New Hope - Solebury School District School Director 4
Transcription
New Hope - Solebury School District School Director 4
New Hope - Solebury School District School Director 4-year term (Vote for 5) JOB DESCRIPTION: The School Directors shall equip and maintain the public schools in the district. Principal duties include appointing and/or dismissing superintendents, principals and teachers; levying school taxes; purchasing land; locating new buildings; adopting textbooks and courses of study; fixing salaries of teachers and other appointees of the Board. Term: 4 years QUESTION: What concerns or issues prompted you to run for School Board? How would you address your issues and/or concerns? DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN Cross Filed Jeffrey Kearney (No response received) Jonathan Adar HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: NOT REPORTED EDUCATION: MBA, Finance, The Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business OCCUPATION: Senior Director, External Manufacturing, Teva Pharmaceuticals QUALIFICATIONS: 17 year Resident, Current School Director, Chair Facilities Committee, Former Chair Finance Committee, Former member Curriculum Advisory Committee, PSBA New School Director Training, PSBA School Board President Workshop, Negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements ANSWER TO QUESTION: I am dedicated to providing our students, families and community with a premier school district that is academically on the cutting edge and that is physically safe and appropriate to educate our students. These goals must be met in an environment of fiscal responsibility. We have been modernizing our curriculum technology and educational methods and have recently begun implementation of a critical campus revitalization plan that does not require an additional annual tax obligation. Mark Cowell HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: 12/15 EDUCATION: Masters in Educational Administration OCCUPATION: Retired Public School Superintendent QUALIFICATIONS: Forty year career in public education as a middle school teacher, curriculum supervisor, business administrator, superintendent and finally a state fiscal monitor working for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education in fiscally and administratively struggling school districts. ANSWER TO QUESTION: The New Hope Solebury Board currently has seven of nine members who have been on the board for less than two years. This inexperienced board will be Page 1 making financial/educational decisions pertaining to: $28.5 million construction project, escalating pension costs, state testing/staff evaluation, declining enrollment, budget development, taxes and the replacement of the Business Administrator. My educational/career experiences, especially as a former business administrator/fiscal monitor, can assist in making these critical decisions. Douglas J. McDonough HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: 1/72 EDUCATION: BA-Psychology; JD-George Mason School of Law OCCUPATION: Attorney QUALIFICATIONS: Two children in school, one child about to enter the District. Licensed Mediator and arbitrator. Previous president of two homeowners’ associations. Well versed in the “sunshine laws”, Robert’s Rules of Orders and other procedural requirements. ANSWER TO QUESTION: As my youngest prepared to enter kindergarten, joining my two children already in school, I plan on seeing the District maintains its stellar reputation for decades to come. I would promote an air of civility and transparency on the board while promoting fiscal responsibility and engaging in a more open dialogue between the board and the community. I would meet our children’s educational needs for the future while holding onto the traditions of the past. Jennifer C. Gormley HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: 6/1977 EDUCATION: Master of Education in the Foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis, University of Cincinnati. BA, Shippensburg University OCCUPATION: Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Specialist QUALIFICATIONS: Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Consultant for Neshaminy School District); Behavior Specialist (BCBA, LBS); Itinerant Autistic & Emotional Support Specialist ANSWER TO QUESTION: I’m running for school board because I feel that “education” needs a strong representative at this Board’s table. I believe every child's educational journey is important and it’s the board’s job to ensure that the school provides an education that provides data-driven successful results. I believe I’d bring this currently missing piece to the board. As an education/behavioral health professional, and importantly, a mother of “typical learners” and a child with Autism, I am the voice for many. Maria Povacs HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: 3/1977 EDUCATION: MBA OCCUPATION: Manager QUALIFICATIONS: MBA, experience with contractor qualification/selection for NJ School.Construction Program ANSWER TO QUESTION: Given our school district is seeking to engage in over 28MM addition/renovation project in the next school years and in light of the cost of this project, I am offering my expertise in the area of contractor selection/qualification and budget evaluations in Page 2 an effort to curtail cost and scope increase, ensuring fiscal responsibility so that the community as well as the school prospers. My involvement with New Jersey’s $6B school construction program provided me John J. Capriotti HOMETOWN: New Hope DOB: 6/1966 EDUCATION: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University OCCUPATION: Owner/CEO R&P Technologies, LLC QUALIFICATIONS: I own and operate a DoD engineering services company which specializes in U.S. Navy new ship construction. I manage a multi million dollar business with more than 70 employees and offices throughout the U.S. giving me strong financial experience. ANSWER TO QUESTION: I strongly believe our High School requires extensive renovations but the currently approved $28M project is triple what should be the cost of renovation. The increase is due to the expansion of the campus which is a questionable decision considering the declining population of students in our district. In addition I have concerns about the increase of debt without plan for supporting PSERS. If elected I would provide leadership with a fiscally conservative approach. Kathy Feehan (No response received) Scott H. Kelley (No response received) Page 3