School board welcomes three new members

By Brittany Roker, Staff Reporter

Election day on Nov. 3 marked the largest change in personnel on the T/E Board of School Directors in a decade. Voters re-elected one member and elected an additional three new members. Kevin Buraks (D-Region I) is one of the new school directors.

“I was very excited to hear that I won.  I knew it was going to be a tight race given the demographics,” Buraks said.  “I spent a lot of my free time knocking on doors and meeting my constituents.  It was nice to know that all my hard work paid off.”

Buraks was not alone in celebrating the victory.  Rich Brake and Anne Crowley, both Republicans, were also elected to the board.  Betsy Fadem, the only incumbent in the race, was re-elected to her position.

With all of the upcoming changes, the new board members have high expectations for themselves.

Buraks said that he wishes to continue seeing open dialogue and mutual respect while he serves on the board.  He knows that not all of the board members will agree with him on every issue, but believes that through open and thoughtful discussion, good decisions will be made.

Fadem, the current president of the board, echoed Buraks’ goals. She also cited the district’s budget as an important issue in the upcoming months.

“Our primary focus in the first quarter of 2010 is to develop a budget for 2010-11 that maintains our outstanding educational program and minimizes tax increases,” Fadem said.

Students also have goals and expectations for the board.

“I hope that they do not change the curriculum and focus on standardized testing,” said senior Aly Young, president of Conestoga’s Young Republicans Club.

Current board members Liane Davis, Deborah Rollins and Pat Wood will step down from their positions at a monthly meeting on Dec. 7.  In future months, new board members will be assigned to their board committees.

Brittany Roker can be reached at broker@stoganews.com.

Printed originally on page 6 of the November 24, 2009 issue of The Spoke.