What We Learned From the September Board Meeting

The Board’s September meeting was held earlier this week. It was great to see over 400 Methacton students recognized with Academic Excellence “M” awards. In addition, we appreciate Dr. Zerbe's acknowledgement of the transportation challenges at the start of this school year. 

Unfortunately, many of the board issues we've called attention to in the past continue today – meeting agendas not available until 24 hours before the meeting, questions from the public not answered, limited discussion by the board on important voting matters (followed by unanimous votes), enforcement of time limits on public comment, plans to spend more tax dollars on consultants and a general disrespect of the public. In addition, as a sequel to his cancelation of an agenda item for public comment during July's board meeting, the board president attempted to adjourn the meeting in the middle of the public comment period. 

If you were unable to attend, we encourage you to watch the meeting video, which will be available on Methacton’s website. It will be apparent why we need to bring leadership to the Methacton board. On November 3rd, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, Winters and Aubrey-Larcinese. Thank you!!!

Voter Registration is Online!

Are you registered to vote? If not, below is a link to PA's online voter registration. Get it done today so that you can vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, Winters and Aubrey-Larcinese on November 3rd. 

Also, if your child will be at least 18 years of age on or before November 3rd, encourage them to register also. If away at college, they can vote through an absentee ballot. Every vote will count in this election!

Thanks!

Voter Registration Application

Checking the "I do not have a PA driver's license or PennDOT ID card or a Social Security Number." checkbox clears the PA driver's license or PennDOT ID Card number and the Social Security number. You should only check this box if you have never been issued a PA driver's license or PennDOT ID card o…

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Board Meeting Participation

Did you attend this month’s meeting of the Board’s Property Committee? Probably not. This meeting, like ½ of the Board’s committee meetings, is regularly scheduled to occur on a weekday morning. Such scheduling makes attendance nearly impossible for anyone employed and/or with school age children. Perhaps the current committee members face these issues as well given that only 1 of 3 Property Committee members attended in person (1 attended by phone) and the meeting started late. 

We believe that taxpayers should be given every opportunity to follow and participate in the meetings of the Board and its committees. Step 1 is scheduling meetings at times to reach the largest possible audience. This consideration is just one of the many new perspectives we would like to bring the Methacton Board. On November 3rd, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, Winters and Aubrey-Larcinese. Thank you!!!

Vote on Tuesday!

Our Candidates

C.A.R.E. is a group of dedicated community members running for Methacton School Board.

Chris Boardman, a resident of Methacton School District since 1998, lives in Worcester Township with his wife, Andrea, and their 2 children, Susannah and Nathan, both students at Skyview Upper Elementary School. Chris has a B.S. in Mathematics and Psychology from SUNY, as well as a graduate degree in statistics from University of Akron. His professional work has led him down a diverse and evolving path, with work in fetal health research for the CDC in Atlanta, building the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to working as a senior level statistician at IMS Health, where his novel approach to forecasting and projections led to him being named inventor on nearly a dozen patents. He is currently Vice President of Data Services and Analytics at ValueCentric. Chris’ passion outside of his profession has always been children. He and his family are actively involved in children’s charities on the local and global scale. In addition, he has been involved locally with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Methacton Baseball Association, and a other charities. Chris hopes to bring to the Methacton School Board his vast knowledge of statistics, data analysis, and managing large budgets combined with his lifelong pursuit of educational opportunities for all children.

Andrea Rees has been a resident of the Eagleville section of Lower Providence for nearly 12 years, where she lives with her husband, Greg, and their 3 children, Anna, Davis, and Lila, all of whom attend Woodland Elementary School. Andrea graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in speech communications. Her professional career began with work as a recruiter and retail manager. She quickly realized her true passion was education. Andrea earned a M.Ed. in elementary education at Chestnut Hill, with an additional certification in middle school English. She has been a classroom teacher for the past 15 years, teaching at Wayne Elementary in Radnor Township, then moving on to itinerant gifted support in Spring-Ford School District, before settling in to her current position teaching 6th grade at Spring-Ford Intermediate School. Andrea is also a fellow with the Pennsylvania Writing and Literacy Program. Outside of her profession, Andrea spends her time with her children at the Methacton United Soccer Club and Methacton Aquatic Club, as well as volunteering with Reading Olympics. She is also a frequent volunteer at Woodland Elementary for special events throughout the year. Her main initiative is to add the insight of an educator to the Methacton School Board, to keep the primary objective of our board – the education of the children of our community – first and foremost in our decisions.

