School board talks security; interviews applicants
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District directors interviewed six candidates who have volunteered to fill Frank Murphy’s seat on the board. Murphy announced his intent to resign last month.
The board also discussed ways to increase security at each of the district’s six schools.
Under consideration is the Raptor Visitor Security System, said Superintendent John Sanville. He said the district’s concern has been “perimeter safety.”
The district’s Kathy Reynolds said the system is already being used in the Great Valley School District. She called it a visitor management system that “adds a layer of safety.”
Adult visitors to any of the schools would have to show a driver’s license or other state issued ID card that would be scanned and the name run through a sex offender database.
If the visitor’s name is flagged as being that of someone on such a list, texts or other alerts can be sent to teachers and administrators. Policies and procedures on how to handle that type of situation would have to be developed.
The system would cost an initial $11,200 with an additional $480 per school per year.
Of the six candidates for the soon to be vacate Region C school board seat, two — Skip Barthold and Dell Joshi — are from Chadds Ford. The other four — Carol Biederman, Leticia Flores De Wilde, John Murphy and Lorraine Ramunno — are from Pennsbury.
Frank Murphy’s resignation is effective noon, June 17. The appointed replacement would serve only into November when a successor will be elected.
Each applicant has children in the district and cited that as part of their qualifications.
Biederman — with two children attending U-CF schools — said working with a child with a life-threatening disease adds to her qualifications. She also said she’s worked as a volunteer with various cancer associations at children’s organizations.
She was asked how she would determine people’s views on school matters since, right now, she would be appointed and not elected. Biederman said she’s in regular contact with other parents and she with neighbors who have no children in the district.
Joshi, also with two children in the district, said he has relevant professional experience couple with more experience as a volunteer with various organizations. He’s a career manager with DuPont Co.’s legal department and has been on legal technology teams, currently with Widener University.
He told the board he will work with parents, students and businesses so the students can execute needed projects.
De Wilde said she, as a Mexican immigrant, understands the value of public education. She has worked for the American Cancer Society writing grants and contracts.
Board President Eileen Bushelow asked her whether school board members have a role in the schools on a day-to-day basis. De Wilde said no, but they do have an influence on those who do.
John Murphy moved into the district in 2005 and has three kids in school, one each in elementary, middle and high school. He’s a West Point graduate and served as an engineering officer. He left the military in 1998. He’s now in marketing, but is also on a committee providing respite for cancer patients.
He called himself a problem solver with an analytical approach on how to deliver education and serve the taxpayer.
Ramunno, an attorney with her own practice in Media, has three kids, two of which have needed learning support. She said that gives her a unique level of understanding. She also does volunteer work through the bar association.
She said her professional experience gives her the ability to develop organizational skills that help her to negotiate and resolve conflicts.
Barthold — who is likely best known for his appearances as a musician at the annual Art Show and Sale at Chadds Ford Elementary School — told the board he was offering his services to help out only until the election in November.
The board is scheduled vote during the June 17 meeting. There will be formal nominations, a discussion and a vote in public.
Bushelow said the successful candidate must get at least five votes. If none of them get those five on the first ballot, the one getting the fewest votes will be eliminated and a second vote would be taken.
(Photo above: Candidates wait to be questioned.)
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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