Krause, Walters, Dolan thanked for service on board

EAST ROCKHILL » With three newly-elected Pennridge School Board members taking their seats in December, the three outgoing members were recognized at the board’s Nov. 22 meeting.

Board President Bill Krause, one of the outgoing members, said the six years he served on the board were “challenging to say the least,” noting that the time included controversial topics and the pandemic.

When he first ran for office, he did so as a write-in candidate, which was hard, he said.

“I met with both political parties who at the time understood the school board is and should be apolitical and that students do not come to us with a D or an R written on their foreheads. I also told the taxpayers I was going to raise their taxes because of previous boards’ reckless spending,” Krause said. “I ran with one focus — what is in the best interest of our students.”

During his time on the board, it put together and provided the resources and governance for what he thinks is the best school leadership team in the county, Krause said.

“Working together, we have been able to bring additional teachers and assistants to the classroom, additional supports for the students, new programs to further extend the talents and experience available to the students,” he said. “We have continued to improve the facilities and maintenance of 11 buildings through a fully-funded six year capital projects plan and we continue to upgrade the bus fleet without using capital project funds.”

At the same time, the district has not raised taxes the past five years, he noted.

“To the newly-elected board members, first, thank you for volunteering, and please remember who you are serving — the students,” Krause said.

New board members Christine Batycki, Jordan Blomgren and Ricki Norley Chaikin will take their seats at the board’s Dec. 6 reorganization meeting.

Along with Krause, the other two members leaving the board are Katy Dolan, who was not at the meeting, and Lisa Walters.

Board Vice-President Joan Cullen said Walters is a Pennridge native and graduate of the school district who is involved in several community organizations.

“It’s greatly appreciated all the service that every one of you have done,” board member David Reiss said, thanking the three.

Board member Ronald Wurz said he valued Walters opinions.

“I think she was an exceptional board member for the number of years she was on here and she really had the community in mind and the students in mind,” Wurz said. “She’ll speak up whenever she wants to be heard and get her opinion out there and I think she will be missed.”

Wurz said Krause was board president during an extremely tough time to be leader of a school board and that his knowledge and experience will be missed.

“He’s an amazing leader and he puts his community first and deals with all the other stuff that he unfortunately had to deal with,” Wurz said.

Superintendent David Bolton presented Krause and Walters with plaques at the meeting and said he was meeting the next day with Dolan. Cullen presented Krause with a gavel in recognition of his board presidency.

“All three of them are very different, but they are all very positive advocates for everything Pennridge and deserve our appreciation and our thanks,” Bolton said of the outgoing board members.

“Mrs. Dolan is one of the most no-nonsense people that I have ever met,” he said.

“She asks some really good questions,” Bolton said. “She was relatively quiet on the board and so you knew when Katie had a question it was something that needed to be addressed because she was not superfluous in her questions.”

Bolton said Krause has the “ability to listen before you act, but then to be a true leader when you are ready to act.”

He said the board relied heavily on Krause in the areas of facilities, finance and technology.

“Mrs. Walters, you love classrooms. It is clear in everything you do and everything you talk about that your heart is in a classroom,” Bolton said.

During conversation about issues, Walters often asked, “What does it mean for teachers?” and “What does it mean for kids?” Bolton said.

“To all three of you, I just want to say thank you for your service with Pennridge School District,” he said.