Michael K. Ryan is a 7-year resident of Audubon with his wife Kimberly and their 2 daughters, Katelyn, who currently attends Audubon Elementary, and Veronica, who will join her there soon. Michael is a graduate of LaSalle University, holding a B.S. in accounting and finance. He has worked in business valuation and forensic accounting, where he honed his skills in analyzing financial statements; in corporate finance, specializing in compliance and financial planning in the insurance industry; and as a small business owner. Michael is currently a proud stay-at-home dad. He also spends his time volunteering with The Patrician Society of Central Norristown, raising money and coordinating neighborhood food drives. Michael hopes to combine his financial acumen with his passion for community involvement as a member of the Methacton School Board.

Kim Aubrey-Larcinese has lived in the Eagleville section of Lower Providence for 15 years with her husband, John (a Methacton graduate), and their 2 sons, J.P. and Cole, students at Arcola Intermediate School and Woodland Elementary School. Kim has a B.A. in English and women’s studies from Temple University. She has worked as a medical editor for several trade publications as well as at Pfizer. Kim also served as the administrator for the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, coordinating the accreditation process for independent birth centers throughout the country. She is currently self-employed as a freelance editor. In addition to her professional work, Kim has been an active volunteer in every organization her family has been involved with -- Methacton Baseball Association, Methacton United Soccer, Woodland Home and School, Cub Scout Pack 608, and Boy Scout Troop 182. She is currently serving as Woodland Home and School Vice President and is a committee member with Troop 182.

It's Almost Time to Vote!

We continue to encourage all voters to do their homework in order to make an informed decision in the upcoming primary election. We have provided you with much information on our candidates and highlighted some of our observations regarding the current school board and how we will bring a new perspective. So that others may make an informed decision when voting, please continue to share this page with others in the Methacton community.

We need a strong voter turnout for next week’s election. Voter turnout of less than 10% for school director positions, as we saw in the last primary election, should not be acceptable to anyone. Methacton school directors influence the education of nearly 5,000 children in our community and approve the spending of over $100 million of our tax dollars. You have a voice in these matters with your vote. Please continue to encourage others in the Methacton community to vote on Tuesday and to vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. Thank you!

Budget Transparency

Many school districts, including Methacton, are facing financial challenges. To address these challenges, most districts are actively looking for ways to grow non-tax revenues and intelligently reduce spending. To date, the Methacton board’s public discussions relating to the 2015-16 budget have not paid much attention to these areas. In addition, the board has only periodically presented limited, summary information regarding the 2015-16 budget. While neighboring school districts invite the public to budget workshops and reviews throughout their budget processes, the Methacton board seems content to meet the minimum requirements. Perhaps if the board conducted an open and transparent budget process, we would have a better understanding of how our tax dollars are spent. In addition, the board may gain valuable insights and suggestions from the community on how to grow non-tax revenues and intelligently reduce spending. An improvement to the district’s budget and financial review processes is yet another new perspective we would like to bring to the board. Next Tuesday, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

School District Consultants

In the past year, Methacton has hired (or proposed to hire) external consultants for enrollment projections, fundraising for the high school athletic fields project, strategic plan development, and the potential redrawing of school attendance areas. In all instances, we have not seen the board ask for community volunteers to provide the needed expertise instead of spending on outside resources. During the school consolidation hearing and subsequent meetings, several members of the community discussed their significant experience with projections and statistical methods. Therefore, did Methacton need to hire PEL for enrollment projections? Regarding fundraising for the fields project, a current board member and possibly others in the community have experience in this area. Did the board explore this option before hiring the external fundraising consultant? With respect to strategic planning and the possibility of redrawing attendance areas, the board may also find volunteer resources in the community. Why not consider this option before spending our tax dollars? Given the district’s financial challenges, the board should be considering all options to control spending. This approach is just one of the many new perspectives we would like to bring to the board. Next Tuesday, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Primary is in One Week! Here are Your Polling Locations:

