Some Perkiomen Valley School Board Candidates Speak on the Issues

Gerry Barnefiher

Name your township, and how long you’ve lived there.

I have been a resident of Skippack township for 19 years.

How long have you served in your current position?

I have been on the board since September 2008.

Why are you running for re-election?

For years I have been involved with the schools helping out where I could.  Getting involved on the school board was the next logical step in how I could help improve the district so that my children (and all children) have the ability to exceed their potential.  I see this as an on-going second job that I truly enjoy.

What are the most important issues facing your district?

Financial issues are the current big issue to the district.  But this is not just about money and taxes. It is also about continuing to provide the quality, well-rounded education that PV residents have come to expect.  Given the current economic situation there is tremendous struggle to keep up with the world with education while controlling costs as we ride out the current economic storm.

What is the best way to address these issues?

Understanding priorities of the community and balancing the priorities with good financial planning.  I think the current administration and school board have been doing an excellent job at trying to address the current issues. With the recent town hall meeting hosted by the district, we went out to the community for input. The PV community provided numerous suggestions on where additional savings could be found, as well as feedback as to what is important within our community. No one person has all the answers, but as a community we can certainly come together and find our best answer.

What do you do in addition to serving on the board? What activities do you enjoy?

I have a family with four kids in the district and enjoy spending time with my family.  I am a bit of a technology geek and enjoy all sorts of gadgets.

David Warren

Name your township, and how long you’ve lived there.
I have lived in Perkiomen Township for 12 years and Lower Frederick for seven years before that.

How long have you served in your current position?

 I have been on the PV School Board for just over eight years.

Why are you running for re-election?

I feel strongly that we each should do what we can to make a difference in the world.  I have served on the board for over eight years.  I could argue that I’ve done my part.  As this year approached I considered whether to move on and find a different cause to dedicate my volunteer time.  But I decided that serving on the school board gave me the best opportunity to make a difference – namely, to help my own community by helping our children.  So, in short, I am again running for election because I feel that shaping our public education program helps my entire community.

What are the most important issues facing your district?

The most challenging issue facing the district is maintaining the excellence of our educational program during a period of declining revenue and increasing cost.  Beyond that, the core issue we would all prefer to focus on is ensuring that each student reaches his or her learning potential and has the tools they need to reach his or her dreams as an adult.

What is the best way to address these issues?

We are making changes where we have control such as fees for facility rentals for the community and student activity fees.  And we are cutting cost where we have control such as innovative energy programs, cutbacks in staffing levels, and more cost effective health care.  It's a constant challenge to keep the tax burden on our community in check.  Significant problems include reduced federal and state funding along with the economic downturn affecting tax revenue, and these are difficult to control.

What do you do in addition to serving on the board? What activities do you enjoy?

As a profession, I work in Information Technology management.  Personally, I love outdoor activities including distance running and nature hikes.  I'm an avid reader.  And I have three children who keep me pretty busy, too!

James Nelson

Name your township, and how long you’ve lived there.

I have lived in Trappe Borough for three years.  Prior to that I lived in Lower Providence Township for eight years.  I am a lifelong resident of the Perkiomen Valley and a 1996 Methacton High School graduate.

Do you have any prior political experience?
This is my first attempt at political office.

What personal qualities or experience do you feel would serve you well in this position?

I have a passion for education and preserving the educational programs that I have benefited from in my career and have experience in cutting costs in my community. 

As the elected president of the Rosewood Homeowners Association, I have cut lawn service costs by a third and am currently working on a new propane contract that will cut propane costs to homeowners by 35 percent.  These cost savings measures will equate to an annual savings of $1000 per homeowner in the association.  Half of these savings have been put into an association account for future capital improvements and half directly back to the homeowners in decreased propane costs.

Why are you running for election?

I am running for election because I am concerned about the recent plans to cut to foreign language and music programs that have been proposed as a result of the recent state funding cuts.  These types of programs were of great benefit to me during my time in the public schools I want to see the new generation benefit from these programs as well.  While these programs have been spared for this year, they may be at risk next year without a comprehensive plan cut costs and find alternative sources of revenue. 

What are the most important issues facing your district?

 The most important issues facing the district are:
• How to maintain the quality of educational offerings in the face of declining revenue streams from the state without imposing large property tax increases on Perkiomen Valley residents.
• How to work with labor unions to agree to wage concessions in order to avoid staff furloughs and educational program cuts
• How to deal with anticipated cost increases for PSERS retirement program

What is the best way to address these issues?

 I feel there are some very good cost-cutting opportunities and revenue generating opportunities for the district:

• Adopt a health insurance model similar to the “Alleghany Model” used in the western part of the state and promoted by the PSEA (their insurance costs only went up 2% compared to 9.65% here). Adoption of this model would save the district hundreds of thousands annually. 
• Generate revenue by installing solar panels on roofs of buildings.  This has been tried in two other local districts (Colonial and OJR) and is projected to generate approx $100,000 per year for those districts.
• Work to negotiate with unions for partial or full salary freezes to prevent staff furloughs and educational program cuts.  A full salary freeze would generate $1.9 million in savings. 

Tell me about your current occupation and/or hobbies.

I have been employed as an analytical chemist at GlaxoSmithKline for the past 11 years.  Eight of those years were spend working on a project which recently received FDA approval for fighting kidney cancer.  I have also worked to cut lab supply costs by $160,000 in my department this past year.  I am very proud of the work I do and the great education I received in the local public schools provided me the foundation in science that allowed me to receive my bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry.

I also have worked with the local schools as a sports commentator for WNPV radio in Lansdale and have volunteered in various science fairs and learning labs.

John Knudson Jr. sent the following e-mailed message to registered Republicans and Democrats:

I want to get involved in the process of finding a way to maintain reasonable taxes for the residents without giving up the strides that have been made with our great schools and wonderful teachers.

I believe that being a resident of Skippack Township for 18 years and a parent of two PV students along with my 40 years experience in finance and management with Henkel Corporation will add value to the board and to the community it serves.

Read comments from candidate Ann Mantey .