Auburn School Committee at-large candidate Casey Knight Submitted photo
AUBURN — Resident Casey Knight, 45, is seeking the at-large seat. She is a licensed clinical social worker.
Community engagement:
Lewiston Auburn Youth Soccer Association coach, Auburn Recreation Center basketball coach, Outright Lewiston Auburn volunteer, The Drop-In Center volunteer
How would you manage the school budget?
I believe that the budget needs to increase. We have an old curriculum that does not serve students’ current needs. This is specifically observable in middle school science classrooms. Additionally, funding needs to be put toward more incentives for ed techs to help balance elementary classroom needs.
Allocate more funds to schools or pull back spending? Why?
Last year students missed school and parents missed work. The trickle down was seen throughout the community. We need to pay bus drivers a wage that is competitive. We also need to allocate more funds to help support the emotional needs of students. All in all, Auburn needs additional funding to help support the educational and emotional needs of our youth and adolescents.
Do you believe student safety is a priority and would you support initiatives that address safety issues?
I would consider such initiatives, their cost, implication and effectiveness.
Do you believe students’ social emotional needs are being met in schools? What could be done differently?
No. We live in a community that is low income by national standards and filled with generational trauma, along with daily stressors that young minds are not equipped to manage. Our children are suffering and as a mental health therapist I see this daily. Students would benefit from dialectic behavioral practices in the classroom, including interpersonal effectiveness and emotional regulation.
Do you believe parents and community members have adequate access to the committee members at meetings or through other methods to express concerns and frustrations?
I do believe they have access. I also believe that we, parents and community, do not always take the opportunities we are given. Life is busy, admittedly, I have slacked on this over the years.
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