AUBURN — Chris Langis is the newest School Committee member, elected Nov. 4 to represent Ward 4. He was sworn into office Nov. 5.

Langis, 32, ran unopposed.

He was educated in Windham and Lewiston schools, and works for a ship chandlery in South Portland overseeing bidding and purchasing. He has been a member of the Androscoggin County Republican Committee.

Responding to written questions from the Sun Journal, Langis said he decided to serve for several reasons, including students and Auburn taxpayers.

Langis’ son is a sixth-grader at Fairview Elementary School. “I want to do all I can to make sure he is receiving the best education possible,” Langis said. “I also want to be a voice for everyone who has a stake in our schools, including the taxpayer. The taxpayer has been underrepresented in recent years.”

Asked what’s going right with Auburn schools, Langis said mass customized learning is promising. “It helps students who are struggling to receive more individualized attention from the teachers. It allows overachievers to excel and also allows the average student to move ahead at their own pace. When the whole class is not slowed down waiting for someone who is falling behind to catch up, everyone wins.”

On what could go better in the School Department, Langis said community outreach is inadequate. “Auburn desperately needs a large electronic sign at city hall that lets the public know when upcoming meetings are, and what will be on the agenda. The public needs to feel more welcome to the School Committee and City Council meetings.”

Langis said he hopes to get the public more involved and boost awareness of what’s going on in the School Department.

When it comes to budget, Langis said he’s concerned that a repeat of 2013 does not happen. That year, the School Committee proposed a budget that would have hiked property taxes too much, Langis said. It took three votes in 2013, with the budget cut each time, before voters approved a budget. “I hope that a budget so inconsiderate of the taxpayers is not proposed again. If one is, I will not support it under any circumstance.”

From what he knows so far, Langis said funding of the School Department is adequate, but “the state may not think so.” Under current regulations, Auburn property taxpayers may have to spend more on education or face losing state education money. The state and federal government heaps burdens on the School Department and penalizes the department for being thrifty, Langis said.

“There has to be a balance between overburdening the taxpayers of Auburn, and caving in to the bullies in Augusta,” Langis said.