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By ANNE GLEASON, Staff Writer October 31, 2007

Eight candidates are vying for seven seats on the Biddeford School Committee. Incumbents Dan Boucher, Deirdre Catlett and Margaret Bean are running alongside several School Committee newcomers with various backgrounds in education and public service. The remaining candidates are Cynthia McSorley, Heather Mills, Anthony Michaud, Laura Seaver and Nathan Mills.

Important topics to candidates this year include renovations at Biddeford High School, fiscal responsibility and school safety.

The School Committee consists of the mayor and seven other community members elected to two-year terms.

CYNTHIA A. McSORLEY

AGE: 40

ADDRESS: 13 Alexander Drive

PERSONAL: Married, three children

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, University of Southern Maine

OCCUPATION: Stay-at-home mother; former teacher

POLITICAL/CIVIC EXPERIENCE: YMCA parent advisory committee, 2006-present

ON THE ISSUES: McSorley is concerned about the physical structure of Biddeford High School. The school district needs to ensure an ongoing assessment of Biddeford’s students that includes formal and informal evaluations, she said. Maintaining the safety of the students in school and on the buses is a top priority.

NATHAN H. MILLS

AGE: 46

ADDRESS: 5 Split Rock Lane

PERSONAL: Married, two children

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s, University of Maine-Farmington

OCCUPATION: Business manager, Smart Catalog, Portland

POLITICAL/CIVIC EXPERIENCE: Volunteer, JFK Kindergarten Center, 2006-2007, Biddeford Primary School, 2007-2008; foreign exchange host, American Field Service, 2005 Argentina, 2006 Chile; church council, Church of the Cape, Cape Porpoise; volunteer, Latin America Missions, Roblealto Schools, San Jose de la Montana, Costa Rico

ON THE ISSUES: He believes school safety is the top priority. He wants to ensure a fair opportunity for all students to achieve educational goals. School board members need to work for school budgets that reflect community and taxpayer aspirations, he believes.

DANIEL P. BOUCHER

AGE: 53

ADDRESS: 69 Foss St.

PERSONAL: Married, three children

EDUCATION: Courses at Southern Maine Technical College

OCCUPATION: Boucher Drafting Services

POLITICAL/CIVIC EXPERIENCE: City Council, 1974-75; School Committee, 1998-2003 and 2006-present, vice chair for two terms, Finance Committee member; chair, Middle School Building and Capital Improvements committees

ON THE ISSUES: He believes the renovation of Biddeford High is a top priority, given the lack of substantial changes to the building since the 1970s. Also, the board should work with the City Council in a more cooperative way on the budget, in light of falling state funding. The board needs to ensure all students have equal access to education, possibly looking at expanding alternative education opportunities or programs tailored to different needs.