For the Wissahickon
School District:

Great Schools, Great Community,

Great Team!

Ambler Borough,
Lower Gwynedd & Whitpain Townships

Letters


Published Letters
See the News page, as well
[Most recent at the top]


From: Ambler Gazette

New Wissahickon School Board members look to the future

Published: Sunday, December 1, 2013

To the Editor:

After a thrilling election night, we want to acknowledge the support we found in every part of the district. Our pledge is to support all Wissahickon students in their drive for a superior education. With educational excellence as our mission, we will work with our community, fellow school board directors and the Wissahickon school administration with open mindedness and respect.

As we strive to achieve this, the practice of transparency and effective communication will be ever present. Gratefully we look forward to devoting our energy towards a common abiding, interest — our students.

Sherri Becker,
Ron Stoloff,
Tracie Walsh,
Wissahickon School Board members-elect

To see published letter.

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property


From: Montgomery News (montgomerynews.com)

Ambler Gazette

Wissahickon Education Alliance endorses four candidates

Sunday, November 3, 2013

To the Editor:

A letter to the residents of the Wissahickon School District:

Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of dialogue regarding the upcoming election for the Wissahickon School Board of Directors and which candidates should receive your vote on Nov. 5. In an effort to be both fair and nonpartisan, the Wissahickon Education Alliance (WEA) contacted all seven of the current candidates and asked them if they would complete a candidate survey, which was provided by the Pennsylvania State Educators Association. Of the seven candidates contacted, five responded that they would indeed complete the survey. Four candidates then submitted their surveys for review by the Wissahickon Education Alliances’ Executive Board. Upon review of the surveys, and satisfied with the answers thereto, the Wissahickon Education Alliance endorses the following candidates for school board of directors: Sherri Becker (D), Joe Honeycutt (R), Ron Stoloff (D), Tracie Walsh (D).

The WEA encourages you to consider these candidates on Election Day. More now than ever, the Wissahickon School Board of Directors needs positive, supportive members.

Wissahickon Education Alliance Executive Board

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property

To see the published letter.


From:Montgomery News (montgomerynews.com)

Ambler Gazette

This year's slate of Democratic candidates outstanding

Sunday, November 3, 2013

To the Editor:

The Wissahickon Democratic Party has an outstanding slate of candidates for school board: Sherri Becker is a certified school nurse. Sherri has held numerous WSD leadership positions: co-president/board member of the Wissahickon Educational Opportunities Foundation, co-president of WMS Parent Teacher Council, to mention a few. Ron Stoloff has 35 years experience as a classroom teacher. Ron is a leader in education reform and technology integration. Tracie Walsh is a local Realtor and an advocate for Juvenile Diabetes Research. Tracie has been involved in WRA baseball teams and as co-president of the Blue Bell Elementary PTO.

Each of these candidates is committed to the future of public education in the Wissahickon School District. Each is dedicated to working together with the community and all WSD stakeholders to provide outstanding public education for all students, in a process that is thoughtful, transparent and accountable to the taxpayers.

Local elections are important. The choice in this election is clear, between the outstanding Democratic slate of candidates and the slate backed by the Republican Party, which must march in lock step with the Republican Party and its Tea Party values. In May 2013, the day before the Primary Election, the Montgomery County Republican Committee, Richard Stanton (Dick Stanton is a sitting school board member and a candidate in this election) and Albert DeGennaro (leader of the local Republican party) filed a Petition for a Preliminary Injunction and a Complaint in Equity against Barbara Moyer, Patricia Latimer and Shirley White (all Republicans) to prevent them from spreading the word that they did not support incumbent Republican board members.

In last week’s letter to the editor, Barbara Moyer and Pat Latimer expressed the opinions that the Republican party leadership and Dick Stanton tried to silence. Readers will judge the value of their comments.

As Americans we should cherish our right to freely express political opinions without interference. Sherri Becker, Ron Stoloff and Tracie Walsh are independent thinkers who will reach fact-based decisions. On Tuesday, Nov. 5, vote for Sherri Becker, Ron Stoloff and Tracie Walsh for Wissahickon School Board director.

Sibby Phiambolis
Shelly Waldman

Co-Leaders, Wissahickon Democratic Party

See published letter.

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property


From the Ambler Gazette

Select change for Wissahickon

Sunday, October 27, 2013

To the Editor:

Last spring, six residents joined incumbents Richard (Dick) Stanton and Young Park as candidates for the four open seats on the Wissahickon School Board of Directors. In an exercise of free speech, Pat Latimer, Barb Moyer and Shirley White created and circulated a flier in the community that encouraged residents to vote in the primary and to consider the six new candidates.

