If elected to the Marion School Committee, David MacDonald wants to challenge the trend of “moving everybody toward the middle” with standardized testing.

“We’ve got to take care of the kids who are challenged with learning,” he said. “You’ve also got to take care of the kids that want to be pushed or challenged even more so they don’t become complacent.”

MacDonald, the CEO of Chiron Physical Therapy, moved to Marion about five years ago with his wife, Jennifer, and son Braden, now a fourth grade student.

During that time, he became a member of the School Council at Sippican School as well as a coach in the local youth football league.

The experiences have shown MacDonald, “everybody learns in a different way.”

MacDonald said the challenges of standardized testing have made it difficult to focus on some of the individuals needs and interests of students.

“What the superintendent, what the principal, what the teachers have been doing has been phenomenal, but there are other ways to measure success,” he said.

In speaking with other parents, many have said they don’t feel their children are challenged enough. Others would like to see more emphasis in the classroom on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

“I think there can be a both and scenario where you prepare the kids for the standardized stuff and we also create more learning opportunities,” MacDonald said.

In addition to challenging some current practices, MacDonald said his education and 22 years in healthcare management would be an asset to the committee, especially with the potential influx of students from the new housing development on Front Street.

“With my background in business, in law, in accounting and just solving problems, I think I strike the right balance to be helpful in that process for the next few years,” he said.

Above all, MacDonald said his “entrepreneurial mindset” could help the School Committee experiment with new options that would benefit the students, staff and community.

“It’s OK to just try,” he said.