LETTER: Vote Out Incumbents in Wissahickon School Board Race

Dear Voter,
School Board elections in Wissahickon will occur on Nov 5th. We urge you to vote out the 2 incumbents and place 4 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 5th, say “NO” to Stanton and Park.

Russell Bellavance, Ambler, Board member 1993-2001
Patricia Latimer, Lower Gwynedd, Board member 2003-2011
Barbara Moyer, Whitpain, Wissahickon School Board member