David Schwartz, School District Of Haverford Township Board Candidate

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — The 2023 primary election is coming up, and Patch is looking to give voters a closer look at who is running for office.

Below is a profile of School District of Haverford Township School Board candidate David Schwartz.

Name: David Schwartz
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Location/Town: Havertown (Haverford Township)
Party: Democratic
Campaign website/social media: https://haverforddemocrats.com/school-board

Why are you seeking a position on the school board?
When I joined the Board four years ago, I had ambitious goals for environmental stewardship and upgrading our facilities to accommodate additional programs, such as full-day Kindergarten. COVID put a pause on many of these initiatives as our focus turned to maintaining access to education amidst an unprecedented worldwide pandemic, nationwide lock downs, and debates on hybrid learning, social distancing, and masking. Despite these hardships, we completed several large capital projects. We are now looking ahead to our next round of capital improvements through our ongoing Facilities Assessment. In addition, due to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to obtain grants for environmental upgrades, such as solar arrays on our new roofs at Lynnewood and Coopertown Elementary Schools, I want to help develop improvements that will meet the needs of our students and be sustainable both fiscally and environmentally.

What are your qualifications/experience?
In addition to four years of Board service through one of the most challenging times for schools in history, I’m a licensed Civil Engineer, a certified Urban Planner, and previously served on Haverford Township’s Environmental Advisory Committee. While on the Board, I have been a part of the Facilities & Finance Committee and the Curriculum & Pupil Service Committee. I have two students in the School District, one Elementary School student in Chatham Park and one in the Middle School who will be a High School Freshman next year. My combination of professional experience, civic engagement, and experience on the Board has given me the knowledge of what is wanted by members of our school community, what will provide the most benefit to taxpayers, and how to get it done.

What are three main issues you plan to take up in the district, and how will you do so?
Promoting environmental stewardship is one of the main reasons I joined the Board. One of the pillars of our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan is to Prepare Contemporary Citizens. This includes preparing them to meet the challenges they will face in their future. Chief among them will be battling climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The School District is the highest producer of CO 2 in Haverford Township and I believe that we have a responsibility to lead by example to show steps that can be taken to reduce carbon emissions. By demonstrating how to do this in our schools, we will allow our students to feel like part of the solution now, while preparing them to meet this challenge in the future. From a financial perspective, solar panels will pay for themselves and, in fact, likely be a cost-savings long-term.

Another key issue is protecting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. On the heels of the COVID pandemic, providing equal access to education, celebrating diversity, and making all children feel included are critical in promoting a sense of well-being and improving social/emotional health. DEI initiatives speak to two pillars in our Strategic Plan: Diversity & Inclusion and Social/Emotional Wellness. Over the past several years, School Boards have become the center of controversy over how much focus to place on DEI. I believe that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We strive to provide mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors so children can see themselves in history, see what others have done, and be invited and excited to participate in the history that they will write throughout their lives.

Finally, our most sacred obligation is to keep our children safe. Gun violence is now the #1 cause of death for those 18 and under. While we strive to make our schools as safe as possible for our children, “hardening” schools cannot be the only part of the solution. The ease of access to guns and assault weapons, particularly by those who have severe mental challenges or a history or violent behavior, must also be addressed in order for our children to be and feel safe. I will be a strong advocate for common- sense gun reform and keep that issue front and center when speaking to state and federal elected officials.

Who are elected official or political/community leaders who inspire you?
This may seem an unusual choice, as she’s not as well known outside of my industry, but I’m going with a person who I know a little personally and whom I often quote, Leslie Richards. Ms. Richards was appointed by Governor Wolf as the first female Secretary of Transportation for PennDOT and is the current CEO of SEPTA. She completely changed the culture of PennDOT for the better and shifted its focus to be more responsive to community concerns and issues. I was at a WTS (Women in Transportation) conference where she spoke and one of her most impactful lines was “It’s not that men and women see things differently. It’s that men and women see different things.” People of different genders, races, and abilities have completely different perspectives based on their lived experiences. This gave me a lot of insight into the importance of diversity and why promoting DEI is critical for our children. It’s one thing to hear someone talk about the experiences of those of different races, genders, and abilities. It’s another to hear someone who is of another race, gender, or who is disabled talk about their personal experiences firsthand.

What are some other personal information details you want voters to know about you ahead of the election?
I was elected to the School Board in 2019 and began my service as School Director less than four months before the COVID pandemic hit. While the last four years have been challenging, the talented School District Administration and School Board have worked together to successfully complete the construction of the new Lynnewood School, an expansion of the High School, a new track at the stadium, and two major climate control projects at Chatham Park and Coopertown Elementary.

As a licensed Civil Engineer and Urban Planner, I believe my professional experience is uniquely suited to help direct the facilities planning and capital improvements for the School District to ensure equity for all students. My wife, two children, and I currently live in the Llanerch neighborhood of Havertown and have lived in Delaware County for nearly 25 years, including over 12 years in Havertown. Since moving to the Township in 2010, I have been actively involved in civic and community organizations and look forward to continuing my service on the Board for the School District of Haverford Township!