LIVE BLOG: Council Rock School Board Candidate Forum

*Check back to Patch Wednesday for full coverage of the Council Rock School Board candidate forum.

Here is our live blog coverage, posted Tuesday night:

(These responses are paraphrased and may not be direct quotes. Please excuse our typos as we work to provide live updates.)

7:35 p.m.

Candidates Wilkinson, Rothberg and Held are not present.

The candidates are providing their opening introductions.

7:45 p.m.

First question

Question: Is the responsibility of the school board to focus on spending and taxes or a first-rate education?

Bill Foster – We need to be focused on the children. There are 11,000 children and grandchildren in this community; their wellbeing is why district was created in the first place. It’s really about the children and doing the best we can that we as a community can put forward. Don’t have a crystal ball but we are constantly trying to think of what the future holds.

Michael Thorwart – Kids first. But I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. We can continue to deliver an excellent education at a fair price.

Edward Tate – This school district is in terrific shape in terms of academic programs and finances. We need to be classroom focused.

Jerold Grupp – The responsibility of the school board is to provide an appropriate education. Our ability to tax and wise spending to make sure we accomplish our first objective appropriately. It’s the children first, but we can’t be all things to all people. We’ve chosen a new superintendent who puts education first.

Wendi Thomas – I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. I’ve advocated over and over again about decreasing our fund balance. There has to be a financial view in everything we do. It is our job to provide first-rate education but we have to do that responsibly.

7:53 p.m.- second question

Question: Should school board members play any role in the school district curriculum?

Thorwart – We pay educators a great deal of money to manage the curriculum

Tate –We are not educators but most of us are parents of children in the school district. I think there is a fine line and I don’t think school board members need to cross that line into delving deeply into curriculum.

Grupp – No. The school board does not determine curriculum. That’s not the role of the school board.

Thomas- That is why we hire professionals. We hired Mr. Fraser due to his background in curriculum.

Foster – We don’t outsource completely to professionals. We do have a voice. It’s not black and white.

7:56 p.m.

Question 3: How will you actively listen and seek out community’s concerns?

Tate – I will reach out to community, provide contact information and ask them to stay in touch.

Grupp – Any opportunity when people ask that they want to talk to school board, I go. We put meetings on youtube. It’s important for the community to have a forum to get to know what the issues are.

Thomas – It is easy to get in touch with a board member. I take the time to respond to emails. I’ve also gone to PTO meetings and school events.

Foster- Communication with the community is key. I wish there were more opportunities for the community to provide input.

Thorwart – I make it a point to make myself very reachable. I’ve gone to great lenths to make myself available to everyone.

8:02

Question 4: In light of school shootings, are schools safe, and are there measures to further insure security in Council Rock?

Grupp – I served on school safety task force. We have features in our schools now that have been implemented to ensure they are safe. Every school has secure access point. We took trailers offline. We are always doing more. We have to remember: see something, say something.

Thomas – We’ve spent millions of dollars to make our buildings safe. Another thing that I think we do a job of is creating a school community where if we have a concern about a student, people say something.

Foster – We see in these shooting events that folks that are isolated lash out. Making sure that people aren’t bullied and that they feel connected to their community is important.

Thorwart - The physical security is about as good as we can get. The other piece is the human side. We have to be there for the kids. We have to get the kids involved in something.

Tate – The school community is the most important element. Create a caring, supportive environment.

*Check back to Patch Wednesday for full coverage of the Council Rock School Board candidate forum.

The candidates are:

Region 1 (Newtown Borough Wards-#1, #2 Newtown Township Districts #4, #5, #6) - Bill Foster, unopposed

Region 2 (Newtown Twp Districts #3, #7, #8) – Edward Tate, unopposed

Region 4 (Northampton Twp Districts #2, #6, #7, #12) – Wendi Thomas vs. Richard Wilkinson

Region 5 (Northampton Twp Districts #9, #14, #16) -Jerold Grupp vs. Leslie Rothberg

Region 7 (Northampton Twp. Districts #3, #5, #10, #17) – Michelle Held vs. Michael Thorwart