Debbie Bookstaber's School Board Update: February 2008

February was another busy month. You can read the February meeting summaries at http://tesd.net/schoolbd/updates/feb08.pdf or the meeting minutes at http://tesd.net/schoolbd/submeetings.html, but here are a few highlights from my own perspective:

• Public Information Committee:
  
  At February’s meeting I gave a presentation about technology communication options for video and document sharing, information distribution, and social networking.
  
  Following the meeting the T/E Board Talk about the Graduation Competency Assessments (GCAs) was posted online at www.tesd.net. Additionally, I loaded a copy of the video online at http://www.schooltube.com/ and obtained a free one-year license of School Tube’s MVP service. The goal of online video sharing is to make Board Talk more accessible to taxpayers in Tredyffrin-Easttown.
  
  One unexpected benefit is that the Board Talk video prepared by Tredyffrin Easttown is now accessible to other districts throughout the state. Our School District opposes the proposed GCA regulation, and our Board Talk video has helped us build support throughout the state for our stance against this unfunded mandate. For more information about the GCAs, please visit the website I created: http://teschools.wordpress.com/.
  
  At February’s meeting, we also discussed the growing importance of social networking sites such as MySpace as a way of communicating with students and taxpayers in the district. Following the meeting, the School District claimed the names of our area schools in MySpace and put a discussion of social networking on the agenda for the March Public Information meeting. (Note: Registering the school names did not cost any taxpayer money.)
  
  Following up on the requests of former board member Sandi Gorman and other community members, the Public Information Committee also asked that the administration begin posting agenda materials for regular school board meetings along with the agenda on the District web site. We also will continue to evaluate other methods of sharing materials with the public. Towards the end of the month, I stopped by Conestoga High School’s TV studio to film two segments for the March Board Talk. One segment was about the implementation of the Olweus Anti-Bullying Program at the Middle Schools. For the second segment, I was interviewed by a Conestoga student.

• PA Costing Out Study:
  
  If you missed the February School Board meeting, please take the time to read through the presentation about the PA Costing Out Study at http://tesd.net/schoolbd/presentations/08feb25costing.pdf.
  
  The PA Costing Out Study determined that public education in Pennsylvania is underfunded by approximately $4.6 Billion. The PA Costing Out Study notes that state and local taxes in PA are comparable to national averages but 6-12 percent below those collected in 6 nearby states. Therefore, according to the study, if additional funds are needed, they should be collected at the state level and allocated by the state according to a formula set by the state. Yet the study does not examine the impact of unfunded state mandates on local school districts.
  
  Translation: Your taxes will go up. The state won’t do anything to reduce the impact of unfunded state mandates on your local schools. And don’t expect to see increased state funding for your local schools if you live in Tredyffrin Easttown, which will only get the minimum increase required by law. If you worry about tax increases, this line should concern you. Please take the time to let our state legislators know that we don’t want to see PA taxes rise to a New Jersey-like level.

• Chester County Intermediate Unit Budget:
  
  You should also check out the CCIU’s Budget at http://tesd.net/schoolbd/presentations/08feb25cciubudgets.pdf.
  
  Unlike the School District, the CCIU’s budget is not capped under Act 1. Factors such as declining enrollment pose a threat to the CCIU’s budget. The CCIU will be working to reverse this trend, but we will face tax increases in the future if they cannot.
  
  On page 9 of the presentation, you’ll find information about the CCIU’s Green Initiatives. T/E may be able to learn from the CCIU’s experience and leadership in this area. Expect to hear more in the coming months about green initiatives and related cost-savings.
  
  On page 10 of the presentation, you can read about the $4,365,611 grant the CCIU received from the state to establish a statewide education network to enable every school district and IU in the state to share resources, collaborate on projects and reduce costs through the aggregation of digital content and broadband services.

• Strategic Plan:
  
  In February, I had a chance to review the latest copy of the School District’s Strategic Plan. I’m impressed by what I’ve read so far and by the extensive amount of community involvement in the plan. The Strategic Planning Process began in December 2006 with a “Vision of the Future” brainstorming session. Starting in February 2007, focus groups met to discuss the questions raised by the brainstorming sessions. Before my election to the board, I was a part of one of the focus groups. We discussed the current state of education and the skills we felt were necessary for students to succeed in the future job market.
  