This effort resulted in a lawsuit for an injunction filed against the three women on the eve of primary Election Day by plaintiffs: candidate Richard Stanton, Area 10 Republican Committee Chairman Albert DeGennaro and the Montgomery County Republican Committee (MCRC). These petitioners were represented by attorney Robert Kerns, chair of the MCRC. The court order directed them “to cease and desist” circulation of the flier. Justification for the lawsuit included “that these fliers are deceptive and will confuse the voters on who is running as a team,” “that petitioners have been irreparably harmed by the dissemination” and “as a result of the dissemination of this flier, Stanton’s campaign and candidacy have been improperly and unjustly jeopardized.”

Incumbent candidate Richard (Dick) Stanton and incumbent candidate board President Young Park served the court papers on Pat Latimer at her home. Whitpain Constable and member of the Republican committee Dave Ullery served Barb Moyer and Shirley White. Two days after the election, the lawsuit was withdrawn by Mr. Robert Kerns.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, we urge voters to carefully consider the candidates running for the four open seats on the Wissahickon School Board. The five newcomers (Becker, Honeycutt, Noon, Stoloff and Walsh) have great backgrounds and skill sets, and offer fresh perspectives and ideas. We believe they can serve as leaders who will positively impact our district. Please: Select 4 for Change.

Wissahickon

United 4 Change

Click to see the actual letter

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property


From the Ambler Gazette

Consider implications of a new high school

Sunday, October 20, 2013

To the Editor:

The Wissahickon School Board has recently indefinitely postponed a decision on a new high school. What they may really have done is eliminated serious discussion of a major issue in the final stages of an election. If citizens don’t think there is any near-term possibility of a decision being made to build a new high school with all the attendant expense, why ask candidates their opinions and how they arrived at them?

What does “indefinitely postponed” mean? A month, a year or longer? If after the election, when candidates will now be elected officials safely in their seats, they can act with impunity — at least until the next election. If we find post-election that a decision to build a new high school is all of a sudden back on the table, then it would be fair to figure the so-called indefinite postponement was simply a ploy to make it easier to elect a Republican slate of candidates without those candidates being subjected to tough questions about a major issue. Please note that I am a lifelong Republican who has never voted for a Democrat. Nonetheless, I am very uneasy about what may be happening.

Here are some of the questions that should be asked and answered by candidates before the election about a possible new high school:

  • Mr./Mrs./Ms. candidate, are you for or against a new high school?
  • How do you justify a $100 million price tag for said high school?
  • Where will the money come from for this and an estimated $50 million more which may need to be spent on the other Wissahickon school facilities over the next 10 years?
  • How will all this spending fit with all of the money necessary to pay teachers and other employees?
  • -s it possible that large tax increases and/or significant staff layoffs may become necessary?
  • If there will be no near-term decision on a high school, what was the point and expense of three design/architectural proposals being done? What did these cost? I have heard $250,000. Won’t these become outdated and have to be done again?

Something will have to be done about our school facilities. Either build new or retrofit. These questions need to be addressed The public should be informed. And there should be plenty of time for Q and A. And for complete review by the public as well as the board.

The final question to ponder is how was the decision to postpone made? When was it made? Was the full board in session for the vote? Did the board comply with the Sunshine Law in postponing a decision?

Fred Dimond,
Upper Dublin School Director, 1980-’84

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property

To see the actual letter.


Letter in the Sunday, October 20th, Ambler Gazette entitled, 

"Wissahickon, choose a good school board director"

Written by Republicans backing the election of new Board members by Russell Bellavance of Ambler, Patricia Latimerof Lower Gwynedd & Barbara Moyer of Whitpain

To the Editor:

School board elections in Wissahickon will occur Nov 5. We urge you to vote out the two incumbents and place four new faces on the board. The choices the voters make will either positively impact the quality of education or continue the poor leadership by the board that has prevailed over the last several years. As current/former directors who have combined service of more than 35 years and have each held numerous leadership positions, we know and can describe those characteristics that define a good school board director versus a bad one. We also know that Wissahickon cannot afford to continue down its present path. Doing so will adversely impact our students, property owners and community.

A good director respects the democratic process, expresses his views in “the sunshine” (i.e., at public meetings) and is respectful when others express differing opinions. A bad director bullies others into silence, berates them for stating their contrary views and restricts their access to the information needed to make informed decisions.

A good director respects the boundaries of his position, the organizational hierarchy and channels of decision-making, and does not flex his “board muscle” to interfere with the administrative or educational process. A bad director tells administrators how to do their jobs, pressures people behind the scenes and misleads the public by presenting his personal opinions as if they are the views of the entire board.

A good director gives clear and consistent direction to the administrative leaders so they can formulate operational plans and can recommend board actions for implementation that are consistent with these plans. A bad director “flip-flops” on actions he supports and places the blame for his “change of heart” on the administration’s lack of thoroughness.

A good director exercises independent judgment in rendering decisions based on what is in the best interest of students and the entire school community. A bad director makes decisions motivated by what will bolster his re-election and please his political party and its financial backers.

