Ballot Pedia, Tim Merrick

Tim is from Pontiac, Michigan. He graduated from New York Chiropractic College and is a parent of special needs children. He identifies as Unitarian.

Tim is currently retired. He previously owned a small business where he practiced in chiropractic and worked as a doctor on humanitarian missions.

Tim Merrick's campaign for County Board of Education Member in New Hanover County is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Believes excellent public schools are essential for equal opportunity, democracy, and a strong economy. Supports safe, welcoming, and fully-funded schools that promote trust and respect professionalism.

Supports collaboration to ensure public schools leverage funding opportunities from The New Hanover County Endowment Board.

Believes in "realistically evaluating and responsibly implementing" renovation and construction needs for growing school communities. Supports addressing school facilities and resources through careful planning and execution.

Believes in "realistically evaluating and responsibly implementing" renovation and construction needs for growing school communities.

Believes school construction and renovation should prioritize safety. Supports securing school buildings with the latest technologies to prevent outside intruders.

Believes in the importance of funding for school maintenance, specifically to address lead contamination in water fountains. Said, "we're fortunate to receive the funding to remove lead pipes."

Plans to address lead contamination in water fountains. 

Believes the school board's most important role is managing the budget and giving direction to the Superintendent. Said, "I don't see them accomplishing this task with any level of agency."

Believes the School Board's most important role is managing the budget and giving direction to the Superintendent. Said, "I don't see them accomplishing this task with any level of agency."

Believes in prioritizing classroom spending for resources that directly impact students daily.

- Believes excellent public schools are essential for equal opportunity, democracy, and a strong economy. Supports safe, welcoming, and fully-funded schools that promote trust and respect professionalism.
- Supports collaboration to ensure public schools leverage funding opportunities from The New Hanover County Endowment Board.
- Believes in "realistically evaluating and responsibly implementing" renovation and construction needs for growing school communities.
- Believes school construction and renovation should prioritize safety. Supports securing school buildings with the latest technologies to prevent outside intruders.
- Plans to address lead contamination in water fountains. 
- Believes the School Board's most important role is managing the budget and giving direction to the Superintendent. Said, "I don't see them accomplishing this task with any level of agency."
- Believes in prioritizing classroom spending for resources that directly impact students daily.

School Facilities & Resources

Believes the literacy gap in schools is linked to socioeconomic and racial disparities. Supports addressing these disparities to improve educational outcomes.

Believes the School Board's focus on culture war policies is a distraction from educational disparities. Criticizes the political party for "leaving a lot of kids behind" despite their "No child left behind" slogan.

Believes the School Board's focus on "culture war" policies is a distraction from educational disparities. Criticizes the political party for "leaving a lot of kids behind" despite their "No child left behind" slogan.

- Believes the literacy gap in schools is linked to socioeconomic and racial disparities. Supports addressing these disparities to improve educational outcomes.
- Believes the School Board's focus on "culture war" policies is a distraction from educational disparities. Criticizes the political party for "leaving a lot of kids behind" despite their "No child left behind" slogan.

Access to Education

Believes teachers and staff must be treated better and paid a reasonable salary. Said, "many will still lose their jobs" due to budget issues, causing significant stress.

Believes in honoring teachers' expertise and granting them trust and flexibility. Supports sustainable solutions for fully funded classrooms.

Wants to honor teachers' expertise by granting them trust and flexibility. 

Believes educators deserve respect and autonomy to foster their growth and dedication. Supports quality-certified and licensed teachers to ensure meaningful student engagement.

Supports quality-certified and licensed teachers to ensure meaningful student engagement.

Believes teachers need "ample opportunity for review, training, and preparation" before implementing new curriculum or mandated programs. Supports addressing teacher pay and shortages to improve the education system.

Believes teachers need "ample opportunity for review, training, and preparation" before implementing new curriculum or mandated programs. 