  Next, a committee of 33 members (including community members) met at a three-day retreat in May 2007 to develop a new mission statement for the district and several strategies. In July 2007, a professional scenario planner helped the committee develop four future scenarios for the School District based on identified uncertainties. The four scenarios were the subject of another round of focus groups. I also participated in those focus groups. My group discussed the potential impact of government mandates as well as distance/cyber learning on the district.
  
  The next step was action planning. A team of over 185 community members, School Board members, administrators, teachers and students were involved in the process. They completed a comprehensive study which was shared with the Strategic Planning Committee and School Board in February 2008. The Strategic Plan will be submitted to the School Board for approval in June 2008.
  Many aspects of the plan involve new technology and the role of technology. I am the School Board liaison to the Technology committee, and I’m looking forward to contributing in that area and others as the district works to implement the plan.

• After School Activity Support:
  
  As I mentioned in my January update, the Finance Committee is evaluating how to provide after-school support for students participating in middle school sports and activities. At the February Finance Committee meeting, we spoke with administrators from the two middle schools about how to provide this support. Several potential solutions were proposed, and these will be discussed at the March Finance meeting. As I stated in my January update, I feel strongly about the need to provide this support and will continue to look for a solution that works.

• School Events:
  
  I had the opportunity to see Conestoga’s spring musical Footloose. There were over 80 students in the musical, and the dance numbers looked pretty complicated. I was extremely impressed by all the hard work that went into the production and by the vocal talent of the performers. Kudos to TEMPO, the Tredyffrin Easttown Music Parents Organization for all their hard work on the musical and for staffing the refreshment stands during the show.

• Tax Relief:
  
  In February, the Finance Committee discussed a proposed tax relief program for low-income seniors. (You can read about the meeting in the Main Line Life.) On 2/28/08 The Suburban had an editorial "Finding Fulfillment in February." This listed the Laurels and Lemons for the month. One of the lemons was:
  
  "Boo-hiss to the T/E School Board's Finance Committee for pushing back the proposed tax relief program for low-income seniors. It's nice to suggest that all taxpayers need relief, but on the mostly wealthy Main Line there are certainly some who need it more than others. Most Main Liners have no idea what it would be like to be elderly and unable to afford the prescription drugs that keep everything working properly; for many extremely well-off residents, the biggest financial decision they need to make is whether to buy a second home at the Shore. Yes, there are young, low-income families, too, that need relief, but under state law only seniors can get rebates- so why don't we at least start by doing what we can instead of talking about what we can't? Let's get our priorities straight T/E, and start giving back to those who really need it."
  
  Tom Colman, a taxpayer who attended the February Finance Committee meeting (as well as nearly every school board meeting), responded the following week with a letter to the editor:
  
  A better path to school tax relief
  
  Your Feb. 28 "Laurels and Lemons" column gave a "boo-hiss to the T/E School Board's Finance Committee for pushing back the proposed tax program for low-income seniors." I'd like to applaud the Finance Committee rather than admonish them. The Finance Committee is taking their time because they want to consider taxpayer input, and they want to "get it right."
  
  When it comes to tax relief, you say, "under state law only seniors can get rebates." It is unclear to me where you got that notion. The only legal questions that seem unsettled are whether school districts can legally offer rebates to a selected group of taxpayers (e.g., low-income seniors) under the "uniformity clause" of the state Constitution. There is currently a bill in the state legislature that will attempt to assure that such selective rebates are legal, but its passage is by no means certain. On the other hand, the T/E School District is free to offer tax rebates to ALL homeowners tomorrow.
  
  But, why not tax relief for ALL homeowners? School districts collect taxes in order to fund educational programs, not to redistribute money to other people. School directors are elected to direct schools. What qualifies a school director to decide who in the community is more worthy of help: a fixed-income senior, a poverty-line renter, a newlywed, a recently unemployed couple facing mortgage foreclosure?
  
