Meet Lisa White Burns, Candidate For Upper Dublin School Board

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — Patch continues its pre-election coverage with a profile of Lisa White Burns, who is running for a seat on the Upper Dublin School Board.

See how she responded to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Resident of Upper Dublin for sixteen years. Married with four children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. from University of Lynchburg

Occupation

Marketing & Business Development for Creative Financial Group. I have worked in graphic design, marketing and business development for 30 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Jarrettown PTO Board Co-Vice President from 2017-2019

Campaign website

www.udunited.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I’m seeking office because I am a parent and taxpayer of the UD community and would like the opportunity to have a seat at the table so my voice is heard and considered. I believe all those that make up the UD community (students, parents, residents) should have equal representation on our board and be a part of the vital decisions the board makes that affects everyone. Where education, school rankings, and student preparedness may be imperative to one group; taxes, debt, and budget deficits may be more significant to another. Each issue is just as important as the other – and so are all groups. I believe that we need community members on the school board that will take into consideration all those that make up Upper Dublin.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

It appears that for far too long people in our community have been forgotten in the eyes of the school board and voices that matter have not been heard. We have a diverse community that is made up of students, parents, and residents that have not only moved into the community recently but many who have been here their entire lives. They were born here, raised their children here, and are now watching their grandchildren grow up – right here in Upper Dublin. But so many seem to be ignored. The board appears to be out of touch with the variety of needs of the Upper Dublin community and this is concerning. By giving others a seat at the table will enable more voices to be heard.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

For 35 years I have been a registered Independent. To run for school board, I was told I had to choose a party. My goal was to enter, run in the Primary, and then hopefully make it on to the General election. So, I registered as Democrat. The choice that I felt was best for me. That’s it. The whole story. No hidden agenda. But please understand that I believe that political party should have no influence on the school board. Instead, what is best for the students, parents, and residents of Upper Dublin is what is most important. A national agenda should not dictate the decisions that are made here in UD. We have issues that are specific to Upper Dublin and the focus should always be how can we make sure we are making the best decisions for our community. If people choose to not vote for me because in their eyes, I’m not a “Real Democrat” — as has been recently publicized -- then there is not much I can do about that. But I do believe that I am a real example of someone who believes in striving for a community to be the best it can be not only for my family but for all families.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

As a mom and businesswoman, I try and live my life with a can-do attitude. I realize that things become challenging, and roadblocks appear but I am a huge believer in thinking outside the box and refusing to take no for an answer. Instead, I like to understand what has been done in the past, learn from that, and think outside the box to try and come up with a positive solution.

What I have seen is a board that says no we are not able to do that, so no is the answer. Why so? Have they tapped into all their resources? Have they reached out to the community to look to those that may have experiences or ideas that could make for a better solution?

A specific example of this is our current quarantine situation. The board agreed to a quarantining plan without having an education plan to go hand and hand. And as a result, we now have quarantined children at home not receiving equitable education to their peers that are in the buildings. Why was this decision ok with the board? Why did the board not push for an equitable learning plan for the quarantined? Why did the board not reach out to parents and ask for input on ways they felt their children would learn best if they ended up in this situation? Why were relief funds not used to help manage this situation?

These are questions that I have asked – all the way back to this past August – and will continue to ask. I think we can agree that all our students, from K to 12, deserve to have an equitable education regardless of the situation. I am willing to ask the difficult questions and continue asking until we get the answers that are best for all those involved.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am extremely proud to stand with the three other parents in our slate who have the passion and commitment to run in this campaign. We are solutions-oriented, hard-working problem solvers. The education of our students and the interests of taxpayers should be above political agendas. There are legitimate concerns in our community about our growing debt, tax increases, budget deficits, inconsistent school rankings, unexplained litigation – just to name a few issues. There should be transparency between a board and its community. Restoring trust and confidence needs to be a priority.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have worked in marketing and business development for 30 years. My career has spanned from working for small businesses, major corporations, running my own marketing business, and most recently partnering with my husband to help grow his business. Having the experience of working in a variety of business environments I have learned that to be successful you need to be able to work as a team. Throughout my career I have learned that defining clear goals, utilizing each person’s strengths, and working as a team brings you the most success.

When my twins entered kindergarten in 2014, I was fortunate enough to have the time to also work for the UDSD at Jarrettown Elementary School as a Cafeteria/Recess Aid and did this for six years. I will be forever grateful for those years as I was able to work closely with the incredible group of teachers at JTES as well as spend time and get to know so many wonderful children in our district.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“If not us, who? If not now, when?” – John F. Kennedy

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Since becoming a part of the Upper Dublin community in 2005, I have been an involved parent and volunteer. I have happily served as room mom throughout my children’s elementary years. I have also chaired on several committees and proudly represented the Jarrettown PTO Board as co-Vice President from 2017-2019. We have an extraordinary community and giving back is extremely important to me. I have also been lucky enough to volunteer outside of the school district with several neighborhood groups including the East Oreland Neighborhood Association, the Womenade Group of Fort Washington, and Peace & Shake. All these groups have enabled me to form relationships with individuals, families, and neighbors while giving back to those in need right here in our own backyard. The people - young and old - are what makes Upper Dublin such an incredible place to live. Recently, I have had the amazing experience of meeting so many community members in backyards, neighborhoods, and streets throughout UD helping to clean up from the tornado. I have met young kids, old kids, people who recently moved to UD, and seniors who have lived here their entire lives. They too volunteered because they wanted to give back and do something that could hopefully help make someone else’s life just a little bit better. And each time I met someone new, he/she just wanted to know my name and if I was ok from the tornado. They did not ask me where I lived, how much money I made, or how I stood politically. That did not matter. What mattered was that we were all there together with the same goal, to help. That is what you call community.