Dear friends and neighbors in the Souderton Area School District:
We would like your consideration, support, and vote for the slate of candidates who, in our view, are best prepared to lead our school district in the coming years. The Souderton Area For Responsible Leadership (SAFRL) Team of Kristina Bertzos, Elise Bowers, Rosemary Buetikofer, Andrew Souchet and Scott Swindells.
We have made the Souderton area our home for many years, raised our families, and our children attended the SASD schools. We have each worked in our own way to make the SASD a better place to live and educate our children.
Having served the district, we believe we can provide insight into what matters most to be an effective school board director.
We have considered the platforms, background, experience, and character/value statements of all candidates on both teams. In a side-by-side comparison, the SAFRL Team provides new ideas, fresh solutions, and not simply open-ended statements to continue the status quo. We urge your vote, by mail or in person, for Souderton Area For Responsible Leadership Team of Bertzos, Bowers, Buetikofer, Souchet and Swindells.
Careful spending matters. Better financial management is needed
In 2023, the Souderton Area School District’s tax increase of 4.1% was the largest single-year tax increase in the last decade. It is imperative that a new set of eyes and experienced professionals are elected to scrutinize the district budget and make sure spending truly benefits our students. The SAFRL Team will institute student-centered budgeting and question any spending that does not benefit a student directly, perform a line-by-line review of proposed budgets, listen to the community at budget time and prioritize the academic needs and safety of our students.
Professional experience matters
The SAFRL Team includes a Teacher, Veteran and PhD business management, financial planner, PhD clinical psychology and retired music instructor.
Our school district has, unfortunately, consistently underperformed peer districts in categories including best places to teach (rank #90) and graduates pursuing college or other vocational programs (78%).
Souderton can and must do better. The SAFRL Team has the professional experience necessary to be effective and start turning Souderton’s performance around. The SAFRL Team will engage the community and seek community input for needed change. The SAFRL Team has proposed annual community surveys for taxpayers, parents and staff on how we can improve our district. The team has committed to employing and retaining the highest quality teachers for our children.
New ideas matter: Transparency at school board meetings and better media communication
Service on a school board is a privilege. New ideas and solutions should be front and center for any individual seeking to serve on our board. The SAFRL Team has recognized the need to improve transparency at school board meetings. It proposes that policy making decisions are discussed openly and in full view of the community. The SAFRL Team has proposed live streaming all committee and board meetings and to make better use of our website and social media all to improve communication between the board and the community.
Back-to-basics education matters: The SAFRL Team wil be a firewall against culture wars
The thankless job of service on a school board needs to be focused on education and not the politics of the day. In our own backyard, neighboring school districts are consumed by culture wars. The SAFRL Team will keep extremism out of our schools. While all viewpoints are welcome in our school district, and parents have every right and indeed an obligation to be involved in their child’s education, teachers, librarians and school administrators are trained, and their expertise is needed to provide the quality education every child deserves.
With three moms, two dads, this is a team of parents we can trust to make decisions that put students first. They have track records of community service and have been heavily involved in their own children’s education. All five will bring their backgrounds to make sure our children receive a quality and caring education.
Thank you for considering these candidates. We request your vote for the SAFRL Team on Nov. 7. It is time for responsible leadership. For more information, visit SoudertonforResponsibleLeadership.com.
Victor M. Verbeke was a Souderton School Director from 2005 to 2009. Richard Detwiler served on the board from 1999 to 2003. Gail Ryan, was a teacher and administrator from 1989 to 2016. Laurie Reynolds taught in the district from 1994 to 2019. Susan Hanna, taught in the district from 1969 to 2007 and also served as president of the teachers union.
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