  At the recent public hearing on property-tax rebates, I offered a plan that would provide rebates to ALL taxpayers. The proposal would use budget surpluses to fund annual tax relief for ALL homeowners and would add up to $1 million to the district's reserves annually. In addition, low-income seniors would get another $400-$800 per year of property-tax relief. I have also urged the school district to establish a voluntary "check-off" on property-tax bills, whereby taxpayers could make voluntary donations to a newly established tax-relief foundation. And those funds could be used for tax relief for both homeowners and renters.
  
  But why even get to tax rebates? Why not just tax less? It's simpler, cheaper and eminently more fair to just let people keep their own money, rather than collect it, bank it, spend months haggling about who should get some back, decide how much, review applications, determine eligibility and send out rebate checks.
  
  Just tax less. For starters, the district could reduce its budget by more than $1 million by implementing a payroll-budgeting policy that more accurately reflects vacancies throughout the school year. This budget-policy change would affect the budget numbers and the amount of taxation — it would not in any way change the number of employees, their pay, benefits, etc.
  
  The school district has just begun its budget planning for 2008-2009. The proposed budget will be nearly $100 million. A small cadre of citizens will be at the school district's budget workshops and board meetings, urging the school board to be fiscally prudent while continuing its excellent educational programs. Please join the meetings and provide your input.
  
  T/E has a truly outstanding school system, with top-notch board members, staff, teachers and support personnel — and a community that values and supports excellent schools. "Laurels" to all of them.
  
  Thomas E. Colman
  Wayne
  
  Mr. Colman’s letter to the editor is an excellent summary of the issue. Let me be very clear: I support tax relief for low-income seniors. In fact, I support tax relief for everyone. I attended the November listening post meeting Mr. Colman wrote about in his letter, and I listened to what the taxpayers had to say. Overwhelmingly, the taxpayers asked for tax relief for all and opposed any tax shift that would raise the tax burden on one group in order to give a tax rebate to another group. I’ve received numerous emails from taxpayers saying the same thing.
  
  I strongly believe that school taxes should go to schools and educational purposes. The proposed “Low Income Senior Tax Relief” plan would raise taxes on everyone for a non-educational cause.
  In my opinion, if you care about low-income taxpayers, you would vote against this plan. Here’s why: In order to pay for the proposed rebate, the School District would need to increase everyone’s taxes regardless of income. Furthermore, tax hikes cause landlords to raise the rent, and renters are among our most vulnerable residents. The proposed plan would directly hurt many of the families (both renters and homeowners) I’ve met in the district—especially low-income families who are scrapping and saving in order to afford a residence in this top-rated school district.
  
  I agree that many “low-income seniors” need our help. Rather than violating the Uniformity Clause of the PA Constitution or using our school tax dollars for a non-educational purpose, I believe we should endeavor to meet this need using private dollars rather than compelling the taxpayers to support my own personal charitable inclinations.
  
  I volunteer many hours of my time with local charities, and I have been repeatedly impressed by the generosity of T/E residents. I truly believe T/E residents that can afford to do so will support the proposed foundation to assist needy seniors. But, if taxpayers wouldn't voluntarily support tax assistance to low income seniors, I don’t believe that I, as a School Director, have the right to force them to do so.
  
  At the February Finance meeting, I proposed that the district’s $7.5 million surplus be used to provide a rebate to all district taxpayers. This would provide equitable tax relief to everyone in the district. I also proposed additional relief for low-income seniors through the establishment of a foundation that would be funded by voluntary contributions from taxpayers.
  
  Two other ways to provide tax relief are to (1) calculate more accurate budgets and (2) avoid taxing more than is necessary, as proposed in Mr. Colman’s letter. I will continue to take taxpayer feedback and to share it at Finance Committee meetings.

• Contact Debbie Bookstaber:
  
  Want to share an idea? You can contact me by email at debbie.bookstaber@gmail.com.

• Next Update:
  
  Check back in early April for my next School Board update and pictures of Baby Bookstaber who is expected to make his arrival at the end of March.

Debbie Bookstaber's School Board Update: January 2008

I was sworn in as a member of the Tredyffrin Easttown School Board on December 3, 2007.

