Define 'Affordable'

School Districts across Pennsylvania all face difficult fiscal situations.  Revenue sources from the local, state and federal levels are stagnant, while an industry that was used to large increases in pay and benefits struggles to adapt to the changed fiscal paradigm. In Radnor, revenue increases are particularly difficult, as our commercial space is limited, residential space is built-out, and state and federal revenue is a small portion of our budget.  The remaining source of revenue,  increases in  local property tax millage rate, is limited by PA Act 1, and taxpayers who are already well extended. Fund raising and private development  are excellent methods to target specific activities, but will not have a significant impact on out looming budget deficit.

The Republican School Board team of business, education and community leaders understands the challenge, and has the skill and experience to lead our District to excellence through these difficult fiscal times.

The Challenge - The Radnor School District will have a $17 Million Deficit in 5 years based on the School Districts five year forecast, largely due to increases in the retirement contributions for employees, projected increases in healthcare contributions, and contractual, and anticipated salary increases for employees. If you examine the numbers closely, you will see that our total tax revenue including State and Federal sources,  is about $76 Million for the 2011-2012 school year.  Our total expenses this year are also about $76 Million.  Of that, about $53 Million is for salaries, pension and benefits.  If we stay on our current trajectory, in 2015-2016 our total revenue will be about $83 Million.  This assumes tax revenues capped by ACT 1 limits, and no further cuts in State or Federal Funding.  (These may also be optimistic assumptions.)  Our total expenses will be about $100 Million.  This will yield a deficit of about $17 million.  Of the $100 Million in expenditures, our fixed costs will stay flat and our salaries, benefits and pensions will balloon by over 46% or more than a $25 Million increase.  Under the current scenario salaries, benefits and pension costs will represent over 78% of the total Radnor School budget. 

The Republican Solution - Constructive Engagement on the following Issues:  1) We will work to regain local control of our human resource costs.  We plan to go to Harrisburg and take a leadership role and will lobby for changes to the pension and to reduce state mandates. 2) We will continue to make improvements to the salary and the benefits structure, the recent contract between the Republican led School Board, and with Radnor Teachers Education Association, is a step in the right direction.  3) We will continue to reshape the business processes of the district to increase accountability and to find performance efficiencies, getting increased value for each tax dollars. 4) We will work with the business community and the Radnor Educational Foundation on the development of new funding sources, to ensure that our unique programs and opportunities are sustained. 5) We will put any request for tax increases in excess of ACT 1 to a referendum of the voters.

The Radnor Republican School Board candidates are opposed to teacher layoffs, opposed to increases in student fees, and opposed to any reduction in the quality of the education of our children.  And, since the Radnor Republicans are generally opposed to property tax increases, we feel that the above steps are the responsible course of action. We must face the hard financial issues while at the same time, maintaining educational excellence for our children.

We commit to not take on new debt to cover operating expenses, only introduce new programs that are fully funded with existing dollars, protect our enriching special programs such the Arts, Music, Sports and Language, maintain optimal class size, continue to scrutinize the budget and implement management solutions to maximize every dollar

Our team is first and foremost concerned with the education of our children.  We are also concerned with the long term economic viability of our community.  The fiscal challenges that face our district are significant, but are not unique.  These challenges represent an opportunity for our district to be a leader in delivering better and more cost effective education to our students.

$76million budget is serious business and choosing the leadership to manage it should be more than a popularity contest. 

It takes 5 votes on the school board to move the district in the right direction.  The Radnor Republicans are professionals who are committed to work together for the betterment of our schools and community and we ask you to Vote For the 5 of us on election day.

Radnor Republican Candidates for School Board

Pattie Booker

Chuck Madden

Janie Partridge

Howard Gartland

Steve Modell