Introducing the two Lawrence candidates

The two candidates running unopposed for Lawrence school board re-election this year are Murray Foreman, the current board president, and Asher Mansdorf, the vice president.

All terms are for three years. Mansdorf, 70, is running for his eighth straight term and Foreman, 65, is running for his seventh consecutive term.

“As a long-serving member of the board, I’m very proud of the work of the Board and our accomplishments,” Foreman said. “It has been an honor to serve and I’d like to continue to serve all the children in the district and nothing makes me happier than when Dr. Pedersen says to me, our children have done well. It is the most fulfilling feeling to hear that as we move forward.”

Ann Pedersen is the school district’s superintendent.

Mansdorf highlighted the board’s success and pointed to the district renovating and upgrading the school buildings as one of the board’s top accomplishments in the past three years.

“Have we lived up to the promises that we’ve made? The answer for anybody who takes an evidence-based approach is yes,” Mansdorf said. “We said we were going to repair the buildings we have. We said we were going to improve outcomes and we have. We have said, we’re going to be education-centric; we are. We treat everybody the same. Everybody is important. Every segment of the community is without exception, and that’s the approach that we take.”

The district is aiming to establish a building capital reserve fund and use the money to finance the reconstruction, renovation of Lawrence High School, the middle school and the Primary School. That proposition is also on the ballot.

Both candidates expressed optimism about the district being in the final stages of securing a Federal Emergency Management Agency award, anticipated to be more than $50 million. The money is earmarked for Lawrence high school as a result of the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  The award is expected to be received within the year.

“I very much want to see our FEMA money come through and create a building on the high school campus that takes these children into the next century and allows them to achieve in a safe environment, a safe and nurturing environment,” Mansdorf said. “If another Hurricane Sandy comes, looking forward 100 years, I want to have a building that has all the appropriate protections in place that keeps those students safe should that happen. That allows them to prosper and engage in a safe and secure environment. We want them to thrive, so if we can make that happen that would be incredible. “

Voting on the proposed $102.85 million budget, the board candidates and the four propositions, takes place at four locations on May 16 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.