Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
School board candidates meet the public
LONDON GROVE >> Depending on how the Avon Grove School Board primary election plays out next week, all eight candidates could remain in the race until November. But if the voting goes a different way, the number could be reduced to four.
That’s because all candidates have cross-filed on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. The top candidates on each side will run in the fall’s election, but there could conceivably be duplication, reducing the number to those who won on both ballots.
In Region 1, which covers is Franklin and London Britain, there are two open seats for which four people are vying. They are
John Auerbach, Lynn Weber, Patrick Walker and Brian Gaerity.
In Region 2, which covers Penn, New London and District 1 from West Grove, Rick Dumont and Ed Farina are running.
For Region 3, which covers London Grove, Avondale and District 2 from West Grove, Jeff Casey and Bill Wood are the candidates.
At last week’s “Meet the Candidates” event at Avon Grove High School, the candidates were seated on the auditorium stage. They first gave a short summary of who they were, and afterward
At last week’s “Meet the Candidates” event at Avon Grove High School, the candidates were seated on the auditorium stage. They first gave a short summary of who they were, and afterward answered questions submitted by the audience. All the candidates were there except Casey, who was away on a business trip. He later answered questions in a phone interview.
answered questions submitted by the audience.
All the candidates were there except Casey, who was away on a business trip. He later answered questions in a phone interview.
Auerbach, a 1985 graduate of Avon Grove and lifelong resident, has had a career in facilities management. He said he is an advocate of choice and is strong on problem solving and engineering. Auerbach said decisions to add fullday kindergarten and the proposal for building a new high school have not been well thought out, and that strategic planning must be improved.
Rick Dumont moved to the area in 2002. He is a United State Air Force veteran and has been a project manager in a variety of industries. He said he wants to serve the students while at the same time addressing the concerns of taxpayers.
Farina moved to the area in 1989 and said he is a frequent volunteer at the school. He is a current member of the board. He said he wants to keep Avon Grove schools strong and taxes low. He is pleased that the school is highly rated, and he wants that trend to continue.
Gaerity is the current vice president of the school board. He is a corporate executive and runs a nonprofit. He spends much of his time in school volunteer activities and said he wants to build on the district’s great success.
Walker, a current board member, said his family moved to the area in 2007 because of the great school district. He said he wants the school to continue its great work but must face the challenges of expenses like the state teachers retirement fund, the charter school tuition and support for the vocational tech school.
Weber moved to the area in 2003. She is a CPA and said she has a strong dedication to fiscal conservatism. She said she believes in family values and wants to increase transparency between the board and the public. She wants public accountability for money spent.
Wood has spent 22 years working on educational programs. He said he wants to help all teachers get what they need to provide a 21st-century education to students.
Casey, who moved to the area in 1997, said he has become aware that the board has become less than transparent in recent years. He wants to make sure that residents and voters know and understand everything that has been going on, and he is dedicated to doing that. Call him anytime, he said.
When asked what their priorities are, the candidates agreed that bringing the best education to the students was important.
Dumont said he is concerned about some academic scores in the lower grades, while Farina is concerned about the overcrowding.
Gaerity said he wants to make sure the students are ready for careers and college and wants to establish a long-range facilities plan.
Webber and Walker said they want to define a 21stcentury education while supporting and obtaining the best teachers.
Wood agreed that 21st century learning must be addresses with the best facilities and that he also believes in educating the community in those areas.
Auerbach said the emphasis on the board should be getting the best teachers and supporting them.
Probably the question that was on most people’s minds was how they feel about building a new high school.
Casey was strong in his opposition to it, but said he would go along if it were taken to a referendum. He cited the flat line in enrollment growth and said money should be spent for repairs and upgrades rather than a building.
Likewise, Auerbach said he was skeptical about a new building and said the board’s facilities committee was not involved enough in the process.
Overall, there was not a high degree of support for building a new school, the alternative being spend money on repairs and do better facilities planning.
Still, Gaerity and Farina said they would listen to recommendations, and Weber said she has to weigh the building capacity numbers with the nature of a 21st century education.
The evening was moderated by the League of Women Voters, and the questions were those submitted by the audience in writing at the beginning of the event.