The current board’s actions following the election results highlight the urgent need for transparency, said the members, pointing to two new policies that will restrict board members’ communication
The newly-elected Souderton Area School Board members are promising to improve transparency surrounding board proceedings as they prepare to officially take their seats at the board’s December 1 reorganization meeting.
The members, who ran on the Democratic “Souderton Area for Responsible Leadership” team, made transparency one of the central planks of their campaign platform in the November election. In an upset, the team ended up winning all four open seats on the board, cutting into the Republicans’ 9-0 majority and successfully unseating board president Stephen Nelson and board vice president Andrew Landis.
The team said the results demonstrate that the community embraced their campaign’s message and want change on the board.
“The results show that residents are ready for change and are looking for leaders who listen,” said Andrew Souchet. “Voters clearly want a board that is responsive to local concerns and willing to engage openly with the public.”
“[They] reflect a desire to increase transparency and accountability at the Souderton Area School District Board,” added Alex Wisser. “The voters were willing to give us a seat at the table and give a voice to everyone in the district.”
Some of the members’ push for transparency precedes the campaign. Over the past two years, they have successfully asked the board to begin recording and livestreaming all board action and committee meetings. They have also requested attachments of relevant documents to meeting agendas, indefinite archival of meeting recordings and more open discussions on agenda items.
“The board needs to make sure that public information is shared readily and easy to find on the website and the agendas,” said Rosemary Buetikofer.
The team said that the incoming 5-4 split will spur open dialogue on agenda items at board meetings instead of the customary unanimous approvals with minimal discussion. The dialogue will, in turn, open the door to more public engagement, members said.
Clear communication, consistent policy adherence and genuine public engagement should be the foundation of our work moving forward,” said Souchet.
The current board’s actions following the election results highlight the urgent need for transparency, said the members, pointing to two new policies that will restrict board members’ communication, meeting participation and access to information as well as a new board appointment at a special Thanksgiving Eve meeting with only two days’ notice. The new members, alongside district residents, argued that the policies are designed to limit their power and that the appointment was rushed to prevent their participation in the selection process.
“It’s reinforcement to me that transparency should remain a top priority,” said DeGeiso, adding, “The school board’s focus should be on improving student outcomes. Getting back to the reason why a school board governs should be a concern and priority for everyone in the community.”
But despite the board’s recent actions, the newly-elected members collectively expressed an interest in working collaboratively with the incumbent board members on behalf of district residents.
“I hope that by working with the existing board members, they can understand that the newly elected members are not extremists looking to push an agenda but rather reasonable people who care about student outcomes and responsible leadership,” said DeGeiso. “All board members must learn to come to the middle for the good of every member of the community. Since this is a first in the district’s history, I hope we demonstrate to all that it is possible to change our perceptions of others.”
This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit https://www.thereporteronline.com
