them plan how a technical education will be a part of their high school plans.

The Seacoast School of Technology is located at 40 Linden Street in Exeter. Open House guests are asked to park either on the Tuck Learning Campus, or behind the former Exeter High School Annex. For more information about

NHDP - Senate Democratic Candidates to NH GOP: Education is a Priority, Not A "Side Issue"

Democrats Discuss State GOP Chair's Assertion That Education is a "Distracting" "Side Issue"; Compare Differing Approaches to Education

CONCORD - Education should be considered a priority, not a "distracting" "side issue," Democratic state senators and Senate candidates said today, responding to a recent press release by the state Republican Party chair.

"When the NHGOP chair called discussion of education a "distracting" "side issue," neither of his party's candidates for Governor spoke up to disagree," said Senate Minority Leader Sylvia Larsen. "We disagree - strongly. Education is crucial to our economic development efforts. Businesses need trained, skilled workers to be able to compete - and they are going to invest in states that will produce that workforce."

Unfortunately, Senate Democratic leaders said, the record of the current legislature demonstrates they do view education as a side issue.

Republicans in the legislature, led by Bill O'Brien, oversaw the largest cut in higher education funding in U.S. history, resulting in large tuition increases on middle-class families. The Republican legislature   cut aid to local school districts, raising local property taxes. They also put forward a plan to repeal kindergarten, supported by several current GOP senate candidates.

In contrast, improving education was a priority under the leadership of Gov. John Lynch and the Democratic majority in the legislature.

"We passed an education funding plan that ended 15 years of school funding lawsuits and now provides an equal opportunity for every student to succeed," said Senator Molly Kelly.  "We ended New Hampshire's distinction as the only state in the country where public kindergarten was not universally available. Now every child in New Hampshire has an opportunity to go to kindergarten. And we created alternative education programs that resulted in cutting NH's high school dropout rate in half- down to one of the lowest rates in the nation."

"Wayne McDonald and the NH GOP's views of education are out-of-touch, misguided, but sadly, not at all surprising given the O'Brien legislature's frequent attacks on our public schools - attacks that their candidates for state senate have also embraced," said Manchester School Board member and Senate candidate Donna Soucy.

Republican Senate candidates who served in the House voted for a plan that cut funding for higher education in half -- the single largest cut in high education funding in our nation's history. At the same time, they cut the tobacco tax. Their decision to put cigarettes over education resulted in lost revenue and higher tuition increases for middle-class families already struggling to afford college.

"It's no surprise they don't want to talk about education - because their actions would take our state in the wrong direction," said Senator Lou D'Allenandro. "If I had the Republican record - and plan - for education, I would try and convince people it was a side issue too."

The Republican record on education extends to the gubernatorial and presidential candidates. As chairman of the state Board of Education, Ovide Lamontagne opposed expanding public kindergarten but supported teaching creationism. He blocked New Hampshire schools from receiving millions in federal funds, and he recently told a radio show: "I'd do it again."

"I think the Republican Party is also afraid of people knowing what the Romney-Ryan plan would mean to education," D'Allesandro said.

The Ryan budget, which Romney has said he would sign, would cut Pell grants; work study positions; federal funding for local public schools; and kick hundreds of kids out of Head Start. Mitt Romney, however, would get another tax cut.

"These misplaced priorities would take our state backward and hurt our middle-class families. We will take our state forward, by focusing on the priorities that matter to our families - making higher education affordable and improving our public schools," D'Allesandro said.

Hassan Calls on Lamontagne, Smith to State whether they agree with GOP Chair that Education is "Distraction" , "Side Issue"

MANCHESTER – Maggie Hassan, Democratic candidate for Governor, today called on Republican candidates Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith to state whether they agree with comments made by the Republican Party chair calling education “distracting” and a “side issue.”

This week, Hassan unveiled her Innovate NH jobs plan, which focuses on education as key to building a 21^st century workforce that will enable New Hampshire businesses to innovate and grow.  

On Monday, Hassan released a new television ad which focuses on her work in the State Senate to lower dropout rates and establish statewide kindergarten. In a press release responding to the ad, Wayne McDonald, the Republican Party chair, said talking about education was “distracting” and a “side issue.” (NH GOP Press Release, 8/7/2012)

“Education is not a side issue. It is not a distraction from economic issues.  The quality of the education we offer our children will determine whether our middle-class families will succeed and whether our state will have a strong economic future,” Hassan said.  “Education is critically important to the future of every child, every adult and every business in New Hampshire. That’s why it is the centerpiece of my Innovate NH jobs plan.”

