| Delaware County, PA | May 17, 2011 Election |
 |
Let's REALLY Make it About the KidsBy John "Bart" BartholomeoCandidate for School Director; Rose Tree Media School District; Republican Party |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
We need to make sure that resources, financial and physical, are smartly utilized for the benefit of the children.If you have attended any school board meetings, you will have heard the phrase, "It's all about the kids". Yet, deeper review may reveal some concerns: Annual increases in the per pupil cost of education, dating back to 2001, however: - Steadily declining SAT scores during the same period. Good PSSA scores, indicating a problem somewhere, given the decline of the SAT scores. - 65% of annual budget to pay employee salaries & benefits. - Of that, 30% is for support staff.- 10+ % of budget pays debt service which is projected to increase $ 8 Mill per year to 2020-2021. - Large majority of taxpayers do not currently use the systemGiven just some of this information, do you really think the KIDS are getting the full benefit? It is time to make sure they do. At some of the same Board meetings, you will also hear the phrase "We have to consider the taxpayers". At this time, with dwindling Federal and State financial resources, it is going to get very tough to keep the goal of "No tax increases". The Board will soon run out of non-instructional spending to cut. Then what ? The kids get less or we, the taxpayers, pay more for less? My focus will be to bring equal representation of ALL stakeholders in the RTMSD, to include parents, teachers, students and especially, the taxpayers. As one of the taxpayers in the Rose Tree Media School District who has no children in the school system, I wish to add their "voice" in the management and decision making process of the school District. It is my intent to do what I can to help bring fiscal control to the school District, increase accountability to the taxpayers and parents, to provide the necessary "tools" and environment for teachers to perform their tasks and to increase the transparency of school board actions to the taxpayers. I feel that, with well thought out management and changes, the needs of the taxpayers, parents, teachers and the students can be adequately met without jeopardizing the quality of education. This effort will not be easy and will require a concerted effort of not only the teachers and administration staff but also the support and dedication of the parents and students. If you are truly as concerned about the quality of education provided to the children and the allocation of ALL resources as I am, please read on, look at my thoughts and if you would like to see change, then cast your vote my way. |
Next Page:
Position Paper 2
Candidate Page
|| Feedback to Candidate
|| This Contest
May 2011 Home (Ballot Lookup)
|| About Smart Voter
pa/dl
Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 18, 2011 07:50
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright ©
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor
opposes candidates for public office or political parties.