Along with new board member Karen Cruickshank, I've been busy attending many orientation and training sessions. So far we've attended seven sessions on topics such as the budget, strategic planning, facilities, policy, finance, the PSSAs, NCLB, the Sunshine Act, the role and duties of school boards, and more. I've been so impressed by how helpful the T/E School District administrators and other school board members are. They've answered a ton of questions and helped me get up-to-speed quickly.

In addition to orientation, new board members are encouraged to tour all the schools. I've really enjoyed seeing the schools and meeting teachers and administrators.

Every school board member was appointed as the official liaison for one school in the district. I've been assigned to New Eagle Elementary. In January, I attended a program sponsored by the New Eagle PTO and the Green Committee. Stacy Kinneally of the Green Flag School program spoke about ways to make your school and home more "green." The environment is an important issue to me, and I was happy to see that I was already doing many of the green tips suggested. After the meeting, I joined www.greendimes.com based on Stacy's advice. I hadn't heard about this program before, but GreenDimes will get your name off of junk mail lists for a $10 fee- saving approximately 1.5 trees a year. I look forward to attending more events at New Eagle.

In December, I received my committee assignments. There are five standing committees: Education, Facilities, Policy, Finance and Public Information. I have been assigned to the Finance and Public Information committees, and I will also serve as the School Board representative to the Diversity, Technology, and Middle School Advisory committees. As you might imagine, I've been extremely busy attending school board meetings-- sometimes even five in one week. You can read the meeting minutes at http://www.tesd.k12.pa.us/schoolbd/updates/jan08.pdf, but here are a few highlights from my own perspective:

• I attended the January InterSchool Council (ISC) meeting. At this meeting, Rich Gusick shared information about PA's proposed Graduation Competency Assessments (GCAs) with representatives from the parent teacher organizations. The parents were understandably concerned about how the GCAs could negatively impact students in our school district. With their support, I created a website with information about the GCAs and how to take action. The ISC and the members of the TE School Board signed the statement that appears on the "About Us" page of the website, which is an indication that there is strong opposition to the GCAs in our community. I encourage you to read the information about the GCAs and to contact your local paper and legislators.
• As part of the Public Information Committee, I also filmed a segment for TETV's Board Talk program about the GCAs. Our next board talk will be about the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. I am looking into ways to post the Board Talk programs online since this would enable even more parents and community members to watch these valuable programs.
• In addition to working on the budget, the Finance Committee is evaluating how to provide after-school support for students participating in middle school sports and activities. We heard from several working mothers who requested either activity buses or after-school supervision as this would enable their children to participate in extracurricular activities. I also know from my experience volunteering with FLITE and with TE Cares that after-school supervision or activity buses are necessary if we want activities to be accessible to children from all socio-economic levels. We will continue to evaluate this issue in future months and are looking for a cost-effective solution.
• The Diversity Committee met to discuss the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Since I have volunteered with anti-bullying programs for years, this is an issue near and dear to my heart. T/E is in the second year of its elementary school bullying prevention program and in the first year of its middle school bullying prevention program. The Olweus program is just one element of T/E's comprehensive school climate campaign. As part of the program, the teaching and guidance staff have been trained on how to recognize bullying and how to intervene properly. There is on-the-spot intervention as well as separate follow-up meetings with both the bully and the victim. A major element of the program is empowering bystanders to intervene. By discussing the roll of bystanders, reading popular children's books with a bullying theme and explaining the difference between tattling and telling a teacher or adult in order to help another student, the program encourages students to stand up for bullying victims and to get adult help when necessary. T/E kicked off the program with a survey of students, which will enable them to compare survey results yearly to determine the effectiveness of the program.
• The Chester County Intermediate Unit and four other Chester County School Districts are making the switch to bio-diesel fuel-- as are Colonial, Radnor, Haverford, and Lower Merion. The PA Department of Environmental Protection is awarding grants to enable school districts to make the switch to cleaner-burning fuel. The grants are a win-win for the community since they enable school districts to go green AND save taxpayer money. T/E does not own its own buses, but I have asked that we consider the bio-diesel fuel grants as we evaluate RFP responses from transportation providers.

I will continue to look into ways to use technology to help inform the public about our school district. One important way I'll keep you informed is by updating this blog regularly. You also can contact me via email at debbie.bookstaber@gmail.com.

