Amherst School Board Candidate Greg Fritz

Greg Fritz

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Amherst School Board Member

Party Affiliation

None

Family

My wife and I have two children in Clark-Wilkins.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.S. Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech
M.S. Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D. Degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Johns Hopkins University

Occupation

Research Scientist for 10 years where I have studied problems in a wide variety of technical fields and contributed original technical content both as a researcher and as a team member as evidenced by several U.S. Patents and peer reviewed journal articles. I was honored to be recognized by The National Academy of Engineering as part of their Frontiers of Engineering program for the nation’s top engineers under 35 years old.
Now a Program Manager for the past 2 years, I oversee and manage a portfolio of programs including budgets, personnel, and the technical aspects.
I helped found and served on an Executive Board for an after-school tutoring program outside of Baltimore

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently serving on the Ways and Means Committee for the Amherst School Board as an Appointed Position. In this role I see the budget information at the same pace as the School Board Members and work as a team member to help understand how the various budget line items affect student performance. Based on what I learned in this role, I recommended cost savings that were eventually implemented. I am also reviewing, analyzing, and advising the Administration, Ways and Means Members, and Members of the Amherst School Board on the effectiveness of new and existing programs.

Campaign website

www.FRITZforNH.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking a position on the School Board to ensure that policies provide Students with a much better environment for their educational, mental, and social development. When elected, I will protect your Family’s Rights and provide serious analysis of policies and spending plans.
I was involved in the Parent's Reopening Subcommittee after the 2020-2021 School Year and was encouraged by the handling of Parent feedback from the Administration. I was then very disappointed by the handling of the Reopening Plan by the Amherst School Board, particularly with regards to forced masking as a prerequisite for attending school. The School Board added the requirement to mask teachers regardless of the negative impact on Student learning, the ability for Teachers to educate as they want, and the effectiveness of masks as worn by school children. This Reopening Plan is still in effect today while the Administration has changed the color coded identification from required masking to recommended masking. This School Board needs to be improved through more thoughtful analysis generally, and specifically the Board needs to create policies that are tolerant and inclusive of all the Families who do not accept required face coverings to attend a Public School in New Hampshire. I have noticed similar logical errors by various Board Members during my time on Ways and Means with regards to budget issues and I can work more effectively with the current Members when elected. When elected I will be a strong voice, backed by scientific understanding and common sense, pushing for high value education for Amherst Students.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our Board is the Reopening Plan. Together, we must work to Open the Schools and prevent anything like this from ever happening again. The new building plans are attractive, and the new math curriculum may be an improvement but the mental health crisis that is affecting a significant population of students is the result of this Board voting to keep an irrational perception of danger in our Schools and keeping healthy culture suitable for educational, mental, and social development out of the Schools. If the Schools are so unsafe that PPE is required on every child to remain well, then that school should be closed. Our Schools are safe and we need to make permanent a policy where kindergartners can see their teacher read them a book, elementary students can talk at lunch without designed television distractions, and where middle school students can see a smile across the room.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have demonstrated on Ways and Means my analytical capability and how clearly I think. I look for value for students when considering spending or mandates and am tolerant of different Family Values. I was pushing to understand why the furniture budget for the Middle School included luxury standing desks while a Kindergarten teacher is buying furniture for their classroom out of their own pocket. Meanwhile, one of my opponents wants to share a presentation with you about Fairness and Equity. I was pushing to understand why some of the highest paid teachers are going to get a more than 50% increase in compensation over the next four years on the proposed contract while one of my opponents wants to bring a stronger pro-union position to the Board.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I will bring a serious approach of the details to the Board. When I opposed the excessive furniture line item in this year’s budget, I made it clear that I am not anti-chair, I am pro-thoughtfulness. In that case, there was no stated reason for the number of chairs in the budget and when I asked for a count of needed chairs, the request was withdrawn. That is a common sense, data driven, frugal approach. I will dive into every line item and every policy with the seriousness, common sense, and analytical skills I have demonstrated as a scientist and engineer. The best way to improve support for Public Schools is through justifying the programs, the personnel, and the cost in terms of the likelihood of positive results for Students to the community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I routinely work with a diverse group of personalities and skillsets to solve problems with tight budgets. I have been the only member of the public at some of the Amherst School Board Meetings. I know the current Board Members and I know I can work with each of them productively. I do not cancel people; I recognize everyone has some skill to contribute and has some overlapping interest with me.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Life is full of trade-offs.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

In addition to the after-school tutoring program I helped start, I also tutored children in the foster care system who were elementary and middle school students in and outside Baltimore on a weekly basis for much of my time at Johns Hopkins University during the late 2000s. I have a long standing interest in the education of young people and feel fortunate to be a new resident of Amherst in part because I sense the involvement of Families in the Public Schools.