Showing Up For Our School Board
Two “Get to Know the School Board Candidates,” forums were held this fall, one at the college and the other at the seminary. Given the importance of the GASD school board elections, you would assume all of the candidates would show up. But three of the eight candidates not only did not attend, they did not even respond to the invitations! The five candidates who did participate: Kathleen Pratt, Julieta Booz, Char Weise, Donna Harrison, Ryan Kearney and Dale Brennan.
These were excellent fact-finding forums. Each candidate gave a brief bio of themselves, told why they are running, and welcomed questions from the audience. These people are engaged, believe in this community and have no single agenda other than providing a quality education at an affordable price. They are learning about school board budgets and the struggles of funding. They pay school taxes just like the rest of us. They are attending public board meetings held on Thursday evenings to better understand the finances of running a school district. It was refreshing to hear some of their innovative ideas for saving money and procuring financial assistance from sources other than taxes.
I heard from them live. They believe in this community. I think we all want hard-working Americans who are proud of Adams County and its education system. I will vote for people who are engaged even before they are elected. Ask yourself this: if a candidate won’t bother to show up to hear from voters during the campaign, do you think they will listen to what you have to say after they’re elected?
On November 4th, please vote for the candidates who do show up::
Kathleen Pratt, Julieta Booz, Char Weise, Donna Harrison, Ryan Kearney and Dale Brennan.
Sincerely,
Nell Matthews
Gettysburg
