Schools
Region 3 Candidates for Great Valley School Board—Two Year Term
Ellen O'Shea is running for a two-year seat against incumbent Ted Leisenring, who was appointed to the board mid-term.
There are two candidates running for the two-year seat in Region 3. The region includes:
- Willistown North 2,3,5,6
- Willistown South 1,2,3
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Ted Leisenring has lived in the district for 16 years, attending school board meetings for the last four. He is a current board member, he was appointed to fill out the term begun by Sally Cummings. He holds a Wharton MBA. He sells insurance and has a "small company that develops power plants in the Marcellus region."
Ellen O'Shea has a son and daughter who have attended three elementary schools and the middle and high school. She attends meetings regularly, often offering a public comment, including during a February about counseling contracts. She currently works as a "Marketing Specialist for a non-profit educational institute."
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View the attached videos to hear the candidates in their own words.
Here are parts of their answers from the Oct. 24 debate at :
Find out what's happening in Malvernfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
O'Shea
"Goals ... It's groundbreaking and it's appropriate for us to put goals in place that are quantifiable ... test scores, kids getting into college, fiscal and communication part to these goals. Proud to vote in positive for that."
"We have $15M in general fund. I think that’s a little too much money, if it's coming from our taxpayers, who are suffering. ... This year we raised taxes 2.9 percent. We didn't have to go that far."
"The Main Line Health program to help kids at risk ... I'm glad they saved it and sorry they limited the budget.
"Goals ... The final goal, the business goal ... it strikes me as difficult to do all of the above goals while cutting the budget $1.5 million."
"We have nine school board members, and there's a reason for that ... The [tax] vote was 5-4. I don't see that as lockstep."
Feels like the current school board votes in lockstep. How would you be independent?
"I would definitely be an independent voice ... I am frequently bringing up points that are not in lockstep with the board. And I have noticed that same habit.""In the last three years, out of 336 teachers, we've only had 3 unsatisfactory ratings. ... We can work with Al and his administration to rejigger our part of process, within state parameters... Quite honestly, there have to be few out there unsatisfactory."
How can the district weed out poor teachers?"It would be covered by the presence of principal or superintendent in classroom to observe. I don’t think we can judge teachers by scores students get on exams. Observation is only way to do that."
"We should not have raised taxes 2.9 percent when we have $15 million in the general fund."What are your thoughts on dipping into the reserve fund?
"I think we have to be very careful. ... I would not want that fund to be decimated in one year ... with PSERS coming down the pike." "I wasn't at the meeting, but I agree with the sentiments here." ["Yes, for this year. No for future years."] How did/would you have voted on ? "I agree with Stephanie Gunderson." ["Yes, for this year. No for future years."] "As school board members, we practice under the lights in front of you all and usually with a camera on. ... It's an unnatural way in which to think, and we try to work around it."
How do you create an environment on school board where thinking out of the box is encouraged?
"I go to the meetings and I see a lot of the lockstep block voting. We can describe it otherwise, but I see it happening over and over again."
"If I'm elected, I pledge to you I will do my homework. That's one of the most important things we do as board members is prepare ... and I also pledge to you I will attend all meetings." Closing statement. "We've got to have current parent representation on the board. I think that's what's been missing."
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