DSEA locals in six school districts recommended school board candidates for election on May 8, 2012

Why do we recommend people for school board? Because these people make important decisions about every aspect of local school district operations, policy and, of course, must approve the contract you bargain with your school district.

Polls are open from 10am to 8pm in most schools. You must be 18 years of age to vote; you do not need to be registered to be, but you will need to show proof of address. You may vote at any polling location. Click here for polling locations, by county:

New Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County.

Controversy erupts in Christina, Red Clay and Appoquinimink over mailings from "shadowy" organization!

ELECTED

Appoquinimink E.A. and AESP urge you to vote for:Charlisa Edelin

Fiercely committed to making Appoquinimink schools stronger and better equipped to educate all the children within the District, Char will be a strong advocate for your children.

The mother of four children who have attended schools in the Appoquinimink School District, a wife and a Legal Studies Professor at Wilmington University, she is also very involved and committed to our community, and has given back in many ways.

 

 

LOST BY ONLY FOUR VOTES

Caesar Rodney E.A. uges you to vote for:

David Sechler

David Sechler has been a teacher and principal for 38 years, now working at the University of Delaware. He is currently president of the Delaware School Boards Assoc., and vice president of the CR School Board.

He understands that "student learning conditions are adult working conditions," so wages and benefits must be adequate to attract new staff and retain seasoned veterans.

He values CREA as a strong parner with the administration and the School Board.

 

ELECTED

Christina locals urge you to vote for:

Shirley Saffer

Shirley Saffer's children have all attended Christina schools. She respects our experience, knowledge and suggestions and laments that the district doesn't always listen.

When she visits schools, staff easily approaches her to talk about students or additional resources. "Let me see what I can do" is her normal response. She is not a one-meeting-a-month board member!

She has a proven, productive and respectful relationship with Christina's local association leaders and members.

 

ELECTED

Milford E.A. urges you to vote for

Eugene Rust and Barry Fry

 

Both of these men are retired school district employees. Fry, left, was an agriculture education teacher for over 37 years, and advisor to Milford High School's Future Farmers of America chapter for over 20 years.
Eugene Rust, right, served the Milford School District in Operations for over 30 years. Both believe that the school board should be more open in its deliberations and decision-making, finding ways to include more members of the community in their decision-making.

 

ELECTED

Red Clay locals urge you to vote for
Kenny Rivera

Kenny Rivera is a successful Social Studies teacher at Brandywine High School. He and wife Kelley are the parents of two young sons - which is why he is running for the Red Clay School Board!

His leadership experience includes faculty advisor for student organizations, coach, and youth leader in his church. He has been president of the Woodland Park Civic Assoc. for the past four years.

A teacher for barely seven years, he helped author the districts' Secondary Social Studies Curriculum. In 2011 he was named district Teacher of the Year. And he has also been chosen by valedictorians as the Most Influential Teacher at graduation for the past four years.

His election is critical: he will replace the only other practicing educator on the Red Clay School Board, Eric Randolph, a guidance counselor and DSEA member at Howard High School. Ken has Eric's full support in this election.

NOT RE-ELECTED
Lost to Michael W. Kraft

Seaford locals recommend Suzanne Ferris

From Gary Zoll, president of the Seaford E.A.:

Yesterday, May 1, four members of the School Board Candidate Review Committee met for the purpose of considering making an endorsement in the upcoming school board election.  Candidate responses to the SEA questionnaire served as the primary resource in evaluating the candidates. Three of the candidates responded, and only Bruce Fitzgerald failed to return the survey.

The committee reached a unanimous conclusion that Suzanne Farris has earned the right to serve another term on the board.   

She has demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the school district, school law, and an appreciation for the strength that can be derived from the rich diversity of our school population. Additionally, she has avoided some of the dysfunctional infighting that has characterized the board in recent times while leading the successful search to hire our new Superintendent. 

The other three candidates all appear to be people with backgrounds and a commitment to the community and our schools that will serve us and our children well in the future.  We urge them to stay involved in our community no matter what the outcome of this particular election.
We were particularly impressed with Michael Kraft’s long history of community service, but we were troubled by his advocacy for teaching creationism.  He stated that “if we are teaching evolution only, than (sic) we are doing a disservice to our children who deserve to get all of the information from both sides so they can form an education (sic) opinion about what they may believe.”  Perhaps Mr. Kraft was unaware of the Supreme Court ruling in Edwards v. Aguillard in 1987 that ruled that this was unconstitutional.

Donald Tricarico has a demonstrated record of public service and leadership; however, he would benefit from more time living and working in the community to acquire more knowledge of Seaford and our schools before considering another run for public office. 

Finally, we could not offer an opinion on Mr. Fitzgerald as he failed to respond to our questionnaire.

We are thankful for the efforts of all the candidates to serve our schools and the greater community of Seaford. We hope that you will consider our recommendation to support Suzanne Farris in her bid to serve another term on our school board.  Additionally, we hope that you will take the time to read the attached document to reach an informed decision. Above all, it is our hope that if you are a resident of the Seaford School District that you will vote Tuesday May 8th.

There is just one polling site, the school district administrative office at 390 No. Market St. Extended, Seaford. Polling site is open from 10am to 8pm.

Voters agry about negative mailings from "shadowy" organizations

Bills filed to correct loopholes in tax law about reporting requirements from organizations that engage in endorsement mailings.

Rep. John Kowalko files formal complaint with Dept. of Elections.

Newark community urges you to sign petition calling Voters 4 Education to come clean.

And, DSEA President Frederika Jenner issues this explanation and statement to the media:

May 3, 2012, Dover, DE….. The Delaware State Education Association today calls upon the "shadowy organization" known as Delaware Voices 4 Education Action Fund, Inc. and its sister organization, Delaware Voices for Education, Inc., to reveal its funding sources, an itemized list of contributors, and an itemized list of expenditures immediately and sufficiently in advance of Tuesday's school board elections.

"This type of campaigning is unacceptable in our state"" said Frederika Jenner, DSEA's president. "If the people and organizations behind these two entities feel so strongly about their agenda, then they should come out from behind the veil of secrecy afforded them by Internal Revenue Service tax protection. They evidently fear the light of day."

The Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) social purpose organization while its sister organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable/educational organization. As such, they are not covered by the current reporting requirements of Delaware's campaign finance laws.

"This behavior clearly demonstrates the need for rapid passage of House Bill 300, which will close this major legal loophole," Jenner added.

 

 

 

 

 

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