To the Editor: 

In response to the article appearing in the May 2^nd Ambler Gazette, I wanted to offer some additional context to the statement accurately attributed to me. In lauding the debt approved by the voters in Upper Dublin for the construction of a new high school, I was not suggesting that the Wissahickon School District needed to do the same.

I was, in fact, expressing my respect for those voters in having not deferred a future financial obligation to a later generation. It should be noted that the Upper Dublin referendum represented the first consequential Act 1 initiative to date, and was approved by 62% of the electorate.

The Wissahickon School Board seems to have far less faith in the electorate. In its tiresome and played out pledge of “No New Taxes”, the District has quietly paid for expenditures by eroding away its fund balance. In effect, they are paying for expenditures from past savings. Ultimately, when the savings well runs dry, they will be forced to do what they have shamelessly vowed no to do.

In the 2007 proposed budget, the Board projects revenue increases at $2.6 million, and expenditures increases at $ 3.1 million. This reflects an expenditure increase of 3.86% over the 2006 budget, and increased deficit spending of over a half a million dollars. Some history: in the budget years 2001-2005, no fund balance amount was used to balance the revenue and expenditures.

In the 2005/2006 budget, $700,000 was used to balance the revenue and expenditures. In the 2006/2007 budget, $550,000 was used to balance the revenue and expenditures. And in the 2007/2008 budget $1,043,000 is used to balance the revenue and expenditures. Yet as recently as last week, the incumbent board members declared their worthiness for re-election on the transparent claim of no increases in taxes.

While no one would wish for $120 million debt for any school district, Upper Dublin was up front and honest with its constituents. Their board trusted their community with pertinent financial information and encouraged them to vote on the tax increase as informed persons. One final fact on the budget: in its Five Year Capital Improvement Plan for 2006 to 2011, the Wissahickon Board has projected capital spending for their own refurbished offices at $ 2.13 million, but only appropriated $1.72 for the middle school altogether.

Ironically, all of the fiscal considerations surrounding the budget draw us all away from what is most important in this election: identifying the most promising curriculum guidelines and related programs to advance all of our children in the modern age. My continued faith in the wisdom of the voters assures me that education will never be sacrificed for what is fiscally expedient. My entire candidacy for school board membership is based on ensuring that I will gain the entire community’s insights and experiences, in order to make informed decisions around teaching and budgeting. I consider myself lucky to have access to such a diverse and educated community, and their tremendous insights into the current issues surrounding our school district.

Patrick Hennessy, Candidate, Wissahickon School District

In their coverage of the September 10th Wissahickon School Board meeting, the Ambler Gazette reported on the Wissahickon School District’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). As reported, Shady Grove Elementary and Wissahickon High School have been placed on Warning Status, as they failed to satisfy one of three mandated indicators directly linked to No Child Left Behind legislation. As a resident and parent of two children currently enrolled in the district, I was alarmed by these facts and inclined to do some additional research.

The AYP measures include 

1. graduation rate 
2. academic performance 
3. test attendance or participation

Both Shady Grove and Wissahickon failed to meet academic performance goals. A closer look at the data reveals two immediate concerns: at Wissahickon High School, black students are at a modest 30.8% proficiency in math, and students overall are at 71.3% , which is 3.6% lower than the previous year. At Shady Grove, reading proficiency scores for children in the Economically Disadvantaged category had a failing percentage of 42.6%, which was an alarming 20.6% decline from the previous year. In the aggregate, students overall at both Wissahickon High School and Shady Grove passed in math and reading. But Wissahickon High witnessed percentage declines in both Math (-3.6%) and Reading (-1.3%) from the previous year.

Ironically, concerned parents with children currently attending Blue Bell Elementary appeared before the School Board at the same September 10^th meeting, and expressed their concerns at the expanding class sizes in place. Their rhetorical questions remain important and unanswered: can students expect to achieve academically when class sizes extend to the upper maximum limit? Can teachers give the instruction and guidance that they genuinely desire to give when the numbers are that large?

Reading comprehension and math proficiency are the cornerstones of functional literacy. They are the disciplines from which elegant thought and abstract discipline reside. They are also the fundamental tools for the future work force in an age where global competition is our economic reality. It is imperative that the district address these deficiencies, not only for the good of our children, but for the preservation of what is best in our community.