The primary election is 1 week from today! The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Don’t know where to vote? Below is a link to a site where you can find your voting location. Please note that voter turnout for the last primary election when school board positions were on the ballot (2013) was less than 10% in both Lower Providence and Worcester Townships. To bring a new perspective to the Methacton board, we need a strong voter turnout. Over the course of the next week, please encourage your Methacton friends, family and neighbors to vote on May 19th and to vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan and Aubrey-Larcinese. In the voting booth, please remember these ballot numbers - Democratic ballot – Boardman (D10), Ryan (D17), Aubrey-Larcinese (D18), Rees (D19); Republican ballot – Boardman (J10), Aubrey-Larcinese (J14), Rees (J17), Ryan (J18). To improve our chances, please consider voting for ONLY the 4 C.A.R.E. candidates. We thank you for your support!!!

Polling Place Information

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Methacton School Board Update Raises More Questions than Answers

On Friday, May 8th, the Methacton board issued its April update. This issue provides information on the goals adopted by the board in September 2014 (for further information on these goals, see our May 5th post). However, a fair amount of information is missing: 1) The update only provides information on 3 of the 11 goals adopted. Substantially all of the remaining 8 goals had completion dates by the end of 2014 and were related to financial matters. When will we receive an update on the remaining 8 goals and what is delaying their completion? 2) With respect to the high school course offerings, the update only states that the superintendent provided information to the board. What information was provided? What conclusions can be drawn? What actions (if any) have been taken or will be proposed? 3) The update mentions the PA Department of Education School Performance Profile rating for the high school, which improved from 2013 to 2014. Why no mention of the decline in Methacton’s 7 other schools (see our May 1st post for further information) and the plan to reverse this trend? Overall, this update from the board seems to raise more questions than it answers, once again highlighting the need for a new perspective. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Ready for a new perspective?

Ready for a new perspective? The current Methacton Board has a history of adding voting items to its meeting agendas during a meeting, including the February 2015 vote that started the process to consider closing 2 elementary schools. This practice does not provide all members of the public with an opportunity to comment on such voting matters. Unless you happen to be at the meeting, you will not learn of the Board’s actions until after the vote has occurred. If elected to the Methacton Board, we will endeavor to include all voting items on the agendas posted at least 3 days in advance of Board meetings. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

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Facing Financial Challenges

Many school districts, including Methacton, are facing financial challenges. Normally, in response to such challenges, those charged with oversight and management will take steps to control expenses, including placing limitations on hiring new employees wherever possible. A recent administrative hiring indicates that this may not the case in our school district. The article linked below discusses the recent hiring of a transportation manager for Methacton’s outsourced transportation department and provides concerning information regarding the hiring process for this position. Please take the time to read the entire article. It shines a light on many reasons why we need a new perspective on the Methacton board. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Communities need those willing to serve

Community service is a must.Not the kind where you get paid for it, the kind where you do it because it helps the community.

TIMESHERALD.COM

Politics and Methacton

Numerous people have contacted us about the media reports regarding one of the (previously) endorsed Republican opponents in the upcoming primary election. We share your views that the facts alleged in these reports related to this individual’s postings on social media are reprehensible and offensive. Anyone with those beliefs should never have been an endorsed candidate with the possibility of being elected to a position to influence our children’s education and our schools. The fact that this individual was endorsed by a local political committee calls into question their endorsement process, which unfortunately has had a significant influence on Methacton School Board elections for years. It’s time for that to change. We encourage all voters to learn about the candidates in choosing who to vote for and not simply follow the endorsement of a political party. On this page and our FaceBook page, we have provided background information on the C.A.R.E. candidates, including their bios and information on why they want to serve on the Methacton School Board. We also welcome any questions or requests for additional information about the candidates to help you make an informed decision on May 19th.

