Sunday, May 3, 2009

Meet PAHS School Board candidates, discuss the library proposal, KES, and other issues

The public is invited to meet the PAHS school board candidates on Tuesday, May 5th, 6:30 pm at East Pikeland Elementary School.

The following information regarding the school board candidates is provided by Mike Ellis' PASD blog. http://slanguage.com/pasdblog1.html
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Here's the list of candidates for the 4 openings for PASD School Board. They are all cross registered as Republican and Democrat

Donna Jackson

East Pikeland mom and teacher with over 21 years experience. Very smart, well spoken and there for the students, schools and our wallets.

Betsy Ruch

When you ask Betsy why she is running for School Board, it is not surprising that her number one reason pertains to our kids:

“Our purpose has to be to enable our youth to succeed in making a positive difference in the world. They need to learn how to apply their knowledge to life situations, and they need to develop analytical thinking and creativity to navigate challenges.”

Second only to that is Betsy’s interest in exercising responsible fiscal restraint. As a fiscal conservative, she seeks accountability to ensure that value is achieved commensurate with investment; and to scrutinize and discontinue initiatives that yield less value.

Anyone who knows Betsy appreciates the qualities she brings to the table – her common sense approach and unquestioned integrity, her ability to see the big picture and ask tough questions, and her ability to skillfully balance competing interests.

She is a retired senior citizen, who lives on a fixed income; has lived in the district for 39 years; has had 4 children go through the district; has 3 grandchildren in the district; has been trained as an educator; has worked as the attendance officer in the high school for 11 years prior to retirement.

For a summary of her qualifications and more information on the issues, please go to her blogsite. http://www.ruch4schoolboard.blogspot.com

Josh Gould

Josh would prefer that people contact him directly in lieu of public statements at 610-933-8946. He is in favor of the library plans so if you're against their ridiculous plans, don't vote for Josh.

Jan Potts

My passion is education. It is my hope and vision for every PASD student to have the opportunity to discover their innate gifts and abilities in a safe and secure environment, and when they leave Phoenixville, have the educational skills and tools they need to continue to grow into inspired, productive members of, not only our community, but the world.

My involvement in the community has been since 1988 when I moved to the Borough of Phoenixville. I have had 3 children in 3 of the schools in the District. I have enjoyed my volunteer activities such as Home and School President, Reading is Fundamental, homeroom mother, school store at the Middle School, facilitator of Parent/ Principal Forum at the High School, trip planner for the PAHS Choir, the PASD 2006 Tax Study Commission and PASD Library Commission and most recently, the Planning Commission for Schuylkill Township.

Furthering the success of the Phoenixville Area School District requires integrity, energy, and a willingness to hear all sides of every matter while making difficult decisions. My educational background of a B.A. in Management Sciences and a Masters of Education provide a skill set well-suited for the School Board.

Dan Cushing

Dr. Daniel Cushing has been a resident of Schuylkill Township since 1995. He has been an active volunteer with local organizations. Some examples of which include being a Cub Scout leader, coach, and serving on the Board of his Church.

He will bring an open mind, critical thinking, and sound judgment to the Board of School Directors. There are significant challenges facing the Board including the selection of a new superintendent, construction of new elementary and middle schools, developing a sustainable budgeting plan, and rebuilding the trust of the community.

While addressing these, and other issues, the Board should be guided by transparency, truth, responsibility, integrity, and supportiveness. The children of this district deserve the best our community has to offer and we must deliver for them.

Dr. Cushing will do the best that he can to support the children and citizens of the district.

Theresa Thornton Johnson

Born and raised in Phoenixville, the interaction I received from my school and my community was very critical to my success as a student.

I am a graduate of Yale University and a parent of two, currently attending PAHS. I firmly believe in the importance of giving back to your community.

With that in mind, it is with great pride that I announce my candidacy for School Board. I believe it truly takes a community to raise a child. And, a community is more than just the people in our neighborhoods. Everyone counts! Those the students interact with on a regular basis, directly (like our teachers and administrators) or indirectly (like our school board) are all a part of each student's community.

It is imperative as school board members to keep in mind that ALL students must be represented. Positive attention must not only be given to those who fall in the top ten percent of the student body, but to everyone. Giving a different meaning to our ABC's, let's provide ALL of our students with A Better Chance to succeed.

Success for one, Success for all.

Wendy Kelly

A Phoenixville mother with 15 years of advocating for quality education in public schools. Advocated for accountability within the NCLB law and assisted parents in knowing their child's right to quality education. I have also established education alliance groups within faith based organization to remain committed to public education positively. I'm passionate about public education and the need to increase the level of expectation. Education is the foundation of life and everyone is accountable for making our community, the community that will assure that no child is left behind.

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Also from Mike's blog is his rendition of possible future library plans:


http://slanguage.com/images/library1.pdf

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

"He is in favor of the library plans so if you're against their ridiculous plans, don't vote for Josh."


Hahahahaha. Talk about a single issue voter!!

Karen said...

Received via email.

Jan Potts statement:

My passion is education. It is my hope and vision for every PASD student to have the opportunity to discover their innate gifts and abilities in a safe and secure environment, and when they leave Phoenixville, have the educational skills and tools they need to continue to grow into inspired, productive members of, not only our community, but the world.

My involvement in the community has been since 1988 when I moved to the Borough of Phoenixville. I have had 3 children in 3 of the schools in the District. I have enjoyed my volunteer activities such as Home and School President, Reading is Fundamental, homeroom mother, school store at the Middle School, facilitator of Parent/ Principal Forum at the High School, trip planner for the PAHS Choir, the PASD 2006 Tax Study Commission and PASD Library Commission and most recently, the Planning Commission for Schuylkill Township.

