Schools

West Chester VOTE Holds Meet the Candidate Night

The write-in campaign for West Chester school board kicked off.

West Chester VOTE held a meet the candidates night in Westtown Wednesday as the group tries to mount a write-in campaign for the West Chester school board election in November.

West Chester VOTE, which stands for West Chester Voters Open To Education, formed after the school board’s decision in June to not raise property taxes.  The group of parents that created West Chester VOTE wanted a group of candidates that represented their concerns better than the candidates currently endorsed by the Chester County Republican Committee.

“I went to the committee meeting to become an endorsed candidate,” said current school board president Dr. Rick Swalm.  “I came in seventh out of seven at that meeting.  I think I would’ve been eighth out of seven if that were somehow possible.”

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Swalm added that he felt that he was worried about the current direction of the school board.

“When I joined the school board, it was a board made up of a group of nine individuals who thought as individuals,” Swalm said.  “With this group, we could bring some sanity back to the board.”

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Swalm also spoke out against the current board’s tendency to vote as a block.

“When I started, it was never those five are going to vote one way and then the rest,” Swalm said.  “Everyone voted for what they believed, and I believe what I believe.”

Antonia Keg, who is also running for the school board on the West Chester VOTE ticket, has a master's in education and specializes in early childhood development.

“I have two children in the district, so I am committed to the cause,” Keg said.  “Public education is the foundation of any decent society.”

Keg added, “A school board can divide or connect a community, and I believe that the school board is healthiest when it is comprised of different voices.  It’s healthiest when you have a choice.”

“We need to give our kids all the tools and skills needed to compete globally,” said Spencer Virta, who is running on the ticket and whose background is in finance.

“A West Chester education is a tremendous value,” Virta added.  “I want to work to preserve that value.  I want to create a place where teachers are valued and supported.”

Jim Smith also currently served on the board and has been involved in the West Chester school district in one way or another for almost 30 years.

“When I first came here the schools were lousy.” Smith said.  “The changes we’ve seen in the last 30 years didn’t happen by accident.  I am very concerned about the direction this district is going in.”

Smith added, “Our schools are in the top 17 percent in the nation.  Sixty percent of our teachers have a master’s degree or the equivalent, and our drop-out rate is less than one percent,” Smith said.  “That didn’t happen by accident.  That happened because we had tax payers that believe in education.”

Smith went on to say that West Chester school district has the lowest tax rate in Chester County, and that the district’s teacher salaries rank right in the middle compared to other Chester County schools.

“At the heart of a small community is a strong public school,” said Sue Tiernan, a former teacher and administrator in the district.  “We need a board that respects teachers and the work they do.  We need a board that makes decisions where most people win rather than lose.”

Tiernan added, “Board members must come with a clear head and a clear heart, and they cannot give in to special interests.”

Gary Bevilacqua, who is also running added, “I am nervous about the remaining members of the board who will be there after this election.  I am nervous about the future.”


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