Weiss Calls it a Career

Abington School Board Director Silvia Shirley Weiss attended her last school board meeting yesterday. She will be stepping down Dec. 5 after a 5-term run.

Weiss, 78, spoke about her life during the board members’ opening statements; she thanked her husband, Jack, for driving her to almost all of the meetings over the 20-year span.

She was later given the title “Abington School Board Director Emeritus.” Weiss is the third person to receive the honor.

State Rep. Josh Shapiro talked about Weiss’ career, and presented her with a citation from the state for her years of service.

“I would feel as though I would not be doing justice to Shirley Weiss if I just rattled off her accomplishments,” Shapiro said. “To me, Shirley Weiss, is someone who is here for all the right reasons. Someone who always looked out for the students, their families and always looked out for our community. To me, Shirley Weiss is someone who was bi-partisan in her approach to education, quite literally bi-partisan in her approach to education, and someone who constantly strove to push the envelope and ask the tough questions which forces everyone in public service to press a little harder.”

Shapiro said that when he first ran for State Representative eight years ago, he was given a note card with a list of five people he needed to talk to — and Weiss was on the list.

“You gave me some straightforward advice,” Shapiro said. “You said, ‘Go out to talk to people, get to know them and fight for our community,’ and that’s what I’ve tried to do and that’s the example you’ve set.”

The other school board members lauded Weiss for her service and particularly her candor.

School Board President Raymond McGarry said, “In my 14 years that I’ve been on the board, there has been no one on the board who has fought more for what they believe in than Shirley Weiss. And it didn’t matter if there were feathers being ruffled along the way, you believe in what you believe, and you were going to push for that, and I have the utmost respect for you … We’re going to miss you as a member of this board.”