If incumbents Richard (Dick) Stanton and Young Park are re-elected, bad boardsmanship will persist and the dysfunction of this board will continue to adversely affect the district. Wissahickon will have more difficulty keeping and attracting quality administrators to manage the district. The exodus of talented and dedicated administrators has already begun. The future of our children and our community are at stake. On Nov. 5 say “No” to Stanton and Park. Please select four of the five new candidates: Sherri Becker, Joe Honeycutt, MaryAnne Noon, Ron Stoloff and Tracie Walsh.

Russell Bellavance,
Ambler

Patricia Latimer,
Lower Gwynedd

Barbara Moyer,
Whitpain

© 2013 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property

See the letter as published.


From the  Ambler Gazette, Sunday, September 22, 2013

Wissahickon School Board failed to provide reliable transportation

To the Editor:

On Sept. 9, 2013, parents who have children in the Wissahickon School District, and parents of private school children, gathered in the board room at Wissahickon’s administrative offices to express their concern regarding the quality of bus transportation that now plagues the district. What should have been a smooth start to the school year — excepting, of course, minor issues, which occur at the start of every school year — quickly degenerated into a nightmare of lost children, unacceptable time delays and a disregard of not only Pennsylvania regulations but common sense. It should be noted that the problems articulated at the meeting rest not with the bus drivers employed by the Wissahickon School District, but instead with the drivers employed by First Student — a subcontracted agency.

While many parents are upset with administration, the decision to subcontract is the sole responsibility of the school board. It was a decision made years ago with cost savings in mind — and little thought to the students who depend upon reliable transportation. The board’s response to this First Student debacle was not an action plan, nor was it to assign a liaison to oversee efficiency. Instead, board member Dick Stanton resorted to name calling and rhetoric. Referring to bus drivers as “morons” and “special kinds of idiots” does not solve the problem, rather it serves to foster animosity and ill-will, something at which some members of the current board seem oddly proficient. Name calling is not tolerated in any school in Wissahickon and it should not be tolerated on, or by, its school board. Indeed, such antics are embarrassing, unprofessional and sophomoric. All members of the board should strive to set an example, particularly in light of the fact that there are student body liaisons present at every board meeting.

The position of school board administrator is a difficult and thankless job. The men and women who occupy those seats have a fiduciary responsibility to use taxpayers’ dollars, both frugally and effectively. However, fiscal responsibility should never come before quality education or superior service. The current board, under its leadership, has lost its perspective. Its quest to shave costs, cut corners and squeeze water from stones is beginning to impact the quality services students, residents and taxpayers of Wissahickon have come to know. This past school year, the sitting school board voted unanimously to subcontract every support staff position in the district, including classroom assistants and one-to-one aides who work directly with students. Ponder that: non-district employees working with our children. Possibly a different person every day, a situation parents and students now endure with First Student bus drivers. It seems the age-old adage applies where subcontracting is concerned: “You get what you pay for.”

This Nov. 5, inform the school board of directors how dissatisfied you are with its strict adherence to the bottom line. This Nov. 5, inform the school board of directors how dissatisfied you are with the choices it has made and is making. This Nov. 5, inform the school board of directors that you expect better. On Nov. 5, make a change.

Wissahickon Education Alliance Executive Board


A letter from Barbara Moyer, a Republican member of the Board, in support of "New Faces," from the May 14th Ambler Gazette.

Be sure you read the comments.


Letter published in Ambler Gazette, May 12, 2013:

Vote for new school board members, new attitude

On May 21st, voters – both Democrats and Republicans – will have the opportunity to set the future of our schools. This is not just about party – it is all about attitude. All you have to do is consider how our School Board handled the Mattison Avenue Elementary School issue. Is there anyone who is satisfied with how this was “solved?” If you have children in Mattison, you can not possibly think there is any part of this that was handled properly.

I taught in Philadelphia for 35 years and it only took me a few days after I started teaching to realize the people I had to establish a good working relationship with were the parents of my students. How far from that goal has our School Board drifted?

As I’ve walked the streets of Ambler in the past weeks I have found general disgust with the treatment of Ambler – and this was from both Republicans and Democrats. It was a feeling of betrayal, a general dismissal of the needs of the Ambler community.

My experience, my humanity, screams that the Board did almost everything wrong in the way the issue was addressed.

Today, the issue is Mattison. In a few years it may be another elementary school in Wissahickon. If this attitude prevails – if this Board, as constituted, approaches the problem the same way – what further disrespect can we expect?

Therefore, I beg you – Republican and Democrat alike – to come out and vote for a new Board with a new attitude, one that understands that it’s all about the students and that parents and communities are the strongest and most important allies any school can ever have.

Sherri Becker and I are on both the Democratic and Republican ballots, while Norma Niclo and Tracie Walsh are only on the Democratic ballot. I hope you’ll check our web site at GreatSchoolTeam.org and join the FaceBook forums: Wissahickon Educational Coalition and the Mattison Home & School Association. See what we stand for; see what we offer the Wissahickon School District community.

Most importantly, come out and vote on May 21st. 

Ron Stoloff,

Candidate for School Director,
Wissahickon School District



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