Daniel Veilleux, Souhegan Cooperative School Board Candidate

Daniel Veilleux

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Souhegan Cooperative School Board (3-year seat)

Party Affiliation

Non-partisan

Family

Married with two kids in Amherst Schools, 8th and 10th grades

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA - Political Science, Master's in Public Administration (MPA)

Occupation

At-home parent: 15 years, Accounting 12+

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently serving in the NH House of Representatives for Hillsborough 22, Amherst, 2nd year of first term.
Member of Souhegan Regional Landfill District, 3 years.
Member of Souhegan Advisory Finance Committee, 3 years; Chairman, 1 year.

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/Dan-V...

Why are you seeking elective office?

To help bring an objective voice to the board and promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in the district.

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 district is trust. We are emerging from the pandemic and have to recognize that it was a difficult time for everyone, especially our schools. It is important to recognize the work our teachers and administrators have put in to keep the schools functioning through remote learning and in-person classes with safety protocols and uncertain conditions. Teachers and students will need time to catch up with lost lessons and get back into a normal flow. We can't punish teachers or fault students for lagging metrics, like standardized test scores, that were the product of the times. We need to provide whatever support is necessary to make a quick and complete recovery. I hope that we can have a thorough, open discussion about the many issues that are polarizing our school and community and restore the public trust in the high school.

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

I bring a healthy skepticism and high expectations to the board. I know how to ask tough questions and expect thorough answers. Policies must be supported by research-based best practices and have measurable outcomes. Once policies are implemented, the board and the administration need to be held accountable for their execution and their results. We cannot accept experimental programs that distract our teachers and administrators from their first responsibility: educating our students. We need to review the leadership structure to ensure that it supports teachers and students without being excessively punitive, and ensure that our grading system is clear and provides teachers, students, and parents with a clear and prescriptive picture of student progress and abilities.

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

Our existing Souhegan Cooperative School Board has done a great job in most areas. The handling of the pandemic was difficult and came with a great deal of uncertainty and conflicting information, and they handled it as well as was possible. As we move on to a new period of recovery and rebuilding, we have a changing environment that is driven by technology, political pressures, and financial constraints. We also have multiple internal issues to sort out. It will take a strong and determined board to ask tough questions, make difficult decisions, and take decisive action. Taking a forward-looking approach is critical to anticipating the new opportunities and threats that face our schools. Moving quickly to take advantage of the opportunities offered by emerging technology and to adapt to school choice and a rapidly changing educational environment will be essential. The new board will need to be more proactive in setting the direction of the school and communicating with the community.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

This year the Souhegan Advisory Finance Committee (SAFC) approached examining the budget by reviewing it from four perspectives: 1. Fiduciary: Are we protecting the investments we've made in our buildings, in our teachers, and in our administrators. 2. Due diligence: Are we taking the time to compare policies and best practices? Are we purchasing the best instructional and administrative technology available to suit our needs? Are the capabilities of our chosen curriculum adequate for our district, and are the anticipated outcomes clear and measurable? Is our organizational structure prudent and collaborative? 3. Adherence to the stated policies of the board: Do our policies support best practices and do our spending proposals advance those policies? 4. Adherence to the founding documents: Our school has a clear Constitution and Mission Statement that drove the unique instructional philosophy that Souhegan is known for. Has that philosophy changed? If it has, what is the new model and is the new plan clearly present in the proposed spending?

I would bring these four items to the board and add to them transparency and accountability. 5. Transparency: With so much happening, it is important that the board proactively reach out to the community and explain what is being done and why. It is also essential that the board take the time to listen to solicit and listen to community input. 6. Accountability: With research-based best practices, the community must expect measurable results and hold the administration and the board accountable for those results.

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

Throughout my life I have taken on responsibilities that require dedication, persistence, and diligence. Whether it's graduating from my master's program with honors, to working in an accounting environment where precision was essential, to my personal life in raising two children as an at-home parent or reaching personal goals, such as earning my private pilot license or running for elective office and serving in my state's legislature, I am fully committed to bringing my best judgment and effort to whatever the endeavor. I have an inherent need to ask questions and fully understand whatever I am asked to do or support. I know that the term "rubber stamp" gets used a lot in reference to school boards and legislatures. That is not in my nature.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

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

I believe I have earned a reputation for being fair and objective, and willing to change my opinions with new information. I have the knowledge and experience to ensure the community that I will do whatever is necessary to earn their trust and confidence and that my vote will always be based on the most complete information available and will always be in the best interest of our school and community.