9 candidates vie for WCASD board

WEST CHESTER >> Nine candidates are seeking seats in three regions with the West Chester Area School District School Board.

During the May 18 primary, a Republican and Democrat will be chosen from Region 1 in a bid to capture a single seat from the region in November.

Both parties also will be represented by single candidates in

Region 2.

Two candidates from each party will be chosen in the primary to vie for two seats during the November election in Region 3.

Democrat Joyce Chester is seeking her third consecutive term on the school board in Region 1 and is opposed by Republican Ada M. Nestor. Nestor did not reply to a Facebook message. Both candidates cross-filed and will appear both on the Republican and Democratic ballots.

Chester said she is most proud of managing the district budget and promoting diversity.

“I will champion more community input, engagement and transparency to ensure that all voices are heard and accounted for and that all of the WCASD children have equitable access to the many wonderful services offered through the district,” Chester said.

Chester, 67, lives in the Borough of West Chester and graduated with an Organizational Development degree from Immaculata University. She runs a non-profit and is single and divorced with two sons.

She enjoys travel, reading and making art, including jewelry and pottery.

Republican Brian Gallen will face off against Democrat Karen Fleming in Region 2. Both candidates cross-filed.

Gallen, 51, worked on three district budgets, the Greystone Elementary School redistricting plan and the district comprehensive plan. He would focus on learning loss due to the pandemic in a bid to “get the kids back to normal.”

Gallen is married with two children, graduated from Villanova University, with a degree in Geog

raphy, and is a West Whiteland Township resident. He enjoys hiking, baseball, soccer, axe throwing, golf and all physical activity.

Democrat Karen Fleming would promote safely maintaining in-person learning, close existing achievement gaps, and create a school environment where every student is accepted and every student can excel. She would utilize her financial education and experience to be fiscally accountable to the taxpayers, while maintaining the district’s level of quality education.

“I am known for considering all sides, performing thorough research, and making fair, responsible and fact-based decisions,” Fleming said. “I believe my judgement, experience, education, and sincere interest in the betterment of our public education and community make me the better candidate for this position.”

Fleming is a Penn State grad in Economics and earned an MBA from Drexel University.

The East Goshen Township resident is 56 years old, married and raised three children who graduated from the WCASD. She works at the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation as a finance and development director and likes racquet sports, hiking and skiing.

Republican Randell Spackman is running to retain his seat on the board in Region 3. He has crossfiled, along with Republican Chris McCune, Democrat Laura Detre and Stacey Whomsley, who did not respond to a Facebook interview request. Democrat Carrie Stare appears only on the Democratic primary ballot.

Fifty-year-old Spackman pointed to his board experience with budgets, the institution of full-day kindergarten and redistricting as key to why he should nab the nod from voters.

“We excel and develop a personal approach to each student,” he said. “The focus must be on the needs of over 12,000 students and not a personal agenda.”

Spackman enjoys restoring cars, running Thornbury Farm CSA, historical re-enactments of the American Revolutionary War, is a SCUBA instructor and first responder instructor. The Thornbury Township resident is married with five children.

McCune, 48, is currently the president of the school board.

As a representative from Region 3, he helped institute full-day kindergarten, launched the career academy and expanded blended enrollment classes. He also noted that the district has the lowest property tax rate in the county.

During his tenure, 300,000 meals were served and 170 hot spots for low income families were established to help ride out the pandemic and a return to normalcy. He is now grappling with the student learning loss and financial implications of COVID.

“We are doing everything we can to get everyone past these tough times,” he said.

McCune is a coach and mentor, enjoys working out, watching sports and loves live music. He works with technology sales and business development and is married with five children. He earned a Business Management degree from WCU.

Laura Detre also wants to represent Region 3 and is a resident of West Goshen Township.

“If I am elected my priority would be making our schools places where every member of our community feels accepted,” she said. “I support our district’s efforts to increase equity but we need to go further.”

The candidate supports making it easier for community members to be heard at board meetings, while allowing meetinggoers to comment electronically as well as in person, an update to the dress code that would not single out girls and disrupt, and make sure that the faculty and staff represent the diverse community.

Married with two children, Detre is a History graduate of Ohio’s Hiram College, and earned a master’s degree and Doctorate in History, from the University of Maine.

She enjoys cooking, gardening and travel.

Carrie R. Stare is also running to capture a seat in Region 3.

She said she is a passionate believer in the strength of public education and attended public schools from kindergarten through college. She earned a BA in Political Science from Millersville University and on May 22 will graduate from West Chester University with a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Stare’s goals are to foster more diversity, equity, and inclusion in the schools.

“We need to make sure that every child knows that they matter,” she said. “I also want to work on a curriculum that better prepares students for life after high school.

“Lastly, I want to ensure that the school board is responsive to the community but ultimately makes the best decisions for students, teachers, and staff.”

Stare has been playing the clarinet since fourth grade and band class was her biggest joy in school. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and seeing Broadway shows.