Help fund CARE

Running as a bipartisan coalition means raising our own funds without the help of political machines. If you're looking for change on the Methacton School Board, please consider donating through the link below.
http://www.gofundme.com/care4msb

Click here to support C.A.R.E. by Community Advocates for Responsible Education

Community Advocates for Responsible Education Values BALANCE Make decisions that balance the interests of all stakeholders (students, parents,...

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Goals for our District

At the beginning of this school year, the Methacton Board adopted goals. While setting goals is a positive action on the part of the board, it’s important to understand the nature of the goals and the progress reported to date. In total, 11 goals were adopted – 7 directly or indirectly relate to financial matters (i.e. reducing expenses through program cuts or other measures), 2 relate to improving communications, 1 relates to completing the high school fields/lights project and the remaining goal of improving PSSA/Keystone scores could be viewed as education related. With about 1-1/2 months remaining in the current school year, minimal information has been provided on the progress toward achieving the board’s goals. In addition, while we agree that financial matters and fiscal responsibility are important, given the recent PA School Performance Profile scores (see our 5/1/15 post), we hope the next set of goals will provide a better balance with respect to improving the educational experience at Methacton. With your help, we will bring that perspective to the board starting in December. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Absentee Ballot Information

We hope you’re planning to vote in the primary election on May 19th. However, if you will be out of town that day or otherwise unable to vote in person, there is another option. You can vote with an absentee ballot. Below is a link to the Montgomery County Voter Services website where you can find information on requesting and voting with an absentee ballot. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is Tuesday, May 12th and the last day that the county will accept absentee ballots is Friday, May 15th.

Montgomery County, PA - Official Website - Absentee Voting

Absentee Voting

MONTCOPA.ORG

It's Time for an Improvement Plan

At its November 18, 2014 meeting, the Methacton Board was given a presentation on the results of the PA Department of Education School Performance Profile (a link to this presentation is below). This presentation included a comparison of the 2013 and 2014 scores for each Methacton school. While the high school performed very well in PA and Montgomery County and its score improved (94.0 in 2013 to 98.7 in 2014), the scores for all other Methacton schools declined – Arcola (95.7 to 88.6), Arrowhead (90.8 to 88.4), Audubon (94.1 to 83.2), Eagleville (91.8 to 84.5), Skyview (91.8 to 90.6), Woodland (87.4 to 78.7) and Worcester (93.0 to 92.3). Given these results, why hasn’t an improvement plan been a regular topic of discussion at subsequent board meetings? The administration should be taking steps to improve these results and providing the board with regular updates. It’s time for a new perspective on the Methacton board. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!  http://www.methacton.org/…/School%20Performance%20Profile%2…

Sample Ballots are Available!

Sample ballots for the May 19th primary election are now available on the Montgomery County voter services website (see the link below). For the Methacton School Board (5 open seats), there are 12 candidates on the Democratic ballot and 11 candidates on the Republican ballot. The C.A.R.E. candidates are on both ballots at the following button numbers: Democratic ballot – Boardman (D10), Ryan (D17), Aubrey-Larcinese (D18), Rees (D19); Republican ballot – Boardman (J10), Aubrey-Larcinese (J14), Rees (J17), Ryan (J18). On May 19th, you will have the opportunity to vote for up to 5 candidates. The 5 candidates that receive the most votes for each party will be on the November general election ballot. Even though you could vote for 5 school board candidates, please keep in mind that you can also choose to vote for ONLY the 4 C.A.R.E. candidates. As always, we thank you for your support!!!

