NEIGHBORHOOD VOTER NETWORK-NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE SURVEY - 2011

Northwestern Lehigh School District

Please answer YES, NO, or UNDECIDED, and include an explanation if you wish.
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In 2003-04, NWL ranked 96 of 624 Pennsylvania high schools (top 15%).
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In 2009-10, NWL ranked 426 of 672 Pennsylvania high schools (63%, near the bottom third),
down 241 from previous year. [www.schooldigger.com]
In that same period, local taxes and spending increased more than 40% (twice the rate of
inflation), while enrollment remained flat.

Question 1: TEST SCORES

Should parents and taxpayers be concerned by the drop in test scores over this period of
substantially higher taxes/spending and flat enrollment?

___ YES ___ NO _X__ UNDECIDED

This data ranks the high school according to PSSA results. During 2009-10 as a district
Northwestern Lehigh ranked 153rd of 542. Northwestern Elementary was 558th out of 1665, up 339 and
Weisenberg Elementary ranked 186 of 1665, up 312. Northwestern Middle School ranked 189th of 856,
down 14. I think each taxpayer and parent needs to answer this question for themselves. My sincere
hope is that parents and taxpayers who are concerned attend School Board meetings to have those
concerns addressed.

In 2009-10, combined PSSA test scores for the top 10 schools were 186.
In 2009-10 combined PSSA test scores for NWL were 118, (Math - 47.8, reading 70).
[www.schooldigger.com]

Question 2: STUDY CURRICULA OF STATE’S TOP 10 SCHOOLS

Should NWL study the curricula of the State’s top 10 schools to determine what those schools are
doing right?

___ YES __x_ NO ___ UNDECIDED

The scores cited are for the High School and not the entire District. There would be no
guarantees that studying another district would assure higher test scores. Would taxpayers be willing to
pay for the study of other districts with no guarantees of improvement? Northwestern has taken steps to
improve the High School math scores through curriculum changes. If PSSA scores are the barometer
that our schools are judged by, perhaps the PSSA scores at the High School level should be tied to
graduation requirements.

Question 3: MERIT PAY/MERIT RETENTION FOR TEACHERS

Should salaries of teachers/retention of teachers be based on merit?

___ YES ___ NO ___ UNDECIDED

Currently that is not the model that School Districts must operate under in Pennsylvania.
Therefore even if a School Board candidate felt that the answer should be yes to this question I do not
believe that it is something that will happen during the term that candidates are running for (next 4 years).
Nationwide discussion has increased on this subject and areas where it has been implemented have
experienced their own problems. Perhaps a more attainable goal would be to address the rules of
teacher tenure governed by Pa School Code.
NWL school district officials recently opted not to publish the 2011-12 preliminary budget and
other documents, choosing to invoke “pre-decisional document” status. This decision prevents
residents from studying such documents until after a vote is taken. [Northwestern Press; 2/3/11]

Question 4: TRANSPARENCY
Should all documents to be discussed in open meetings (including preliminary budgets and
meeting agendas) be posted on line in advance of final approval?

___ YES __x_ NO ___ UNDECIDED

Meeting agendas are posted online prior to meetings, and the majority of documents are
made accessible prior to the School Board meetings. However, personnel and legal issues are
and should be protected by executive session discussions.

Question 5: TRANSPARENCY
Should detailed budgets be posted on line in advance so taxpayers can see how tax dollars are
being spent?
__X_ YES ___ NO ___ UNDECIDED

By law, School Districts are required to put the May preliminary budget (PDE 2028) on public
display for 30 days. During this time, any taxpayer has the right to view it prior to final budget
adoption in June.

Question 6: ACCOUNTABILITY
Should check registers be posted on line so taxpayers can see how tax dollars are being spent?

__X_ YES ___ NO ___ UNDECIDED

Check listings are posted on the Friday prior to the board meeting where action will be
taken.

The Pennsylvania School Board Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying group, is lobbying

against school choice. [Office of State Senator Jeffrey Piccola]

Question 7: SCHOOL CHOICE

Should the concept of school choice be considered, including vouchers for private schools,
charter schools, home-schooling/cyber schools, and among public schools?

___ YES __X_ NO ___ UNDECIDED

This will become another Pennsylvania state unfunded mandate forced upon School Districts at
the expense of all taxpayers.

Question 8: USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY LOBBYISTS

Should tax dollars be used to lobby for/against issues such as school choice?

___ YES ___ NO ___ UNDECIDED

This question obviously refers to the PSBA as outlined in question 7. Lobbying in politics can be
as simple as testifying at a hearing in favor or against an issue. I am sure that Senator Piccola
would be okay with the PSBA’s involvement if they testified in favor of vouchers. The annual cost
to the Northwestern Lehigh School District for membership to the PSBA is $10,300.00. Most
School Board members have full time jobs, families with children and they provide many hours of
time in their service to the School District for no financial compensation. They serve on many
subcommittees and attend 4 or 5 meetings per month. That being said, there is not much time left
 to research the ever changing issues that School Board members must be kept aware of. The
PSBA provides this information through several publications such as a weekly issue of School
Leader News and monthly issues of The PSBA Bulletin. I believe the PSBA fills a role that is
necessary for School Board members to understand the issues that they are faced with. With little
time to research everything that is happening in Harrisburg and Washington that will affect our
District the PSBA provides the ears and voice of School Boards at the legislative level. As a
current Northwestern Lehigh School Board member that has served for 9 years, I know that the
learning curve for this position is steep. Information comes at you quickly and the decisions that
you make are never taken lightly because they affect so many. The PSBA is a tool to help you
succeed.

Question 9: REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL TO RAISE LOCAL PROPERTY (SCHOOL) TAXES

Would you support a voter referendum to approve local property tax increases?

_X__ YES ___ NO ___ UNDECIDED

Voter referendum will happen sooner or later in most School Districts in PA. I think this may fall
under “careful what you wish for because you just might get it”. I would be surprised if voters
approved a tax increase. Typically I have not supported them. However, I do realize that costs to
operate a business increase just as costs to operate your home increase. To make ends meet
most people will cut back on something to pay for what is absolutely necessary. It is the same for
a School District. Obviously, the first things to go will be those things that are not directly related
to curriculum. These are things that many believe are important to the growth of our children.
What most people do not realize is that School Districts must pay for many unfunded or
underfunded mandates from the state. We will need to continue to pay for those things no matter
what they cost. Change of unfunded mandates can only happen in Harrisburg and Washington.
Voter referendum will force taxpayers into an active role in deciding the financial state of their
District and the programs that they value. The negative consequence may be that it will cause
division as each group fights to hold onto the programs that are most important to them. Time will
tell.

Donald J. Link 4-2-11