WSD School Board Appoints Murphy to Open Seat

Five candidates applied and were interviewed for the open position on the created by Dawn Roberts’ resignation in June.

The board gave each candidate 15 minutes, 13 minutes of questions from the board and two minutes for candidates to speak about whatever topic they would like. The board also asked that the candidates remain outside of the board room during the other interviews.

, a candidate for school board in the November election, was the first to interview.

He said, “[I want to] help make the board … even better.”

Murphy, a businessman, said he wants to focus the board on its declining revenue, and how the board has no clear path to getting the revenue back to previous levels. However, he continued that he wants to look at an ability to offer the same or higher quality programs and the same cost.

When asked what accountability means to him as a member of the school board, Murphy answered, “making the tough decisions … and standing behind those decisions.”

The second candidate to be interviewed was Andrew Anderson, a banker at Citizens Bank in Center City Philadelphia. Anderson was also treasurer of the Wissahickon High School lacrosse booster club. He said, “A school in the 21^st Century [would have] more requirements” to "build students who are responsible citizens.”

A former school board member, Theresa Williams, also interviewed for the position. Williams served on the board for eight years and said she watched the growth of technology and public involvement in the schools and student events.

Williams said, “We have to invest in our students.” She added that the board needs to make sure that students do well during their entire Wissahickon career.

She also said, without Roberts, Ambler has no representation on the board, which is what sparked her to get involved on the board again.

“Without Dawn Roberts being here … Ambler has no voice,” she said. “Our children … our parents … our residents need a voice.”

Former Philadelphia history teacher and candidate in the November election was also one of the candidates Wednesday night.

“Unless you’ve been inside a classroom … no one knows what’s going on inside except someone who’s been there,” he said.

He said the greatest challenges facing the district are financial issues, and some long-term issues include the No Child Left Behind goals that require every student to be proficient by 2014, and the learning gap between ethnic groups.

Russell Bellavance, another former school board member, as well as a former lawyer and current teacher at the Great Valley School District, said, “I understand the basic challenges …[I’m] aware of issues school boards face.”

Bellavance said he would focus on student achievement, “Students learn by doing … [learning] as real world-like as possible.”

However, as the position still has two years left on the term, Bellavance said, “I can’t commit to an additional two years.”

The board members nominated Bellavance and Murphy to be considered. One of the nominated candidates needed five votes to be appointed. Murphy got six votes, and was appointed to the board.

The next meeting of the Wissahickon School Board will take place Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m.