Friends Of Pottstown Public Education Candidates Win School Director Seats

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We would like to extend our most sincere congratulations to Judyth Zahora, Andrew Kefer and Mary-Beth Lydon for each winning a seat on the Pottstown School Board!  The Friends of Pottstown Public Education candidates ran as a block and they will help return the voice of reason to the Pottstown School Board.  

Judy, Mary-Beth and Andrew will join Robert Hartman and Polly Weand in keeping Mr. Hylton’s ego and spending in check!  Had Mr. Hylton’s hand-picked candidates won, it would have given Mr. Hylton carte blanche on the renovations, which Pottstown taxpayers cannot afford!

Many thanks to the Pottstown voters who turned out today and exercised their right to vote in a free election, as guaranteed by our constitution.

Pottstown School Board Director Election Results

It appears congratulations are in order for Mary-Beth Lydon, Andrew Kefer and Judyth Zahora for winning spots on the November Democratic Ballot for Pottstown School Director.  Sadly, Amy Francis and Michele Pargeon will not be joining their running mates from the Friends Of Pottstown Public Education.  Code Blue will now have two candidates on the November ballot.

Voter turn out was pathetically low.  I suppose people do not think Primary Elections are important and make no effort to vote.  However, by not voting in the Primary Election you are allowing others to dictate your choices in November.  This is how good candidates are removed from voter consideration while others creep in by default.

Glossy smear-tactic postcards evidently did the trick for the five candidates Mr. Hylton supported via his Pottstown Citizens For Responsible Government political action committee.  Hopefully in November voters will turn out in greater numbers and do more research before voting.  Otherwise the Pottstown School Board will become a one-way voting block.

In other election news, Roy’s Rants congratulates Sixth Ward Councilor and “man of the people” Jody Rhoads for his re-election victory.  Jody handily defeated his opponent and will be running unopposed in November!  “Fight When You’re Right”

We thank everyone who voted today and exercised their constitutional right to take part in a free election.  Your vote does make a difference.

Power to the Pottstown People!

Pennsylvania Primary Election, Tuesday, May 17, 2011

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Tomorrow’s election is crucial to the progress of Pottstown.  Everyone needs to get out and vote!

The Pottstown School Board race will decide how well the school district and the borough continue to work together.  If we are going to move forward as a community, cooperation between these two bodies is essential.  We can continue to work together or go back to infighting and agendas, which have gotten us exactly nowhere.   The choice is yours, but at least make a choice and vote!

If you truly want “citizens for responsible government” running Pottstown, then Friends of Pottstown Public Education and Sixth Ward Councilor Jody Rhoads need your vote tomorrow and NOT the people on the glossy postcards from 222 Chestnut Street (that have flooded our mailboxes in the last several days).

Friends Of Pottstown Public Education Seek Your Vote On May 17th

A group of five dedicated people are seeking your vote in the Pennsylvania Primary Election next Tuesday, May 17th.  Michele Pargeon, Amy Bathurst Francis, Mary-Beth Lydon, Andrew Kefer and Judyth Zahora are running as a team for election to the Pottstown School Board.

Their motto, “A New Perspective Built On Experience” means this group of candidates supports public education aka the Pottstown School District.  Listening, making children the first priority, making sure good teachers are fairly paid, ensuring our schools are safe, ensuring the school district has the tools it needs to get the job done, understanding education and giving taxpayers, parents and children a strong voice are what this group will bring to the table.

These people recognize that the Pottstown School District and the Borough of Pottstown are linked and must work together for economic development and the betterment of our community.  If one sneezes the other caches cold.  The borough and school district must work together if Pottstown is to turn the corner.  This group will ensure that the forward momentum in an era of new found cooperation between the borough and school district continues.

The right team for Pottstown School Board!

An Open Letter To The People Of Pottstown From School Board Candidate Mary-Beth Lydon

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I am a candidate for  the position of director of Pottstown School District’s Board of Education.   I’m running for this seat because I believe that education is the most important tool we offer the children of Pottstown.  In the current economic climate within Pennsylvania, and indeed across the country, it’s more important than ever that we call on the resources within our region to support Pottstown students  The idea that government can and should finance education solely through the collection of taxes is quickly being put aside, as we face budget cuts, contract disputes, shrinking support for education from Harrisburg and an eroding tax base.  We are considering sacrificing the arts and sports programs offered to our children.  While these co-curricular activities are termed “non-essential”, the fact is that children perform better when as many aspects of their development are encouraged and fostered during childhood and adolescence as possible. 