Voter Services Montgomery County, PA

WEBAPP.MONTCOPA.ORG

Why We're Bipartisan

Some have observed that there is little to no discussion of our political affiliation on this page or on our web page (http://care4msb.blogspot.com). This is intentional. School Director positions require non-partisan decision making and, as a result, PA law allows candidates to cross-file as both Republican and Democratic candidates. Accordingly, when you vote on May 19th, you will have the opportunity to vote for the C.A.R.E. candidates whether you are a registered Republican or a registered Democrat. However, since some have asked, the C.A.R.E. candidates are a bi-partisan group committed to bringing a new perspective to the Methacton Board. If elected, we will not bring any obligations to any of the local political committees to the table. We will make decisions that balance the interests of all Methacton stakeholders, including students, parents, taxpayers, teachers and administrators, without partisan bias. The team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese asks for your vote on May 19th and we thank you for your support!!!

Controlling Costs in the District

Like you, we are concerned with how our tax dollars are spent by Methacton. With the 2015-16 budget expected to exceed $100 million and with salaries, benefits and debt service comprising the majority of the district’s expenses, the Methacton board should be continuously challenging the administration to control costs. We see little evidence of this action in the current board’s discussions. Regarding expenditures, the board should be asking questions like: After multiple e-mails and website, text and phone notifications regarding the Worcester Township conditional use hearing for lights on the high school fields, why did the administration spend over $6,000 to mail a postcard with the same message contained in the no-cost communications? Why does the administration continue to request (and the Board approves) the engagement of consultants without first looking to school district residents who may have the required expertise and may be willing to provide assistance to the district at no cost? Why did the administration send letter (as opposed to e-mail) notifications to the applicants that were not selected to serve on the consolidation committee? Overall, someone needs to be consistently asking the question – is the spending necessary and if so, is it being done in the most cost-effective means possible? We will bring this new perspective to the Methacton Board. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Methacton's Budget Process

At its May 26th meeting, the Methacton Board is scheduled to adopt the proposed budget for the 2015-16 school year. For the first time ever, Methacton’s annual budget is expected to exceed $100 million. Even though the administration has been working on the budget for the majority of this school year, the information disclosed to date has been limited and has only included periodic disclosures of minimal information. Other local school districts hold budget workshops and provide cost center budget presentations and detail information as part of their budget processes. The Methacton Board seems to think that providing minimal information regarding the plan to spend over $100 million of taxpayer dollars is adequate. We disagree. It’s time for a new perspective on the Methacton School Board. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Ready for a new perspective?

Ready for a new perspective? Currently, Methacton Board and Committee meeting agendas are generally posted on the Methacton website only 24 hours or less in advance of a scheduled meeting. If there is an agenda topic of concern to any member of the public, this timeframe makes it difficult (if not impossible) to plan to attend the meeting to learn more about and/or comment on an agenda item. When asked to change this practice with respect to the proposed school consolidation, Dr. Zerbe responded – “We will communicate in a timely manner and will advise the community of matters relative to school consolidation as far in advance as possible.” On matters such as this, are “best efforts” acceptable? We don’t think so. If elected to the Methacton Board, we will endeavor to post public meeting agendas at least 3 days in advance to allow the public ample opportunity to decide whether they want to attend the meeting and to prepare accordingly. On May 19th, please vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan, and Aubrey-Larcinese. We thank you for your support!!!

Just 4 Weeks Until the Primary!

The primary election is less than 4 weeks away!!! For the first time in years, voters will have a choice at the polls with respect to all open seats on the board. To make an informed decision, we encourage all voters to get to know the candidates and to understand why a new perspective is needed on the Methacton School Board. To assist you in that effort, we have provided information on our candidates on this page and on our website. In the weeks leading up to the election, we will be providing some of our observations regarding the actions (and inactions) of the current Methacton board and administration and our plans to bring a new perspective. Please continue following us, encourage your Methacton friends and family to do so, and on May 19th, vote for the team of Boardman, Rees, Ryan and Aubrey-Larcinese! We thank you for your support!!!

What can you expect from the Community Advocates for Responsible Education??

