The shoe finally dropped. About a month ago Mrs. Faust remarked that it was not about cutting costs or taxes, but that somehow reducing the number of teachers in our district was a goal with its own reward. Ignoring the rest of her rhetoric, and expressions of what may be true heartfelt distress, this is what it comes down to. In seems that reducing the number of teachers in our district is a good thing. It is not something we are forced into doing despite its educational consequences.
This view has the support of Mr. Ho, who remarked that, “ We must take this opportunity to reduce staff.” Yes, he actually used the word “opportunity.” He has said on several occasions that we need to reduce our schools to the “bare-bones” of basic skills.
This is not a new position for these individuals. For about the last fifteen years they have opposed almost every attempt to innovate, improve, update, or in any way change public education from what they believe is the right way of doing things. Whether they were on or off the Board, Outcome Based Education, computers in the classroom, the one-to-one program, all day Kindergarten, the Learning Center approach, to name just a few, would always find Jasper Ho and Amy Faust speaking in opposition. Unfortunately, they have been joined by Jeri Carroll, Leon Smith, and Craig Schroeder, and are now using the power of the purse to get their way.
Our teachers will, of course, try their best, but there are limits on what can be accomplished with increasingly limited resources. Fortunately, the community can express its outrage at the ballot box. Both Jeri Carroll and Leon Smith are up for reelection. Do not vote for them! Unfortunately, regardless of the outcome of the primary, the current Board will hold office until December 1st. Hopefully, the damage they do will not be irreparable.
The primary is Tuesday, May 17th. All candidates have cross-filed. Completely unsolicited, and perhaps even unwanted, here are the people I hope will win
REGION ONE: Borough of Kutztown
Four Year Term (Vote for two)
Alan Darion
Carl Zeigler
Two Year Term (Vote for one)
Kurt Friehauf (unopposed)
REGION TWO: Maxatawny Township and Borough of Lyons
Four Year Term (Vote for two)
Randy Burch
Caecilla Holt
REGION THREE: Greenwich and Albany Townships and Borough of Lenhartsville
This race has gotten personal and ugly. As an outsider it is best that I stay out of it.