Believes teacher shortages are critical, with over 15% quitting last year. Supports addressing teacher pay and training to combat this issue.

Views teacher shortages as critical, with over 15% quitting last year. Supports addressing teacher pay and training to combat this issue.

Believes that "hundreds of teachers and school employees are seeking employment elsewhere" due to uncertainty about job security. Said many have already resigned because they "don't know if they will have a job in September."

Believes in promoting quality learning by recruiting and retaining energized, certified, and licensed educators. Supports collaboration to address teacher pay, shortages, and training.

The candidate's website says, "Protect teachers' time to plan, grade, and collaborate with students and colleagues."

Supports professional empowerment for teachers, including better pay, addressing teacher shortages, and improving teacher training.

The candidate's website says, "Create a culture in which all educators feel respected, all students feel valued, and all parents feel heard."

- Believes teachers and staff must be treated better and paid a reasonable salary. Said, "many will still lose their jobs" due to budget issues, causing significant stress.
- Wants to honor teachers' expertise by granting them trust and flexibility. 
- Supports quality-certified and licensed teachers to ensure meaningful student engagement.
- Believes teachers need "ample opportunity for review, training, and preparation" before implementing new curriculum or mandated programs. 
- Views teacher shortages as critical, with over 15% quitting last year. Supports addressing teacher pay and training to combat this issue.

Teachers

Opposes policies that restrict teachers' and students' freedoms, including banning books and limiting state-mandated subjects.

Opposes book bans and state-mandated subjects.

Believes teachers should "meaningfully participate" in curriculum adoption to ensure it reflects truth and relevance to New Hanover County’s diverse student population.

Opposes putting guns in the hands of teachers, prayer in classrooms, and banning books.

Opposes putting "guns in the hands of teachers," and  allowing prayer in classrooms.

Opposes punitive board policies that "encroach on autonomy, obscure truth," and fail to meet the diverse needs of school communities.

Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

- Opposes book bans and state-mandated subjects.
- Believes teachers should "meaningfully participate" in curriculum adoption to ensure it reflects truth and relevance to New Hanover County’s diverse student population.
- Opposes putting "guns in the hands of teachers," and  allowing prayer in classrooms.
- Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

School Curriculum

Supports ensuring schools meet national staffing standards for counselors, social workers, and psychologists to address students' mental health needs.

Believes all New Hanover County students, parents, and educators deserve "safe, welcoming, supportive environments" for effective learning.

Believes in reducing off-campus suspensions and promoting solutions that keep kids in school.

Wants to reduce off-campus suspensions and promote solutions that keep kids in school.

Believes in ensuring safe learning environments for all students. Supports school safety and counseling to promote student wellbeing.

Believes children deserve a "safe and welcoming environment." Supports school safety and counseling to enhance student wellbeing.

Believes school safety is crucial, highlighting the presence of guns in schools due to bullying threats. Supports honoring gun violence victims, as seen during Mom's Demand Action advocacy day.

- Supports ensuring schools meet national staffing standards for counselors, social workers, and psychologists to address students' mental health needs.
- Believes all New Hanover County students, parents, and educators deserve "safe, welcoming, supportive environments" for effective learning.
- Wants to reduce off-campus suspensions and promote solutions that keep kids in school.
- Believes school safety is crucial, highlighting the presence of guns in schools due to bullying threats. Supports honoring gun violence victims, as seen during Mom's Demand Action advocacy day.

Student Wellbeing

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Tim Merrick

As of July 8, 2024, Tim Merrick’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes students and teachers need access to resources to reach their full potential. Supports a school board that collaborates with state and community leaders for sustainable, reliable funding for North Carolina’s public schools.

Supports creating safe learning spaces, enhancing professionalism, and fully funding classrooms to shape a brighter future for students.

Believes there is significant "gamesmanship" among the Superintendent, School Board, and County Commission regarding school facilities and resources. Questions who will take responsibility for necessary actions and the justifications for approval or denial.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 