Article in the Ambler Gazette about the election & our near sweep.
Official Candidate Forum was held the evening of October 27 in the Wissahickon High School Audion. Both Republican & Democratic candidates were invited but only 1 of the Republicans attended - two bailed at the last minute.
Here's the article from the Ambler Gazette.
Ambler Gazette's interviews
with our candidates. Oct. 25, 2015
The Ambler Gazette article
on the Primary results.
See them
The Ambler Gazette ran a series on the candidates for
the Wissahickon School Board in two parts. The first was published in the
Thursday, April 23rd, the second, April 29th.
You can see the published version here.
Name:
Joe AntonioMunicipality: Lower Gwynedd
Occupation: Director of Continuous Improvement for the Phoenixville Area School District (since 2011)
Years of relevant experience: “Twelve years as a school district administrator in Phoenixville and Philadelphia working extensively with their respective school boards; 10 years as a management consultant helping Fortune 500 companies improve operational performance; bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.”
Why are you running for this position? “With two sons in elementary and a daughter in middle school, I am heavily invested in the district’s ongoing success for my children as well as the children of all Wissahickon families. My firsthand experience working in public school systems combined with my business-oriented perspective will make me a valuable addition to the school board as it guides the district through the difficult challenge of providing high-quality education within current fiscal realities.”
If elected, what issues would you make a priority?
- Addressing the district’s facilities needs while minimizing the burden to taxpayers.
- Ensuring that the district provides high-quality education to all students.
Name:
David FrankMunicipality: Lower Gwynedd since 1997
Occupation: Biochemist
Years of relevant experience: “I’ve spent over nine years as an active volunteer in the Wissahickon School District, beginning when my children attended Shady Grove Elementary and continuing through Wissahickon Middle School. I’ve held various offices on those schools’ parent-teacher boards and invested many hours in an effort to make a positive impact in support of our schools.”
Why are you running for this position? “I’ve always believed that schools perform best when parents are involved. Our district has much to celebrate, and I want to do what I can to insure that we have the resources going forward to provide faculty and staff with the support they need to achieve sustained excellence, as recently espoused by Superintendent Dr. James Crisfield.”
If elected, what issues would you make a priority? “I think the ‘achievement gap’ is an issue that hasn’t gone away since I first heard the term several years ago. We need to do the best we can for every student; I would look for ways to guarantee that all students have the chance to be high achievers.”
Name:
Ronnie HaymanMunicipality: Whitpain Township
Occupation: Retired Wissahickon teacher
Years of relevant experience: Worked in Wissahickon classrooms and with Wissahickon families for over 25 years.
Why are you running for this position? “As a retired Wissahickon teacher and homeowner, I understand the importance of education balanced with the careful use of our tax dollars. My familiarity with our community along with my inside knowledge of education allows me to see things through a unique lens. As a former educator, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve my community and I would like to continue that service as a member of the Wissahickon School Board.”
If elected, what issues would you make a priority? “If elected, my commitment to academic excellence is a top priority. The issue of standardized testing is an area where the balance between assessment and instruction needs to be monitored. While staying fiscally responsible, our school board needs to continue to provide safe schools, adequate facilities and promote a culture of understanding among the parents, the administration and the staff of the Wissahickon School District.”
Name:
Jim AsmanMunicipality: Whitpain Township (Blue Bell) since 1984
Occupation: I have been a CPA since 1975 working in both public and private accounting. Currently, I am the CFO for a commercial real estate management company in Bala Cynwyd since 2007.
Years of relevant experience: I have a long and consistent history in the accounting field, and have performed audits of both school districts and townships/boroughs while in public accounting with Touche Ross and Co. (now Deloitte and Touche). My current job as controller, albeit not related to a school board, does involve working with monthly/annual budgets, which must be compared to the actuals and variances reviewed and explained.
Why are you running for this position? My daughters attended Wissahickon middle and high schools and both graduated college and are successful now.
If elected, what issues would you make a priority? My main goal is to
provide quality education to the students using fiscally realistic financial
means. A byproduct would be to keep our real estate taxes at the relatively low
level that they are at currently.
Name:
Pat DavidMunicipality: Lower Gwynedd
Occupation: Lawyer
Why are you running for this position? I’ve lived in Lower Gwynedd for 15 years and have raised three children here. In my practice as a lawyer, I have had experience representing educational institutions. I’d like to use the experience I’ve gained as a parent and a lawyer to help support the academic mission of the district.
If elected, what issues would you make a priority? Maximize academic achievement of each student, operate district programs with efficiency and accountability and expand partnerships with the larger community to offer diverse educational experiences to our students.