BALANCE

Make decisions that balance the interests of all stakeholders (students, parents, taxpayers, teachers, & administrators) without partisan bias.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY  
Improve Methacton’s budget & financial review processes in an effort to grow non-tax revenues and intelligently reduce spending.

TRANSPARENCY
Become more proactive & responsive to address concerns of community to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively and appropriately. 

COMMUNICATION 
Enhance communication and relationships with local community and township leadership.

EXCELLENCE
Restore Methacton School District’s reputation, to cultivate a desire to live in school district and pride in a Methacton education 

Vote for CARE on May 19th
Chris Boardman
Andrea Rees
Michael K. Ryan
Kim Aubrey-Larcinese

"Why I'm Running" -by Chris Boardman

     Running for Methacton School Board Director was not something I had consciously planned to do at this time, but after learning about the many issues that face our school system and our community, I realized that I had strong interest in these matters.   After giving this decision much thought, I realized that  I am at a point in my life where  I understand the importance of the board, both to the school system itself and the community at large, and I want to make a difference. 

     By now you have probably read what Michael, Andrea and Kim wrote about why they are running for Methacton School Board Director and you’re able to see why it was an easy decision for me to join forces with them to form the C.A.R.E. team.  For those of you who have read my bio, you may have noticed that issues concerning children and families have been the focus of my adult life, both professionally and personally.  I see being a school board director as an extension of this commitment. As a school board director, I would be able to help improve children’s education, making them more excited and confident as they go to college or start their careers, transitioning into young adulthood with quality values that will inspire those around them.

     Methacton School District is one of the largest employers in our community.  The fiscal health of the school system and the decisions it makes affect us all.   I would like to work to improve the board’s relationship with both Lower Providence and Worcester township residents so that we can work together instead of having long, drawn out, expensive legal battles over things such as lights and digital signs. Given that our board is in a leadership role in our school district and community, I think it’s time that the composition of the board incorporated new membership to reflect diversity of thought and experience, improved transparency and communication with the community,  careful study of relevant issues, and consideration of a broad range of solutions to a variety of problems .   Calling out a financial debt crisis in a letter to an editor is not being a leader; it’s simply looking for excuses.  A leader would approach that communication describing the school debt as a challenge and also provide solutions in the same communication. The other 499 Pennsylvania school districts have to deal with the same challenges including financial limitations, growing employee expenses, etc.   The current Methacton School Board has chosen to take an approach to these challenges that have created significant ill will with the community…that needs to change.

     When my wife and I bought our first home in Worcester Township 17 years ago, we specifically sought out Methacton School District as the ideal location to start and raise our family.  We plan to remain residents of this community for the rest of our lives and are committed to making positive contributions in whatever ways possible.  Please consider voting for me and my outstanding C.A.R.E. team running mates in the upcoming primary in May as well as in the general election in November.  Your votes for the school board director position will have a significant impact on our community for years to come, and I would very much like to be a part of positive change.

"Why I'm Running" -by Kim Aubrey-Larcinese

     The first person I asked to sign my petition to be on the ballot for the upcoming election is a friend of mine. Our children go to school together, and we’ve volunteered on Woodland’s Home and School together for a few years. But she completely threw me for a loop when she asked me one critical question: Why do you want to run for school board? 
     I knew on some level why I was doing this, but I hadn’t quite thought about how to articulate it, let alone share it with anyone. I’ve since had time to think it through, and what it comes down to is this: I am not a person who points to a problem and looks to others for solutions.
     I wasn’t always this person, but over the last 15 years, I’ve been married to a man who comes from a family of volunteers. If there was ever a job that needed someone to step up to do it, someone in his family was there to fill it. I’ve come to embrace this philosophy in my life.
     I’ve volunteered on several committees through Home and School and served as a member of the executive board. I’m a merit badge counselor for the local Boy Scouts and an active committee member with Troop 182. I’ve volunteered in various capacities with my sons’ baseball and soccer teams when there was a need that had to be filled. And now, as I’ve been paying closer attention to the workings of our school board, I’ve come to realize that this is another problem that needs solving, and I can’t look for someone else to step up to do that. 
     Our school district is the backbone of our community, and as such there needs to be strong connections between those schools and the people outside of them. When a community is invested in educating their children, schools flourish. My hope is to build partnerships between the schools and our community stakeholders – the businesses and residents who all have a vested interest in helping our children succeed. Education is not just a concern for the children in our schools and the parents of those children. It’s not just about the people inside the school buildings. There are untapped and inexpensive resources in our community – corporations and organizations that could benefit from partnering with our schools, older residents with valuable experiences and perspectives to share, and students who are not being offered every opportunity to succeed.