“We should have a strong debate about our vision for improving education in New Hampshire during this campaign,” Hassan said. “That is why I am calling on Ovide Lamontagne and Kevin Smith to state whether they agree with the Republican Party Chair’s comments calling education a ‘distracting’ ‘side issue.’”

Maggie Hassan’s Innovate NH jobs plan

1.      Re-invest in Higher Education, Freeze Tuition for New Hampshire families: The legislature cut funding for higher education in New Hampshire nearly in half, making it even harder for middle-class families struggling to keep the dream of a college education alive. As Governor, Maggie will begin re-investing in New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities, and ask them to use the additional state funds to freeze tuition for New Hampshire students for two years.

2.      Keep New Hampshire’s Future Workforce in New Hampshire: As state support for higher education has slipped, New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities have had to rely more heavily on out-of-state students. A recent report by the New Hampshire Department of Education found that 5 percent fewer of our students are staying in New Hampshire for college than a decade ago. Only 55 percent of University of New Hampshire-Durham students are from New Hampshire, 45 percent of Keene State students, and 50 percent of Plymouth State University Students. As Governor, Maggie will work with the University System to increase the number of slots for New Hampshire students by at least 10 percent over the next five years. Building and retaining our home-grown workforce will help New Hampshire keep and attract new companies.

3.      Putting the Power of the University System to Work Helping Businesses Innovate and Grow: As Governor, Maggie Hassan will help put the power and expertise of the University System to work helping businesses innovate and grow. Building and expanding on programs such as the existing Green Launching Pad, The Innovation Launching Pad will let the University System provide research-and-develoment, marketing and its business expertise to a broad range of start-up New Hampshire businesses.

4.      Supporting Efforts to Commercialize Inventions: As Governor, Maggie Hassan will support ongoing efforts by the University System to commercialize the discoveries being made on their own campuses, including supporting UNH’s business incubator at Pease.

5.      Set Rigorous – Engaging — Science Standards for Elementary and High School Students: Building the workforce New Hampshire needs to compete, must start with ensuring elementary and high school students have a sound grounding in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In January, the Thomas Fordham Institute gave New Hampshire’s science standards a D. As Governor, Maggie Hassan will work with teachers, local schools, higher education and the business community to ensure New Hampshire has the rigorous STEM education system it needs to prepare students to compete in the future. As Governor, Maggie will also work to make sure we include hands on-learning, through programs such as FIRST Robotics, in the curriculum to engage and interest students in pursuing STEM careers.

6.      Increase Number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math graduates: As Governor, Maggie Hassan will work closely with the University and Community College systems of New Hampshire to implement their joint plan to increase the number of STEM graduates by 50 percent by 2020 and double the number by 2025.

7.      Keep the Community College System Strong and Flexible: Maggie Hassan believe the community college system must remain a critical gateway to college for many of our students and a training ground for future and current workers. She will support efforts to keep the community system strong and flexible to the ever-changing demands of business and technology.

8.      Ensure Access to Job Training for Workers and Businesses: As a State Senator, Maggie Hassan helped create the Job Training Fund that has helped more than 12,000 New Hampshire workers improve their skills. As Governor, Maggie will work to make sure businesses and workers have access to the job training they need to compete in a rapidly changing economy.

9.      Double the Research-and-Development Tax Credit: As Governor, Maggie Hassan will support doubling the research-and-development tax credit to encourage businesses to develop the new products and technologies of the future here in New Hampshire. She will also work with New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities and businesses to encourage them to develop new strategic research partnerships.

Smith for Governor - Two Sentences? - A Side-by-Side Comparison of Education Plans by GOP Candidates Kevin Smith & Ovide Lamontagne

Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for Governor, announced a comprehensive plan to reform education on June 19, stating, “Education reform is critical to our state’s economic success.” Smith has made education reform a major part of his plan to strengthen New Hampshire and make it a leader in the 21^st Century economy.

Among its many components, Kevin Smith’s education plan promotes school choice, vouchers, teacher tenure reform, merit pay, stronger support for charter schools, empowering families and students, and local control.

Kevin Smith has commented:

“If we are to put New Hampshire on a path toward prosperity and economic competitiveness, we must strengthen public schools and choice in education. We cannot compete in the 21^st Century economy without a skilled workforce, and that begins with giving students the tools they need early in their academic lives. Improving public schools and providing parents and students with greater choice and flexibility to get the education they need is a vital component to ensuring that New Hampshire doesn’t fall behind its economic competitors in the future.”