November 2007 Update

Thank you all so much for your help and support during my successful campaign for a seat on the Tredyffrin Easttown School Board. I'm looking forward to serving our community on the School Board over the next four years.

Debbie's Doorknocking Efforts- 2500 Doors!

An article about doorknocking and the upcoming election ran today in the Main Line Life. I was mentioned in the article:

"...Debbie Bookstaber, a Republican T/E Region 2 school board candidate, is the speed demon. During the hour I joined her, she hit 50 houses.

At 29, she's one of the youngest candidates on the Main Line, and it shows in her casual and tech savvy approach. As soon as someone appears at the door, she says, "Hi, my name is Debbie and I'm running for school board." She leaves out her last name and party affiliation. After handing her flyer to the voter (she doesn't knock on doors of people who haven't voted in the last four years), she says, "If you have more questions or want more information, my Web site and email are on the back of the flyer."

Then she breezes to the next door. Bookstaber works for an Internet company, and she's the only candidate I observed who puts a major focus on using the Web to communicate with voters.

She also keeps an extremely detailed campaign database. This database led her to discover that the neighborhoods where she campaigned before the primary contain the precincts in which she did very well among Democrats.
It's these Democratic votes, she believes, that helped her beat incumbent Republican Kevin Mahoney for the open spot on the Democratic school board ballot. (Like all T/E school board candidates, she ran in both the Republican and Democrat primaries.) The moral of Bookstaber's story? The door-to-door campaign works."

By the time of the election, I will have knocked 2,500 doors. I've enjoyed hearing your feedback and answering your questions (both at your door and by email- debbie.bookstaber@gmail.com).

If you haven't met me yet, hopefully I'll have a chance to knock on your door prior to the election. Either way, I'd love to hear from you. I think it's important to take the time to listen to your ideas about how to maintain our excellent school system and to hear your concerns about what you'd like to see improved in the future.

Debbie Bookstaber and the Yale Taliban Campaign

Here is a letter to the editor that Debbie Bookstaber wrote in response to criticism of her leadership of a bipartisan alumni protest against the admission of Taliban leader Rahmatullah Hashemi to Yale:

To the editor:

In 2006, Yale University, allowed a former leader of the Afghanistan Taliban regime to enroll in a special student program. That man, Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, had only a fourth grade education, and had previously toured the United States as a representative and apologist of one of the most brutal and misogynistic governments in modern times. I was shocked by Hashemi’s admission since I had seen numerous academically-qualified students from our own area rejected.

I joined a bipartisan alumni campaign to encourage Yale to reject Hashemi's application for continued enrollment. This was not about political ideas, but rather about our alma mater bending its own rules to offer an exceptional opportunity to a man guilty of human rights abuse. We felt that if Yale was going to recruit students from Afghanistan it would be more fitting to help victims of the Taliban's years of oppression.

Malalai Joya, the first female Afghan parliamentarian, called Hashemi’s status as a student at Yale "an unforgivable insult." Ultimately, Yale agreed. In July 2006, it was announced that Hashemi’s application to pursue a bachelor’s degree had been rejected.

Presently I am a candidate for the T/E school board. I understand that my involvement in that Yale Taliban protest is being misrepresented to undermine my candidacy. However, the alumni protest is well documented on the internet (search for "Nail Yale") and the facts are available for anyone to see.

Debbie Bookstaber

Debbie Bookstabers Answers Questions from Conestoga Students

I was contacted by the Contestoga Spoke with some questions about my campaign for School Board. Here are my responses to their questions:

• Please describe the basis on which you are running: (i.e. – Are you running as a Republican/Democrat?…What region are you running in?...Are you a new candidate or an incumbent?)
  
  I am a new candidate running in Region 2. I am the only candidate in Region 2 on the ballot for both the Republican and the Democratic Parties, and I have been endorsed by the Republican Party.
  




• What experience do you have in the field of politics/dealing with education?
  
  I do not consider myself a politician. My interests have always been in the areas of community and public service.
  
  I first got involved with the T/E School District when I volunteered for the Tax Study Commission last year. Studying the school budget in-depth as the Vice-Chairman of the Tax Study Commission gave me insights into the challenges our schools are facing and inspired me to serve on the school board.
  