"Why I'm Running" -by Andrea Rees

     People have asked me repeatedly the last few weeks, “Are you sure you want to do this (meaning run for the Methacton Board of Directors)?” Obviously the answer is yes, but the why is the most important question. When writing a response I found two interesting statements I posted on Facebook.  
     One was from February 2014: Took my kids to their first board meeting tonight, more out of necessity than anything, but turned it into a civics and integrity lesson. They might not completely "get" it at ages 6 and 8, but I will raise them to be people who care, people that speak up and people who help others!!!! And more importantly to not take no for an answer or allow themselves to be complacent!!!! 
     Another was a year later:  A wise man, who was also my former boss, once told me, "to stay under the radar". He was giving me sage advice at that time in my life. Tonight my husband told me, "to stay calm, cool and collected". As most of you know, because you know me, I didn't heed to their advice. Half of me truly wishes that I did, the other half of me hasn't slept in 2 nights worrying about the state of education in our country, and in this case my own backyard.
     In between February 2014 and February 2015 I applied for both open school board positions that became available last spring. I was told an educator was not a good fit for the Methacton School Board…really? Methacton has a 99 million plus budget. Decisions need to be made that effect education, tax payers and the community as a whole, but an educator can’t help with those decisions? The majority of Montgomery County public school districts have at least one educator on their boards. Spring-Ford, Colonial and North Penn all think it is a good idea to have an educator to help make important financial decisions with an education perspective. I want to be that board member for Methacton.

Letter to the Times Herald

Our Times Herald Letter responding the President of the Methacton School Board was just published. Check it out!

"Why I'm Running" - by Michael Ryan

     I have had one question repeated again and again to me over the past month or so from family, friends, neighbors and complete strangers. That question is: why are you running for school board director? It seems like it would be a simple question that would require a relatively simple answer. However, that doesn't seem to be the case as my answer is never short. If I had to try and simplify it, my answer would be something like the following: "My motivation for running for school board director is that I want to serve my community in an area where I can use my dedication and experience to make a positive impact. I believe that our children's education is paramount to fostering a strong and successful community. If we can provide our children with the best education possible, their future success will resonate throughout our entire district."

     A belief or a vision of what I want for Methacton is nothing more than just a thought, unless there are goals to go along with it. My goals for running and being elected to the position of school board director all stem from those three quoted sentences above. There are many challenges currently facing our school district and I want to be a part of overcoming those obstacles. We have all heard that there are some tough financial times ahead with the possibility of large looming budget deficits. I want to use my experience in finance to help steer our district in the right direction. We need a strong financial plan in place that doesn't just look to either raise taxes or make broad budget cuts to entire programs or services. We need to look at ways to increase "non-tax" revenues. We also need to look at cuts to budgetary expenses that won't have undesirable effects on our children's education. 

     Another issue within our district is the lack of transparency and communication between the board, administration and the community. We have all heard the saying "communication is a two-way street." I believe that communication in our district is "currently under construction." There is not nearly enough information flowing from the board and administration regarding many of the current issues facing our district and there is virtually no communication allowed from the community back to the board or administration except for about 3 minutes of public comment per person at a once a month school board hearing. The formation of "consolidation committees" is not how a district should want to obtain community involvement. The community needs to be involved all the time not just during a process centered around closing a school.