Furthering the success of the Phoenixville Area School District requires integrity, energy, and a willingness to hear all sides of every matter while making difficult decisions. My educational background of a B.A. in Management Sciences and a Masters of Education provide a skill set well-suited for the School Board.

Karen said...

Anonymous 2:08 p.m., many people are single issue voters.

Think of abortion, gay rights, war, and yes, the library proposal.

It's nothing new, and certainly not a laughing matter.

Anonymous said...

With these candidates and those already on the Board who are honest, open and dedicated to the best interests of the children while watching out for the taxpayer, why would anyone vote for someone who has cooperated in a scheme like the library expansion concept? That kind of maneuvering will cost much with the toxic Kimberton Elementary School fiasco. A thumbs down for J Gould is not saying no to a single issue. Rather, it is saying no to the concept of doing deals for special interests, behind closed doors and not in the best interests of the children or the taxpayers.

Bill said...

Laurie Perini and Barry Taglieber covered a PASD Board Meeting on the budget last night and report on it this morning. The Phoenix, Tuesday, May 5, 2001.

The proposed preliminary budget is $74,379,940.
The proposed millage rate is 26.39.
One Mill is currently valued at $1,977,564.

If you home's assessed value is $150,000, your school real estate tax would increase $75.00 - from $3,883 in 2008 to $3,958 in 2009.
If you home's assessed value is $100,000, your school real estate tax would increase $50.00 - from $2,444 in 2008 to $2,639 in 2009.

A $100,000 assessed value home had a tax increase of $145 in the prior year.

As reported in the paper, the increase in the budget for legal was to $900,000. It was also reported that factors may lead to the resolution of some of the outstanding litigation, leading to a reduction in actual expenditures for legal.
Not mentioned was the statement by Mr. Casaday that legal expenditures had been historically and comparatively low. An effect of these lower expenditures was that certain processes had not been in place.
If certain processes had been in place, legal review of proposals and contracts may have saved money and problems in the longer run. (I am paraphrasing Mr. Casaday's statement).

Not mentioned on the floor of this meeting: The proposed allocation to the public library was $451,000 (rounded).
Also not mentioned on the floor of this meeting: This school districts is one of only two school districts in the state which has controls the public library system.

School District Real Estate Tax InformationSchool Board Meeting NoticesSearch Public Notices Published in the Phoenix24.44 26.39 25.89 $100,000 $2,444.00 $2,589.00 $2,639.00 $50.00 $145.00
24.44 26.39 25.89 $150,000 $3,666.00 $3,883.50 $3,958.50 $75.00 $217.50

Anonymous said...

"Many people are single issue voters. Think of abortion, gay rights, war, and yes, the library proposal. It's nothing new, and certainly not a laughing matter."

No, it isn't a laughing matter. It is pathetic. This guy could be the best candidate and agree with you on every issue except the library expansion yet you won't vote for him. The only laughing going on here is the laughter that points out how this library expansion has enraged some folks to the point where they put that one thing over every other issue in this town.

Karen said...

If, Anonymous 2:29 p.m., the welfare of children who would be placed at greater risk due to increased traffic on Third Avenue causes a voter to consider the safety of children as more important than all other issues combined, I would call the voter informed, concerned, and smart.

Any attempt to denigrate a voter reasons for a certain position falls in the category of being pathetic, Anonymous.

Because, quite frankly, how and why he/she votes is really none of your business or mine.

Anonymous said...

Two months ago Dr. Mancini made a comment that legal bills should not be more than $3000 to $5000 a month.1 MILLION for legal advice seems way out of control.With the SB spending all this money and the Boro giving away land deals for a buck , something is very wrong in this town.Some of these members on SB who have been there for three and four terms should voluntarily step down.(ie Parris,Casaday). I don't understand why more people aren't complaining since the SB has more control over your taxes than council.What ever happened to the taxpayer slate of years ago?

Anonymous said...

funny you should mention casaday. saw this posted on another blog the other day.....

Anonymous said...

Just like the Kimberton project ,this school board has no idea what it is doing. With the demise of the 9TH Grade Academy ($500,000) and the approval of the Library expansion without a clue as to how the neighbors in the vacinity of 2nd ave feel,along with certain SB members starting science programs for the benfit of their own children and last but not least, the litigation involved( and I mean taxpayer $ )by suing the former Super and Finance Dir. (4.4 MILLION )this whole bunch might trump Boro Council. Even the Acting Superintendant said that at most the lawyer fees for the district shouldn't be more that$3-5ooo a month.Casaday won't fix a thing. He lives in a whole different world than you and me financially. Wait until the public finds out the School Board President is sending his son to Malvern Prep next year. Ooops , they just did.

5/01/2009 7:37 AM

Anonymous said...

Of the 33 libraries in PA with service area populations of 28-32 thousand, the
average expenditure from local sources per capita is $12.79. The median is
$10.88. For the Phoenixville library it is $17.45. The numbers are skewed high
because of places like Upper Merion, Horsham, Upper Dublin and Radnor. Of the 3 libraries with significant contributions from school board taxes, Phoenixville area schools tax at $14.77 per capita - as the school tax contributes 51.3% to the total revenues and there are 9.1% from other local sources.
Contributions by individual donors at when last reported had dropped from what had been 13.5% down to 10%.
Figures here are based on Commonwealth of PA state library statistics for 2006, the last annual report of the Phoenixville library and the library's 990 forms.

Pop=28299 Total=815508
LocalGovTot=493809 SBTax=418000 State=140382 Fed=0 Other=181317

Anonymous said...

Malvern Prep?
Yes, well is it any wonder? When the attitude is that the represented district is filled with children who have stupid genes, why would one send their child to this inferior school district?
More importantly, why do certain board members even choose to be on the board of our school district?

What is the motivation when certainly the best interests of our children is not high on his list??