  My mother was a public school teacher for over 30 years in Philadelphia, and educational issues were frequent dinner table topics. I credit her with my lifelong interest in volunteering. I am a Gold Award Girl Scout and have volunteered with disabled students and anti-bullying programs for years. I am an Auxiliary Board Member for Tredyffrin and Easttown Care and also chaired a Tredyffrin 300 committee. As the chairman of the Junior League Project Research and Development Committee I helped implement new cultural and educational projects for children in the Greater Philadelphia area.
  
  My educational background includes a B.A. and a Masters degree in History with high honors from Yale University.
  




• If you had to address the student body of Conestoga, what topic would you speak to them about? Why?
  
  I would like to have an open conversation with the student body about stress, over-scheduling and the pressure to succeed. I graduated from high school in 1996, and my memories of feeling overscheduled, stressed and worried about college admissions are still painfully fresh.
  
  As an alumni interviewer for my college, I have the opportunity to speak with lots of high school seniors. I’m always struck by how much pressure is put on students from an early age to succeed in school, sports, extra-curricular activities, etc. I am often approached by students as young as sixth grade wanting to know what to do to get an edge with college applications. I’ve received calls from students in tears after they receive a college rejection letter, and their pain is always real.
  
  The great thing about a school like Conestoga is how accomplished its students are academically and athletically, but the downside is a culture that can potentially make students feel like they don’t measure up if they don’t play on the Varsity Team or if they can’t get that A. That’s something we need to address. High school should be a time for growth and learning-- not stress and anxiety.
  




• What do you feel is the most pressing need in the school district today?
  
  Keeping up the good work! Our district is one of the most highly rated and fiscally efficient in the state, if not the country. Like all T/E residents, I want to keep it that way.
  
  I grew up on the Main Line, but my husband and I chose to move to Tredyffrin because of the outstanding school rankings and the fiscal responsibility of the School Board. We bought our first house here, and it is where we plan to stay and start our family. I have been able to get to know many Conestoga students and can attest to the fact that TE provides a private-school quality of education at a public school price. By serving on the school board, I hope to maintain and improve the educational excellence and fiscal responsibility of the School District.
  




• How long have you been campaigning?
  
  I had the opportunity to meet the School Board Directors when I served on the Tax Commission. I decided to run after I learned that Sandi Gorman would not seek another term. Before I made my decision, I spoke with several of the current board members to get their perspective on what it’s like to serve on the board and the issues our school district is facing. Since then I’ve participated in Strategic Planning Focus Groups, attended School Board Meetings and talked with many Tredyffrin voters.
  




• Please list any other stances you have on educational practices/policies that you feel would be appropriate for your description:
  
  Local control of the schools: Our current school board has advocated for local control of the schools, and I agree with this position. Unfunded federal and state mandates drive increased taxes without necessarily improving our particular circumstances. While accountability in public education is desirable, the testing requirements of No Child Left Behind are putting increasing pressure on teachers to “teach to the test.” Thousands of schools have responded to the math and reading testing requirements laid out in No Child Left Behind by reducing class time spent on other subjects. The T/E school district teaching staff has addressed the NCLB requirements at several board meetings and expressed concern that the NCLB requirements could result in increased state or federal intervention with the result of lowering standards in T/E. Currently T/E far outperforms other school districts, and this success is a result of local control rather than state and federal mandates.
  
  Bullying: Bullying and relational aggression is a concern. According to a recent Pew Study, about one third of teenagers have been targets of online bullying. Yet despite the high percentage of teens experiencing online bullying, 67% of teens surveyed still said that bullying happens more offline than online. Eliminating bullying is an issue I care passionately about since it has a serious impact on student’s emotional health and on the safety of our schools. Every student deserves the right to learn in safety and without harassment. Implementing anti-bullying programs can increase the safety of our schools and create a better environment for learning. T/E is taking this issue seriously and has introduced programs such as The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. If you talk to the parents of any middle-school aged girl, you’ll quickly realize this is still a large problem in our school district. While no program can completely eliminate bullying, addressing the issue has been proven to reduce incidents of bullying by up to 70%.
  
