Election 2015: 3 vie for 2 open seats

ROYERSFORD » Primary election day is May 19 and three candidates are vying for two open seats in Region 1 of the Spring-Ford Area School Board, which covers Upper Providence. Incumbents Bernard Petit and Will Cromley face challenger Edward Dressler. While each candidate is crossfiled on the ballot, their political party is included. Each candidate was asked to reply via email to the same three questions, with the understanding that some of their answers may be edited for length out of fairness to the other candidates.

Will Cromley, 66

MUNICIPALITY» Upper Providence POLITICAL PARTY » Republican OCCUPATION » Retired Educator

1. Why are you running for school board? I am a citizen who believes in the benefits of a quality public education at an affordable cost to all residents. Our most precious resource is our children within our community and therefore to provide those students K-12 with many exceptional educational experiences in order to develop a citizen of the 21st century.

2. What makes you the best candidate? I am a retired educator who has worked and experienced the total educational climate within the Spring-Ford Area School District as a class-

room teacher, elementary librarian, library media department chairperson and an elementary building administrator. My 38 years of employment and total involvement on all levels throughout the school district, positions me with a total comprehensive awareness of all past practices and most importantly current and future initiatives and trends.

3. What issue(s) are you hoping to address if elected? Curriculum enhancements need to be developed, studied, and vetted within the elementary level K-6 targeting the following curricular area subjects: Reading/Language Arts, Every Day Math, and Social Studies. On the secondary level a modernized learning pilot, STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math/Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programming, global studies curriculum, advanced placement courses and the total curriculum grades 7-12 are always being tweaked.

Edward Dressler, 71

MUNICIPALITY » Upper Providence POLITICAL PARTY » Democrat OCCUPATION » Research Physicist

1. Why are you running for school board? I am a firm believer in one’s obligation to serve our community. I look forward to being able to again utilize my experience in fields of education and scientific research as a member of the board.

2. What makes you the best candidate? I have 30 years of experience as an educator in the classroom and as a research scientist. None of my opponents come close to the qualifications I have in the field of education. My four years of experience as a member of the school board and the accomplishments that we achieved during that time, such as the beginning of the STEM program and the start of the Hybrid Learn- ing Program, are just a couple of the programs I am proud to be a part of.

3. What issues are you hoping to address if elected? We need to re-establish closer communications with the home and school organizations, as well as the community. We need to continue to examine our teaching programs to assure that we are providing opportunities for all of our students to obtain a path to sustainable careers in a 21st century global economy. Every effort must be made to keep our tax burden at the low levels that we achieved while I was a member of the board.

Bernard Pettit, 74

MUNICIPALITY » Upper Providence POLITICALPARTY >> Republican OCCUPATION » Attorney

1. Why are you running for school board? I am running for re-election in order to continue the progress of the District, especially over the last four or five years; such as the introduction of STEM programs from K to 12 (initiated three years ago); the introduction of the hybrid learning system in Spring City; and other innovative changes resulting in the highest rating ever by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

2. What makes you the best candidate? My 12 years of experience as a school director; during which the district responded to the challenge of an ever-increasing school population in a fiscally responsible way. I was also part of the team that elevated the district’s academic achievement to new higher levels over the past four to five years.

3. What issue(s) are you hoping to address if elected? I would like to see the full implementation of the K to 12 STEM, program, which was initiated 3 years ago, along with the extension of the successful hybrid learning system into the Royersford Elementary school. I will also continue to lobby our state legislators to waive any future tax increases to our retired senior citizens; especially to those on a fixed income.