Phoenixville School Board Adds WCU Math Professor In Vacancy

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — The Phoenixville Area School Board of Directors took six roll call votes before filling a board vacancy with a West Chester University math professor whose children graduated from Phoenixville High School.

Turner, of Schuylkill Township, told the board in her Sept. 16 interview that one of her interests as a board member would be Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as she is an engineer herself. She said as a mathematics professor, she knows the importance of having students prepared for life with basic math skills.

"I teach first-year math. If you're not prepared, there is no place to hide," Turner said. She also noted the importance of a district making sure students graduate with the skills they need to understand finance, loans, and grasping what "flatten the curve" means.

Turner said that she recognized that not all graduates will head to college, and she said working at West Chester University with students who "are not quite making college numbers" has prepared her to apply common sense to district decisions about all students.

Applicants interviewed on Sept. 16 in a virtual meeting were: Lee Reedy, Chris Marshall, Lisa Longo, Susan Turner, Maureen Buckley, Kendra O'Donnell, Robert Rodriguez, and Charles Miller.

In the meeting's public comment time before the board's vote to fill the vacancy, a comment submitted by former PASD board president Lisa Longo was read. It said she was withdrawing her candidacy for the position after taking part in the interviews.

It took six roll call votes for Turner to finally gain a 5-3 win over Maureen Buckley of East Pikeland Township. Buckley, who has two children in Phoenixville Area School District, said she is a team player who was ready to help move board business forward. Buckley's interview answers emphasized generating income in the district in order to continue meeting needs. She also had experience as a college instructor.

PASD School Board President Blake Emmanuel along with other board members thanked all who took the time to be interviewed, and encouraged them to seek board positions in the future.

The board's next workshop meeting is Oct. 19, and the next board meeting is Oct. 26.