  Globalization: As globalization increases, the job market has become more competitive. I have a firsthand perspective on the way technology and globalization are impacting the economy. When I worked at Travelocity I saw many of the programming and call-center jobs outsourced to India. I understand the need for students to have the preparation and training necessary to compete in a rapidly changing job market. Offering foreign language, technology and science classes is particularly critical.
  




• What do you feel you have to offer that the other candidates will not be able to do? (or what can you do a superior job on?)
  
  My most obvious difference is age. As a representative of “Generation X”, I would certainly bring a unique perspective to the School Board. While the other candidates in Region 2 have children in high school and college, I am just starting my family now. This is one of the strongest reasons I care so much about long-term strategic planning for our school district. I want to ensure our schools stay top-ranked for a long time to come, so that I can send my children to them in the future.
  
  The biggest differentiator is my background and expertise in technology. When I participated in the Strategic Planning focus groups for T/E, I noticed that online-education (cyber learning) and technology challenges came up frequently in the discussions. I’ve used my technology expertise to help other non-profits in our area, and I believe it would be an asset on the school board as well. I am a technology and marketing professional with experience managing multi-million dollar budgets and negotiating business development deals. I have worked in management positions at four successful dot-coms, including Travelocity and Expedia.

Clearing the Air- What I Really Said at the TTDems Meeting About Evolution

A recent post on the Tredyffrin Democratic Party blog misrepresented me by claiming I am an intelligent design advocate. The author based her attack on something she claims that I said at a Democratic Committee Meeting. However, I have a video of the event which shows I said nothing of the sort.

On the TTDems blog, Tredyffrin Democratic committee member Sandra Malard wrote,

“Creationism and intelligent design in the Tredyffrin/Easttown schools' science curriculum? If that idea disturbs you, but you think it's an unlikely development, please read on. Speaking by invitation at one of the Tredyffrin Democrats monthly meetings earlier this year, all but one of the Republican-backed candidates immediately and emphatically repudiated the idea of injecting intelligent design into the T/E curriculum. Debbie Bookstaber, however, would only say: "I think the matter requires more study." This evasive response from someone who wishes to steer the education of our children should at least raise an eyebrow…. Ms. Bookstaber owes the voters an honest statement of her views.”

Here is a link to a video of my actual response. It may not be the most eloquent answer I’ve ever articulated, but it does show Sandra Malard to be prevaricating.

My response was only 24 seconds long, so it is possible Sandra Malard misheard me or misconstrued my statement about having respect for all points of view. But I am not- as Sandra Malard claims- trying to conceal my position on this – or any other – issue applicable to my candidacy for the school board.

I have never felt that science and faith were incompatible. In fact, I learned about evolution for the first time in 4th grade at Waldron-Mercy Catholic School and never viewed it as controversial. As I noted in my remarks, I also believe any decision about curriculum should be made in full compliance with Pennsylvania State Law and only after consultation with relevant educational experts.

To further clarify my positions, here is an excerpt of an email that I sent to Tredyffrin Democratic Committee Chair Maria Micolucci and to Art Post, Democratic Candidate for School Board, in response to the content on the TTDems blog:

“The tape proves that the accusation on the TTDems site is untrue. Anyone who knows me could tell you that this creationism/intelligent design accusation is a complete falsehood....While I am respectful of people who believe in creationism and intelligent design, I am not one of them. I have absolutely no intention of changing the way evolution is taught in our school district. I certainly am not trying to conceal my position on this or any topic as was implied in the post on the TTDems site and on Daily Kos.

I am surprised to see such vicious mud-slinging in a school board campaign. If I were to be elected, I would represent all households- not just the Republican households. I don't believe partisanship belongs in a school board campaign. It is my sincere hope that we can run a campaign on the issues instead of resorting to negative campaigning. I plan to run my own campaign purely on the issues rather than attacking the other people running. I believe that is the only ethical thing to do.”

I am happy to debate or clarify my position on any subject relevant to my candidacy on the school board through this blog. I want to represent all T-E voters and taxpayers, and anyone is welcome to contact me at debbie.bookstaber@gmail.com.