It is time to work collaboratively and in new areas to cultivate educational support for Pottstown’s students.  We cannot ignore that homeowners are in crisis in our community; we all face living on paychecks that have flattened or been cut by our employers.  Social Security saw no increase last year and there’s no indication that’s going to change in the near future.  Relying on tax dollars and government subsidy alone is not a long-term plan for Pottstown schools.  We need to develop partnerships with private industry to create a sustainable source of funding for our schools.  While these are far-reaching, lofty goals, I’d like the chance to have four years to begin paving the path toward self-sufficiency for Pottstown’s schools.  We didn’t find ourselves facing these obstacles in one day or even one year.  It will take time to determine the right course for our schools.  We have an opportunity to put into place plans and milestones that change the course of Pottstown schools, and the borough as a whole. 

Another reason I’m asking for your vote on May 17^th is that I’d like to see a cooperative, team-oriented school board working together on behalf of Pottstown schools.  My background in community service, and in the corporate world, has given me team building skills that are an asset in my professional and personal life.  I believe in the value of each person, in making sure they’re heard in a respectful, open environment that welcomes diversity of opinion.  I know there are dedicated, talented and innovative people and ideas we can draw on to build the best schools we can for our students.  We are all examples to the children of Pottstown, whether or not we intend to be.  It is my belief that through our actions on behalf of Pottstown’s students we help shape their lives and outcomes.  On May 17^th, I hope you’ll give me the chance to have a hand in shaping the future of Pottstown’s schools.

Mary-Beth Bacallao Lydon

A New Perspective Built On Experience: An Interview With Pottstown School Board Candidates

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I had the pleasure to sit down with four of five Pottstown School Board candidates running as a group.  Their slogan is “A new perspective built on experience.”  We had a spirited discussion about the issues facing Pottstown School District, Pottstown Borough and where we need to head.

Andrew Kefer (Pottstown Planning Commission, Pottstown Community Land Trust)

Amy Francis (former Pottstown School Board member and Code Blue cofounder)

Michele Pargeon (current Pottstown School Board member and a volunteer with many community activities)

Mary-Beth Lydon (Community Land Trust, Code Blue)

Judyth Zahora (former Pottstown School Board member and Pottstown School District Treasurer) are running as a block of concerned citizens who support “public education in Pottstown” and are not looking to “save buildings”.

Our conversation touched on many subjects facing PSD.  The school district’s financial sustainability is a core issue for the group.  Pottstown has long relied on state and federal government funding.  Those days are coming to an end.  PSD needs to find more private funding and be open to new ideas in these trying economic times.  Before these people would take office, if elected, the Task Force will have already made recommendations that will shape the school district’s future.  This group will need to carry out the recommendations of the Task Force.  Finding ways to increase efficiencies and working with the Borough of Pottstown to increase property values are key goals.  Pottstown School District and Pottstown Borough share the same space and are thereby linked together.  If one sneezes, the other catches cold.

Andrew Kefer, Mary-Beth Lydon and Michele Pargeon have lived in Pottstown for between 6 – 10 years.  Amy Francis grew up in Pottstown and graduated from Pottstown High School.  Judyth Zahora was unable to join us due to previously scheduled commitment, but her bio states she has lived in Pottstown for about 25 years and has been very involved with the PSD.  Four of the five candidates have children in PSD.  All are homeowners and have invested in Pottstown.  These candidates want to improve the quality of life and educational opportunities for all residents of Pottstown.

Working for the common good, exploring possibilities and belief in Pottstown are qualities these five people have.  This group wants to build up leaders for tomorrow.  Today’s children are the future and will one day be running Pottstown.  We need to create opportunities to keep our young people here and stop the brain drain.  In order to accomplish this arduous task, people need to “leave their egos and politics at the door” and work for the betterment of the community.   Being respectful, agreeing to disagree, civility, and being open to new ideas and different perspectives is the group’s strength.

A crucial issue is Pottstown’s eroding tax base and the already high taxes.  PSD needs to work hand in hand with the borough to attract middle class residents, business and industry to Pottstown to stabilize neighborhoods, cut taxes and provide gainful employment for residents.  The school district and the borough have started working more closely together and we hope this continues!  These candidates would make sure this new-found cooperation does continue.

The group feels PSD needs to market itself better and emphasis its strengths, like PSD’s nationally recognized PEAK program.  The district’s high transient rate creates extra challenges and cost.  With a more stable population of homeowners, the transient rate would naturally decline.  Economic development, revitalization, blight eradication and a vibrant downtown are needed to stabilize the tax base and the school district.

Many thanks to these candidates for taking time out of their Saturday morning to discuss the issues with Roy’s Rants.  The primary is May 17, 2011.  Educate yourselves on the issues and make sure to vote!

For more information about the candidates and their campaign you can check out their website at http://votefppe.org/