Letter from Radnor School Board Candidate

The following was submitted to Radnor Patch for publication by Martin Heldring, Republican candidate for Radnor School Board. 

There seems little doubt that in Radnor we can all agree that a quality education delivered by the finest teachers is good for our children and makes for a strong community.

And we can also all agree that there is no reason that this cannot be delivered in a fiscally responsible and transparent manner.

Whether we have children in Radnor Schools, used to have children in the Schools, have children in private schools or may have children in the Schools in the future, I have never heard anyone argue otherwise on those two points.

I have written and spoken regularly about the mess that has become the district’s finances under the current Democrat controlled Board.  Radnor residents clearly deserve right-sized, transparent finances and if elected, Dave Falcone, Jim Link, Susan Michaelson and I will deliver that.  But our campaign is much more than that and I would like to mention just some of our other key areas of focus.

·      Academic Growth - Radnor must be able to demonstrate academic growth for every student. The students deserve it and the District will now be measured by how successfully we are delivering it.

·      A documented, challenging and engaging curriculum - No written curriculum exists today and that will change!  We support the ongoing development of a written curriculum emphasizing the professional creativity Radnor's teachers bring to their work, with a renewed emphasis on STEM, critical thinking, and clear, cogent writing, along with time for athletics and the arts.

·      A greater voice for parents and a more respectful public discourse - Parents should have a greater voice in their children’s academic placement. Counsel from volunteer Radnor parents and community members in areas where their expertise can assist the Board and administration will be welcomed.

·      Technology as a tool - It is an important tool, and a demonstrated time-saver but it is not a replacement for a creative, engaged teacher.  We support the selective use of classroom instructional technology where it can enhance learning, and help students get to the next level.

·      Manage top school rankings - Radnor High School has slid in recent SAT ratings from #3 to #6, behind Harriton, Conestoga and Lower Merion and that can’t feel good to anyone.  Perceptions about Radnor relative to our neighboring districts matter when it comes to property values and they must be better managed.

·      Physical and emotional student safety - The post Sandy Hook improvements to school security are important.  We also support anti-bullying efforts and coordination of the full range of student support services connected to emotional safety.

·      Confront drug and alcohol problems head on - The rumors and private conversations have circulated for years.  It’s time to understand the issues fully and support an appropriate plan to address them.

·      Traffic and Parking at Radnor High School - This was a campaign imperative of Susan Michelson’s in 2009, and the District is finally working on it.  Traffic flow is hazardous and parking is inadequate for all users.  We will see this project through, finding the most appropriate plan after weighing the costs and benefits of the alternatives. 

These are just some of the key points. If elected, we will be a Board of action but within the context of a strategic plan with ranked priorities (no long term plan exists today) rather than bending to unsupported emotional preferences.  No more “ready, fire, aim” as is the case now. There will be disciplined, data-driven decision making.

We are committed to fostering an atmosphere of accountability and honest transparency, with clear and respectful communication.  When these basics are in place, our District will be able to boast about our student achievement; efficient, effective operations; and the safe, caring learning environment that Radnor deserves - at a price that makes sense.

Finally, let me just address two other issues that have come up frequently in my first campaign:

·      Some voters are uncomfortable with the national Republican Party because of its positions on social issues of the recent shutdown.  I was an independent for many years for the same reasons and share those concerns.  That said, I am running as a Republican in this School Board campaign because local elections - and this one in particular - are not about those issues.  They’re about educating our children and making Radnor a better place to live and raise our children.

·      I have heard others say “I always vote Democrat or I always vote Republican”.  Well, it should be obvious that neither party has a monopoly on good candidates, and both have had some bad ones.  In this election, I believe that Susan Michaelson, Dave Falcone, Jim Link and I are demonstrably the best candidates.  Our team is not made up of diehard Republicans but of Independents who care about our schools and have decided they cannot sit back and watch the irresponsible behavior of the current Democratic controlled Board. 

On November 5th, we respectfully ask you to vote in favor of reasoned, thoughtful, and financially responsible governance, balancing the needs of students and taxpayers.  Please support our entire team, because board leadership matters.

Vote to expect more!  Our constituency is you.