To summarize: dedicated speaking time for employee associations, superintendent question time, and surveys from school board members. I believe that implementing these three modest, low-cost ideas will jump-start the process of regaining the faith and trust of the community in our school district. In different ways, each of them encourages transparency and honesty, and provides accountability and engagement.

I have advocated for administratively firewalling the three distinct types of educational opportunities available in our school district as part of a philosophy of valuing every student in the district equally.  Those three types are the BEST Homeschool program, the non-charter schools, and the charter schools.

As you may recall, earlier this year as the result of an external audit there was a “clawback” by the borough from the school district of $11.4M of excess surplus at the end of the 24-25 fiscal year (borough ordinance 7.04.125, finalized in 2018). What you can clearly see is that the 2024-2025 excess surplus was not some sudden spike in the district’s funds.

Our School District is not a Prison System, and Charter Schools are Revenue Neutral

Among the many injustices surrounding the Pearl Creek saga, perhaps the most infuriating to me is the insidious claim that it will somehow “cost” the school district over two million dollars per year to “stand up” Pearl Creek STEAM Charter School….