The candidates vying to represent District 1 and District 3 on the Lower Kennebec River Regional School Unit (RSU) board met Tuesday evening in Woolwich.

The three candidates, Charles Durfee, running unopposed for the District 1 seat on the regional board, David Miller, of Woolwich, and Tim Hawkins III, from Arrowsic, are asking the voters in District 3 for their vote.

The voters in Arrowsic, Bath, Phippsburg, West Bath, and Woolwich will elect a seven member board of directors on January 29, a representative from each district.

Durfee told the voters at the meeting he is a strong supporter of school consolidation. "I believe working together is better than working separately," he said. Durfee served for seven years on the Woolwich school board, and has volunteered for nine years in school activities. He is the father of two sons, both of whom attended the Woolwich Central School.

"Overall, my philosophy is the key to success is leadership, and leadership begins with the new school board," Durfee said.

Tim Hawkins was born in Bath, brought up in Boothbay, now lives in Arrowsic, is married with two sons, one age five and the other soon to be three. He has served on the Arrowsic school board for two years, and was very active in the regionalization process for LD910. He said, as a small business owner, he understands the financial pressures that property taxes can place on people.

He spoke of the challenges the new school board will have. "It must begin with a vision," he said. He spoke of the municipal boundaries and the regional boundaries and the challenges of bridging those gaps between the two.

"In Arrowsic we have no schools. We are living the regional model already," Hawkins said. He also made it clear that he supported a new K-8 school for Woolwich.

"We need to seek out opportunities to be gained from the new school model," he said.

David Miller, who is running for the same seat as Hawkins, has been a life-long educator both in the classroom and in administrative positions.

Miller was a member of the task force, and transition teams leading to regionalization, and participated in public sessions in all six communities promoting the passage of LD910. "I would like to finish the job," he said, "by becoming a member of the regional school board."

Miller, who is currently serving as the Woolwich school board chairman, said he considers the school year too short. "We should have a longer school year, or a longer school day," he said. He is also a strong supporter of school consolidation.

"I wish I could say we will save money. I can't say that. But, we can not sell our children short either. We need to give them a world class education."

Selectman Lloyd Coombs served as the moderator of the meeting. After the candidates completed their statements, the floor was opened to questions.

One resident asked, "What happens when a teacher is not considered excellent?"

Miller said the school board is not the jury to teacher's excellence. It is up to the Superintendent to evaluate the performance of the teachers, and the school board to support his decisions.

Hawkins said standards should be set for teachers.

Durfee said he would work to extend the probationary period for teachers to more than the current two years.

"It is very difficult to terminate a teacher once she has completed her probationary period," Durfee said.

The election will be held January 29 at the Woolwich Central School, from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.