Tony Labranche, Amherst School Board Candidate

Tony Labranche

Age (as of Election Day)

19

Position Sought

Souhegan Cooperative School Board

Party Affiliation

Family

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Enrolled at Nashua Community College Majoring in Political Science

Occupation

State Representative- 6 Months

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

State Representative

Campaign website

tonylabranche.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To address the issues I faced first hand and to improve the quality of education at Souhegan.

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

Maintenance: We must proactively maintain our school as we would our own home instead of waiting for complete breakdowns. We all know that proper maintenance costs less in the long run.

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

I've actually experienced Souhegan and the issues it faces first hand as an alum. I also have served four years on the Community Council which is supposed to be Souhegan's deliberative body, two years as chair of the Constitutional Interpretation Committee which serves as an arbitration court between the various bodies outlined in Souhegan's Constitution, and also was part of the Souhegan 2.0 Taskforce when it was originally created which looks into the maintenance issues at Souhegan.

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

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Are you a candidate running for office in Amherst? Fill out this Patch Candidate Profile Form, and email a photo to tony.schinella@patch.com, and we'll let voters know about your candidacy.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Academic opportunity and Acceleration:
I would increase course and career exploration opportunities through increased cooperation with neighboring school districts and universities. It is in the interest of Souhegan to begin an associates degree program with schools such as Southern New Hampshire University and Nashua Community College. This will prepare students for further education as well as giving them the opportunity to improve upon and exhibit their academic performance. Souhegan needs to improve access to and expand upon dual-enrollment and advanced placement programs. It should not take a student 6 months to have their AP plan approved, nor should students be denied dual-enrollment opportunities based on their transportation needs.
We should also be offering the U.S. JROTC program would provide students with the opportunity to explore study skills, history, citizenship, military drills, and leadership. Not only will this be of huge benefit to our service-oriented students, but those who participate in the program will be of major interest to universities across the country.
Striving for academic flexibility and adaptation for each student will improve student motivation,
engagement, and performance. By continuing to practice custom educational practices, Souhegan will improve the overall quality of education.
Student Leadership and Civic Engagement:
There has been a slow and gradual degradation of Souhegan's founding values from ignoring the role of Community Council to dismissing community feedback. We must put the Community at the forefront of the board. What makes a good school board member is someone that listens to everyone involved from parents, teachers, students, and taxpayers. We also must encourage student engagement and civic participation, not discourage it. That is exactly what I have done throughout my time as a public servant, I have engaged and excited the students of Souhegan to be informed in what goes on and to participate in the political process. We want our students to be active and informed citizens when they graduate from our high school.

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

The best advice ever shared with me was:

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