Patrick Hennessy, Candidate, Wissahickon School District

Support Burunda
and Patrick for WSB

To the Editor:
While serving on the Wissahickon School Board for 5 years I developed a good appreciation of what it takes to be an effective Board Member. Board Members need to be team players, be willing to listen and really hear the opinions of other board members, be willing to voice dissent while still supporting the consensus, and be willing to have their views challenged in an open forum. Most importantly they must be advocates for our schools and our system of public education. Board members should support our children, our schools, our teachers, our administrators, and at the same time consider the needs and will of our community. They are our elected representatives and our voice. By definition they will not make everyone happy with their decisions. We all have different values and priorities. No matter what the decision, someone will not like it. But board members should make sure community members are heard and understood. This is the nature of representative governance.
Two candidates running for election fit these criteria. Burunda Prince-Jones and Patrick Hennessey have both the educational background and real world corporate experience to become effective board members and advocates for our schools. Both will be open minded, base decisions on facts not personal agendas or party affiliation, and will work hard to keep our schools strong. Will they be fiscally responsible? Of course they will. Fiscal responsibility is an individual trait, not a political party trait. Does this mean that they will support the positions of the teachers and the administration without question? Of course not. They will consider all the facts and make in- formed decisions. Does this mean they support the views of their political party without question? Of course not. They are freethinking, reasoning, proven professionals. They will collect as much information as possible about issues before making decisions. They will weigh all the facts, not just those that sup- port their positions. In the November election we will be electing five members to the board. I for one am not interested in a party slate of candidates based on their party affiliation, be it Republican or Democrat.. You may note that party affiliation was not listed above as a characteristic of an effective board member. I want strong effective leaders, not followers.
I urge you to keep the board diverse and freethinking. The two strongest candidates are Burunda and Patrick. The have my support. Please give them yours.

Paul Reiback, Ph.D.
Former Wissahickon Board President

Your concerns matter to Sellman

To the Editor:

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all who have supported me in the Borough Council race for Ward 3. I appreciate you opening your doors and opening up dialogue about the real issues on your minds that we face in our town. We have had heated, important conversations about absentee landlords and the declination of some our neighborhoods due to a several year span of code enforcement neglect.

We agree that there are good codes already on the books and that a crack down and then diligent monitoring is expected going forward. We have brainstormed about civic involvement to see our streets and sidewalks improved for the safety of especially our disabled and older neighbors, but also for the re-beautification of once enviable areas of the borough.

I heard many times the call for a full-time Borough Manager with credentials. I will work hard to see this appointment through. The revitalization efforts depend on the works from this position. (continued)

I suggest we work toward good, clean government for our town. You deserve it. Ambler deserves it.

PS: I want to thank AJB for the face to face discussion initiated by Lou Silverblank and Mark Wenckus last week. We appreciate your promise to remain neutral in all aspects regarding the upcoming election and for being candid with your questions and openness to ours. I look forward to improved relations whether from my front porch or from Borough Council.

Dee Sellman,
Ambler

A good leader must be well informed - 10/31/2007

To the Editor:

In 1994 the newly elected mayor of New York City, Rudy Guiliani, hosted a series of conferences aimed at addressing the city's poor record in advancing economic development and containing the spread of violent crime. Guiliani concluded that these problems were highly complex, and that a broad base of expert opinion was needed to realize viable solutions. To his credit, Guiliani actively asked many people what they thought and what they proposed.

Seeking out the opinions of others is one of the common traits of great leaders. Recognizing the importance of timely data is another. In May 2007, the Pittsburgh Business Times published its annual list of the state's best performing public school districts. Here are the highlights: Lower Moreland (7), Lower Merion (10), Upper Dublin (11), Methacton (29), Abington (34), Jenkintown (40), and HatborolHorsham (41).

Wissahickon School District? How does 46 grab you? All of the schools mentioned ahead of Wissahickon are within a 20 mile radius of Ambler, Whitpain, and Lower Gwynedd. As a result, it's relatively easy for us to contact and learn from neighboring districts with proven track records of success. In almost all instances, commitment to class sizes under 15 students per Full Time Employee has been the key. Wissahickon, conversely, is approaching 17.

There are other important issues to address. Presently, Wissahickon faces specific consequences inherent in No Child Left Behind legislation if it does not remedy the failures documented in two of its seven schools currently in Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Warning status. After two successive years at AYP Warning status, districts must provide a choice of another public school to attend for those affected students at the district's cost. After the third successive year, the introduction of supplemental educational services is mandated, as well as the provision of private tutoring.

As taxpayers and concerned citizens, we have a moral responsibility to these students, and a fiduciary responsibility to do better. We can start on the road to victory if we humble ourselves and ask (a) What has been proven to work and (b) what has been the best use of money to support the best approaches.

