Corbin offers school system experience

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Don’t let a flurry of elections or the lower profile of school board elections keep you from the polls, one school board candidate urges.

Berry Corbin of Berwick is offering October 18 for the district representing the town and communities from Somerset to Coldbrook. “Whether you have, had or will have children in schools - you should care,” Corbin says. “Schools are vital community assets and resources.”

They are also crucial for the education and social development of youth - tomorrow’s leaders. “I have over 35 years as an educator - my whole adult life has been working with schools and children, and that’s provided lots of opportunity for me to work at all levels, as a teacher and administrator, with the board and its staff and now as a part-time teacher in Acadia’s education program.”

Corbin says his understanding of how schools and the board works, with all the relationships between administrators, staff, elected board members and teachers; to consider is an asset. “There are immense challenges: the future of boards themselves, declining enrollment - school closures are going to come up, staffing and funding along with that, and school and teacher accountability.”

He says the value of small schools is proven time and again, but sustaining programs and buildings at present funding levels is the challenge. “The Valley board is probably a model for other boards - it works well, has a strong reputation and people who serve are highly committed to schools and education.”