Students launch ‘Future of Pike County' political action committee

PIKE COUNTY — Local students seeking to make an impact in upcoming elections have organized to establish a political action committee called the “Future of Pike County.” With a growing list of supporters, the committee will mobilize citizens of the community, especially young people, to help get candidates it endorses elected to public office. The all-partisan, youth-led PAC will support candidates who offer “strong leadership and support for policies that are in the long-term interest of Pike County.” The committee recently mailed a survey to each Delaware Valley School Board candidate in this year’s primary election and will endorse up to five in the near future. Endorsements will be made based on the consensus of the committee’s advisory council, which is comprised of seven current and past Delaware Valley Student Council Presidents and Student School Board Representatives. The PAC’s chairman is 2006 Delaware Valley alumnus Marc R. Coda, a rising senior at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island where he most recently ran for the State Senate. “As young people, we realize that decisions made on a local level have a great impact on us in the short-term as well as the community we’ll inherit in the long-term, and this is why it is so important we get involved,” Coda said. Austin Lamac, the PAC’s treasurer and 2004 DV graduate, said that the organization’s activities and outreach will be primarily funded through a small, online donations. Lamac said the PAC will soon launch a campaign called “$5 for our Future” for this purpose. “Modern technology and social networking will empower young people to play an active role in the political process and, in this particular election, help steer the school district in the right direction by supporting the best candidates for school board,” he said. The PAC invites all community members to stay up-to-date by visiting www.futureofpikecounty.org and signing up for the group’s mailing list. The Survey Multiple choice questions on the survey offered yes, no and no opinion responses and included: Student Issues 1). Notwithstanding a severe budgetary crisis, do you pledge to at least sustain the current level of funding for co- and extra-curricular activities? 2). Will you advocate ending the district’s current policy of suspicionless drug testing for students involved in non-athletic extracurricular activities, which was ruled unconstitutional by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2003 (Theodore v. Delaware Valley School District)? 3). Do you support a school administrator’s right to prior review of the official student newspaper, specifically including his/her right to censor or edit material that does not violate protected student expression as outlined in Board Policy 220? 4). Do you believe student government has a right to address grievances of policy directly with the school board if other methods of recourse fail? 5). Do you believe expelled students should be provided transportation to the district’s alternative education programs if they are unable to afford or provide it for themselves? 6). Do you believe that sexual education classes within the district should include information about safe-sex practices? 7). Would you support the implementation of student surveys of classes and teachers that would be reviewed by the administration and considered part of the current method of course and faculty evaluations? 8). Would you support the implementation of compulsory school uniforms for all students in any form? 9). Do you support the teaching of local history and civic education as part of the social studies curriculum ranging from grade K-12? A Short Answer Survey asked for responses of one or two paragraphs. In part, those questions included: 1). What uniquely qualifies you to be a school board member, and why are you running? 2). Please list what you feel are the three most pressing issues facing the district. Detail how you would confront at least one of them. 3). How will you ensure teachers hired by the district are of the highest quality possible, and what measures will you take to make sure those retained are held to an acceptable standard of performance throughout their tenure? Do you support merit-based pay? 4). How will you make sure information that is taught in school remains relevant to students in our rapidly changing world, including the means of teaching and learning? 5). How will you work with members of the board you may not agree with to create consensus? 6). As the county continues to grow, how will you ensure the infrastructure of the school district, physical and otherwise, will be adequately maintained? 7). How will you balance long-term fiscal responsibility, the tax burden on the local community, and improving educational performance, especially during economic hardship? 8). Does the district have a responsibility to the long-term local economy n such as by encouraging students to consider employment in Pike County and/or working to expand these opportunities? Please explain. 9). Do you believe the district has a role in graduating students who n in addition to meeting state and federal academic requirements n have the knowledge and skills necessary to be good citizens of our community and country? If so, what would you do to ensure the district is fulfilling this role? 10). Please evaluate the average student who graduates the Delaware Valley School District. How would you compare him/her with his/her peers in the state? In competitive countries? How will you work to reverse any weaknesses you identify?