Since the May primary, it has been my pleasure to have spoken to so many of you on the topic of public education. It is clear to me that our community is fortunate to have decent, well-informed citizens that value education and strive for excellence in all of our schools. Please vote on Nov. 6, and remember my pledge to keep you informed, and to bring you back into the discussion.

Patrick Hennessy, Candidate, Wissahickon School District

Choose effective leaders for WSB - 10/31/2007

To the Editor:

The Center for Public Education has published a document that highlights 5 characteristics of an effective school board. They are the following: 1) Effective boards focus on student achievement,
2) Effective boards allocate resources to needs, 
3) Effective boards watch the return on investment, 
4) Effective boards use data, and 
5) Effective boards engage the community ties they serve. 

These five attributes are clearly five simple factors that can measure success or failure.

During the next four years, the Wissahickon School Board will have to effectively develop strategic plan mandated by the state that focuses on quality leadership, artful use of infrastructure, quality teaching, and a continuous learning ethic. The next set of school board directors will have to effectively determine who will be our next Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to lead our students to become global 21st century thinkers. The next five school board directors will have to effectively work together to continue to raise the standards for academic achievement for all students by recognizing that all stakeholders must playa part in achieving success.

On Tuesday Nov.6, you have a choice to vote for five effective people that should stand for one school community, one school district and one Wissahickon! Your vote has the power to truly represent your voice! Local elections can make an impact in local communities. Stand up and make a difference! I would be honored to represent you and your interests and your concerns.

Carmina Taylor,
Candidate for Wissahickon School Board

Ambler's issues can be addressed - 10/31/2007

To the Editor:
I am writing to the residents of Ambler's Third Ward to respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday Nov. 6. My family and I have lived in this friendly little town for 18 years. We love it here and we would not trade those years for anything! That is why I decided to run for Borough Council.
After serving for six years on Ambler's Planning Commission, and being involved in many of the issues Ambler currently faces, I feel that I bring unique qualifications to the position of council member. My career as a systems analyst has taught me to examine proposed change from many different angles, placing special emphasis on avoiding unintended consequences.

Many important issues are facing Ambler, and I hope to shed some light on how I will deal with these issues. For example, Ambler has been operating without a full time professional borough manager for several years. A town that is undergoing the kind of revitalization that we all want, requires a manager who is well versed in writing grant proposals, dealing with many potential development projects, dealing with lawyers, engineers and residents alike. Code enforcement has also been lacking in Ambler for many years. From the unacceptable condition of the ACME market, to the deteriorating conditions in the row home neighborhoods, code enforcement must be a priority if we wish to attract new businesses and new homeowners

The conditions in the row home neighborhoods have been deteriorating for years now. Up until a couple of months ago council paid little attention to this situation. We have too many rentals in these neighborhoods, with too many unrelated occupants in some of these rental units. Neighborhoods where young families could buy affordable homes, are now facing the loss of many good, stable families. We must hold absentee landlords accountable for the maintenance and proper rental of their properties, while encouraging the transition back to owner occupied housing.
The cleanup and possible reuse of contaminated asbestos sites must be of highest priority to this town. We cannot continue to ignore the ongoing risk to health and safety from exposure to asbestos. I will work with Sharon McCormick and Mary Maxion, council candidates in the first and second wards respectively, to finally get the attention these sites deserve from the federal government.
There are some who are attempting to frame this election into a single issue: Ambler Junior Baseball's use of Pickering Field. For the record, I will do whatever I can to ensure that Am continues to run its program, while keeping the Pickering neighbors involved in all decisions that affect their neighborhood. I will encourage open dialog between Am and the neighbors, and will seek consensus from all parties. By working together, we will see this issue finally resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

My hope is for Ambler to continue to grow while preserving the small town qualities that make Ambler such a special town. We must ensure that Ambler does not become just another suburb, but rather a destination for the residents of the surrounding suburbs. We must restore the neighbor- hoods that are faltering, making them a place where young families can own their homes. And we must encourage the redevelopment of the rail corridor in a manner that
.is safe and in keeping with the spirit of Ambler. To that end, I will make decisions only after careful consideration of all points of view and give special consideration to insuring that those decisions are consistent with our long-term vision for Ambler. I will bring a lifetime of problem solving skills and a high level of professionalism to council. I ask for your support in the upcoming election, and look forward to serving all the residents of Ambler.

Louis Silverblank, Ambler