Karen Fleming Running For West Chester Area School Board Seat

Pennsylvania's Primary Election is May 18. Karen Fleming is running for West Chester Area School District's Board of Directors in Region 2. After raising three children in the district who have gone on to seek higher education, Fleming said she wants to keep public education strong here.

She explained more about why she is running for election.

Karen Fleming

Age: 56

Position Sought: School Director, Region 2, West Chester Area School Board

Party Affiliation: I am a registered Democrat, however, I am cross-filed on both the Democratic and Republican ballots in the Primary since School Director is a nonpolitical office.

Family: My husband Jeff and I have three children, all of whom are proud graduates of West Chester East High School. Our daughter Audrey graduated from Boston College in 2017 and recently began working as an Associate Director for a global pharmaceutical company after working in consulting for three years. Our son Andrew graduated from Wesleyan University in 2020 and is completing his first year of a doctoral program at Penn State. Our daughter Margaux is a sophomore at the University of Virginia.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Bachelor of Science in Economics, Penn State University. MBA with a concentration in finance, Drexel University

Occupation: For the past five years I have worked with the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation, a small nonprofit in Chester County. In this role, I have been responsible for finance, accounting, compliance, and development, including grant writing and donor outreach. Earlier in my career, I spent over 10 years as a consultant providing financial and regulatory consulting services to public utility clients and as a manager in the Energy Sector Knowledge Management and Marketing Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Committee Person, East Goshen Democratic CommitteeTreasurer, East Goshen Democratic Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?: I am running for school board because I am a passionate believer in the importance of strong public schools for our children, our community, and the future of our country. My husband Jeff and I moved to West Chester over 20 years ago and have raised our family here. All three of my children attended West Chester public schools, and I know as a mother that the excellent education they received in the WCASD laid the foundation for them to go on to academic and professional success. As School Director I will work to make sure that every student in the WCASD is on a path to graduate and receives the education they need to be college or career ready.

The single most pressing issue facing our school board: The single most pressing issues facing our district are safely maintaining in-person learning at our schools and working to overcome the learning loss associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. I know many parents are concerned with the impact virtual learning has had on their child's/children's education as well as their mental and social well-being. Providing help and support to the students who are not on track for academic or socio-emotional success, such as additional classes, tutoring, and extracurricular activities, is a top priority.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: I am known for considering all sides, performing thorough research, and making fair, responsible, and fact-based decisions. I am running to maintain and improve the educational quality currently provided to our students, not to advance any one issue or political agenda. I will work to provide sound financial policies and fiscal responsibility to provide a meaningful return on our community's investment in education while also considering the needs of all students.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: There are many important issues facing our school district right now. One that is critical is closing the achievement gap existing between white students and students of color in our schools. The district has made significant strides in this area, including the hiring of a Director of Equity and Assessment, but there is still much work to be done to close the gap. Another important issue is the stress on the district's budget caused, in part, by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also from the longer-term issue of the rise in mandated expenses. These expenses include pension obligations, special education costs, and charter school payments. I believe my education and work experience in finance makes me especially well-suited to take on this challenge.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: School Board Director is one of the most important positions in local government and requires a high level of commitment and work. I commit to being a very involved School Director for the next four years and dedicated to understanding and representing the insights and concerns of our students, parents, and teachers. I believe my judgment, experience, education, and sincere interest in the betterment of our public education and community make me the better candidate for this position.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning. -Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: I believe a great School Board member also serves as a champion for their district’s students and community. As School Director I will be an advocate for fair school funding. Our schools are overly reliant on local funding, in large part because the state does not cover its fair share of the state/local funding partnership.
Pennsylvania currently ranks 44th in the country for state-provided school funding, leaving local districts to rely on property and other local taxes to fund our schools. Pennsylvania also uses outdated student data to determine the distribution of funding, which financially hurts WCASD and other growing districts. Additional and more equitable funding from the state will not only help our students but also our community, including seniors and first-time home buyers, by reducing the tax burden on property owners.

Karen Fleming's campaign website can be viewed here.