     There are many more issues facing our district besides just the two mentioned above. However, just pointing out issues and challenges does no good for our children or our district Solutions are what make a difference and I want to be a part of making those solutions possible. I have already told one group of parents that my ultimate goal is to make sure that when our children receive their high school diploma from Methacton, I want it to be something that everyone is proud of and not simply just another piece of paper with their name on it.

Our Candidates

C.A.R.E. is a group of dedicated community members running for Methacton School Board.

Chris Boardman, a resident of Methacton School District since 1998, lives in Worcester Township with his wife, Andrea, and their 2 children, Susannah and Nathan, both students at Skyview Upper Elementary School. Chris has a B.S. in Mathematics and Psychology from SUNY, as well as a graduate degree in statistics from University of Akron. His professional work has led him down a diverse and evolving path, with work in fetal health research for the CDC in Atlanta, building the Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to working as a senior level statistician at IMS Health, where his novel approach to forecasting and projections led to him being named inventor on nearly a dozen patents. He is currently Vice President of Data Services and Analytics at ValueCentric. Chris’ passion outside of his profession has always been children. He and his family are actively involved in children’s charities on the local and global scale. As the proud parent of 2 adopted children, Chris is deeply committed to improving the communities and schools in the countries where his children were born. In addition, he has been involved locally with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Methacton Baseball Association, and a other charities. Chris hopes to bring to the Methacton School Board his vast knowledge of statistics, data analysis, and managing large budgets combined with his lifelong pursuit of educational opportunities for all children.

Andrea Rees has been a resident of the Eagleville section of Lower Providence for nearly 12 years, where she lives with her husband, Greg, and their 3 children, Anna, Davis, and Lila, all of whom attend Woodland Elementary School. Andrea graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in speech communications. Her professional career began with work as a recruiter and retail manager. She quickly realized her true passion was education. Andrea earned a M.Ed. in elementary education at Chestnut Hill, with an additional certification in middle school English. She has been a classroom teacher for the past 15 years, teaching at Wayne Elementary in Radnor Township, then moving on to itinerant gifted support in Spring-Ford School District, before settling in to her current position teaching 6th grade at Spring-Ford Intermediate School. Andrea is also a fellow with the Pennsylvania Writing and Literacy Program. Outside of her profession, Andrea spends her time with her children at the Methacton United Soccer Club and Methacton Aquatic Club, as well as volunteering with Reading Olympics. She is also a frequent volunteer at Woodland Elementary for special events throughout the year. Her main initiative is to add the insight of an educator to the Methacton School Board, to keep the primary objective of our board – the education of the children of our community – first and foremost in our decisions.

Michael K. Ryan is a 7-year resident of Audubon with his wife Kimberly and their 2 daughters, Katelyn, who currently attends Audubon Elementary, and Veronica, who will join her there soon. Michael is a graduate of LaSalle University, holding a B.S. in accounting and finance. He has worked in business valuation and forensic accounting, where he honed his skills in analyzing financial statements; in corporate finance, specializing in compliance and financial planning in the insurance industry; and as a small business owner. Michael is currently a proud stay-at-home dad. He also spends his time volunteering with The Patrician Society of Central Norristown, raising money and coordinating neighborhood food drives. Michael hopes to combine his financial acumen with his passion for community involvement as a member of the Methacton School Board.

Kim Aubrey-Larcinese has lived in the Eagleville section of Lower Providence for 15 years with her husband, John (a Methacton graduate), and their 2 sons, J.P. and Cole, students at Arcola Intermediate School and Woodland Elementary School. Kim has a B.A. in English and women’s studies from Temple University. She has worked as a medical editor for several trade publications as well as at Pfizer. Kim also served as the administrator for the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers, coordinating the accreditation process for independent birth centers throughout the country. She is currently self-employed as a freelance editor. In addition to her professional work, Kim has been an active volunteer in every organization her family has been involved with -- Methacton Baseball Association, Methacton United Soccer, Woodland Home and School, Cub Scout Pack 608, and Boy Scout Troop 182. She is currently serving as Woodland Home and School Vice President and is a committee member with Troop 182.