“You can’t just say you’ll be an education governor, you need to actually do something about it and put forth a plan…[My plan] calls for empowering families and students, encouraging merit based pay and tenure reform, giving greater flexibility to administrators, strengthening support for charter schools, passing school choice, and allowing our education system to address the different needs of all our students.” (http://bit.ly/NE4Y1z)

Smith’s primary opponent, Ovide Lamontagne, has routinely touted his experience as the former Chairman of the State Board of Education as a way of promoting his candidacy for Governor.

Like Kevin Smith, Lamontagne agrees that New Hampshire should pass a Constitutional Amendment to return the authority to fund public education to the legislature and remove the issue from the Courts. However, that’s where Lamontagne’s education “plan” stops, and Smith's begins!

Except for two sentences – and only two sentences – published on his web site that loosely address education reform in very general terms, Lamontagne has not put forth a plan to reform and improve education in New Hampshire.

Lamontagne’s entire education plan reads:

 

Conversely, Kevin Smith has proven to be the most substantive candidate – Republican or Democrat – in the race for Governor. Smith’s education plan is, in deed, a full plan and includes much more than two sentences specifically addressing ways to truly reform public education, strengthen New Hampshire’s schools, and empower students and families.

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF EDUCATION PLANS

KEVIN SMITH’S EDUCATION PLAN: NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FUTURE IS NOW

OVIDE LAMONTAGNE’S EDUCATION PLAN: http://www.ovide2012.com/priorities

Support a Constitutional Amendment that gets the Courts out of the education system and returns the authority to fund and make education policy to the legislature and Governor. Institute a tax credit against the Business Profits Tax (BPT) that encourages businesses to provide scholarships to K-12 students (enacted this year after the legislature over-turned Governor Lynch’s veto) Empower parents and give them choices to select the schools they want their children to attend, whether public, private or charter. Phase in a Money Follows the Child (MFC) program, whereby state and local education funding is tied to the child, not the local district. The MFC program would: o   Provide funding amounts equal to 90% of the per pupil funding in the town where the student resides o   Initially offer the program to all students with family incomes below the poverty line o   Make available 5,000 MFC program opportunities in the first year, 10,000 in the second year, to every family under the poverty line in years three through five, and universally for all families from year six onward. Provide $6,500 for each charter school student not covered by the MFC program in the first five years of the program. Formalize merit as the basis for teacher salary increases, rather than seniority. Reform tenure rules so that school districts can keep their best teachers regardless of how long they have been working, allowing the top 20% of teachers over a period of five years to receive tenure, as well as suspending tenure for those teachers who fall into the bottom 10% while allowing them the opportunity to earn it back. Leave non-salary and benefit issues in the hands of administrators and school boards allowing them greater flexibility to manage non-contract related issues in schools. Fund a state apprenticeship/ scholarship program for students that graduate high school in three years or less. Support high state standards for learning and instruction in public education while resisting federal interference and mandates. This includes fighting to reform No Child Left Behind’s costly and burdensome regulations on New Hampshire’s schools and towns. Always promote greater local control of education. Work closely with New Hampshire’s educational and business communities to ensure that the state is producing a young workforce that is skilled and ready to participate in a 21st Century economy here at home. Encourage greater learning opportunities for students in elementary and high school by taking advantage of New Hampshire’s innovative competency-based education requirements and allowing students the opportunity to receive academic credit outside of the four walls of the classroom.

Support a Constitutional Amendment that gets the Courts out of the education system and returns the authority to fund and make education policy to the legislature and Governor. “A highly educated workforce is a key component of economic success. Our students deserve every opportunity to be prepared for employment in today’s global economy. As Governor, I will work to introduce real reforms to our educational system, such as school choice, while promoting partnerships among our universities, community colleges, technical schools, high schools and businesses so that academic coursework is linked to the real needs of the state’s employers.”

Kevin Smith has said that New Hampshire can’t afford to fall behind other states:

“States like Florida, Louisiana, Indiana and others have made significant progress in passing reforms, such as vouchers and merit pay. And, in each case, students have been the beneficiaries. Bureaucrats and labor unions may not like reform, but their grip on the status quo isn’t doing anyone any good. New Hampshire is falling behind other states, but when I’m governor that will change, and we’ll restore New Hampshire's position as a leader in public education." (http://bit.ly/NE4Y1z)

Smith has noted his support for a Constitutional Amendment, but says that it’s only a start:

“I’ll work tirelessly to pass a Constitutional Amendment to once and for all put the authority to make and fund education policy back in the hands of the legislature. But, a Constitutional Amendment is only one piece to improving education in our state. Students benefit from competition and choice – just like in our economy. If we can make strides in shoring up charter schools, passing a voucher program, and giving administrators and teachers greater flexibility in education, everyone benefits and schools get better.” (http://bit.ly/NE4Y1z)