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Health & Fitness

Enodorsed Republican Candidate for School Board 4 Year Term Kathryn Chandless

Enodorsed Republican Candidate for School Board 4 Year Term Kathryn Chandless

I am asking you to support me for a second term on the Marple Newtown school board because I have the skills, experience and dedication to ensure that our district maximizes its potential, and I will advocate tirelessly for big picture planning inclusive of everyone in the community.  I am committed to ensuring that Marple Newtown schools focus on student achievement, while still ensuring that our budget is managed responsibly, and I continue to welcome the input of the entire community in achieving these critical goals. 

 

I have lived in Newtown Square for nearly a decade now, and my three children have never called any other place home.  I have served on the Marple Newtown School Board since December 2009 and, since December 2012, I have been the Board President. 

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My mother was a public school teacher for nearly forty years, and my father served as a municipal judge in New Jersey for thirty-six years.  They were often on opposite sides of the spectrum ideologically, but from that I learned that there are usually more than two sides to every coin.  I currently work as an attorney focusing on labor and employment law, and I have represented both employers and employees in various legal matters.  This background similarly has given me a unique ability to look at issues about which people have strong – and often conflicting – opinions from all sides in the search for compromise. 

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It is extremely important for me to set an example of community involvement for my children.  I am a member of the Newtown Square rotary (and served as secretary of that organization from July 2010 until July 2012).  I am also a member of the Newtown Square Business and Professional Association and the Delaware County Bar Association.  In addition, I have organized Teacher Appreciation Week at Garrett’s Way daycare (Newtown Square) for the past several years. 

 

During my four-year tenure on the Board, I have served, among other things, as Chair of the Human Resources committee and a member of the Budget and Finance committee. I have supported initiatives to involve the community in seeking creative solutions to financial pressures facing the district, including the community budget task force assembled in 2012 to review and provide recommendations on the budget.  More recently, after my election to Board President, I formed a parent advisory committee so that parents, administrators and the Board can better communicate and collaborate regarding students’ future program needs.  I also called for prioritization of capital needs and development of a multi-year plan for addressing them (which is currently in progress).  I have always voted according to my conscience, balancing conservative budget management with what I believe is important for our students to thrive. 

 

Through responsible oversight, we have brought this district through an incredibly difficult economic time.  We stand today in a better financial position than many other districts in our area.  Last year, we worked hard to balance the needs of everyone in the district, avoiding a tax increase without cutting any programs or staff. 

 

Now we must insist that our academics match the caliber of our newly renovated facilities.  We need to focus on student achievement, and demand measurable results to ensure that our children are prepared for the bright futures ahead of them.  We need to make smart decisions with our resources and insist on measurable long-term plans rather than piecemeal patches.  My goal is not only to maintain but now evolve our programs, embracing input from parents, administrators, faculty and the community as to the direction this district takes into the future. 

 

When I moved here, I never could have imagined the larger family I was joining, the pride I would come to have in this community, and how invested I would become in the operation of this school district.  Its success means the world to me. 

 

In the next few years, it will be critical to have school board members who are experienced, goal-oriented and open to input from all viewpoints.  I understand the commitment that this role requires and I will commit the next four years to developing and implementing a cohesive, data-driven long-term plan that makes student achievement a focal point. 

 

Before May 21, I encourage every voter to ask questions, demand clear and honest answers, and consider my actual record over the past four years, which I believe confirms my commitment to the students as well as all of the residents of this district.  

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