October 28, 2021
(Clockwise from top left) Campbell: Holland, Culberson: Alexandria, Oldenburg: Kingwood, Gaspari: Kingwood
Below, please find joint responses to The Delphi’s 10 questions which were submitted on behalf of the four above-mentioned candidates:
On Nov. 2, 2021, Melaine Campbell from Holland Township, Deborah Culberson from Alexandria Township, JoAnne Oldenburg from Kingwood Township and Anna Gaspari from Kingwood Township are all running for seats on the Board of Education.
The Candidates believe that “controversial issues” are any topics that provoke intense emotion within a community. Together, they hope to create the healthiest classroom environment possible.
“The classroom must be a place in which students are free to air their beliefs without fear of being shouted down by any students or adults,” the Candidates said.
The Candidates agree that the administration should also prioritize the best quality school environment; this can be achieved by attracting and retaining successful teachers, improving every student’s safety and creating programs and maintenance projects to improve ventilation. Also mentioned was the possibility of needing to cut underutilized programs, personnel and operations. The Candidates admit that many of the ideas that they put forth take time.
“Specifics will be determined after a thorough review of the budget and benchmarking with other schools,” the Candidates said.
Zeroing in on one of the most important issues any school board faces, the Candidates discussed how they might increase state funding. Since DVRHS is not an Abbott school district, Del Val has seen its state funding decrease over the past few years.
“Last school year, state aid to DVRHS decreased by 15.4%, more than $500,000,” said the Candidates.
Other possible areas to save money included looking into combining the Superintendent and Principal positions after their retirements.
“Streamlining may be possible since the Superintendent uses part of her time to act as the Superintendent of the Frenchtown School,” the Candidates said.
The Candidates agree that virtual learning is important but doesn’t compare to in-person learning, and they are thankful that the school stayed open for the special needs students during the pandemic. Post-COVID, the Candidates are concerned for teenage mental health and the general value of virtual learning.
The group asserts that virtual lessons shouldn’t be used every week, unless under certain harsh weather circumstances.
“The pandemic taught us that we have the capability of continuing to educate students outside of the brick-and-mortar school building when appropriate,” said the Candidates.
When it comes to new ways to engage students, the Candidates think that implementing more hands-on projects will enhance problem solving skills, whether they be in the classroom or as a community. The Candidates would ask for a program which allows members of the community who have leadership positions to help mentor students, which would hopefully lead to internships.
In the classroom, teachers would be encouraged to reach out to people who specialize in their subject areas.
“For example, chemistry teachers might consider inviting a forensic crime scene investigator to the classroom one month, and the next month invite a welder who performs a demonstration to explain the basics of metallurgy. Knowledge comes alive when it is taught in a hands-on fashion,” said the Candidates.
To further expand Del Val’s use of technology, the Candidates agree the students’ learning experience could benefit from adding new, up-to-date technology, such as the use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. The Candidates believe hands-on learning helps students retain knowledge.
The Candidates find that improving Del Val’s ranking across the board is important; when compared to surrounding high schools, DVRHS falls behind.
“Working on our ranking is important since attending a higher-ranked high school will improve the students’ chances of being admitted to a selective college,” the Candidates said.
The Candidates believe that Del Val would not be the same without the arts and sports. Especially during this pandemic, these activities have provided an outlet for students to safely learn necessary skills for life and to practice activities that increase their physical and emotional well-being.
“Significantly, athletics support success in school as teachers and coaches stress the importance of academics,” said the Candidates.
Concerning the arts, the candidates said, “Research has shown that Arts education is closely linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement and equitable opportunity.”
Del Val is special, and the Candidates think that fact can be attributed to how well the sending districts work together to better the community. From school spirit to helping each other out during the pandemic and recent flood, the community is always ready to do the right thing.
“[Community support] builds a strong foundation for our children on which to build their lives and contribute to the communities of the future,” said the Candidates.
The Candidates believe that in order to continue Del Val’s legacy as being “Future Ready,” the school must further prepare students for college or another career path by taking notes from experts.
Doing so includes addressing “the program’s gears and pathways as suggested by experts:” Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; Personalized Professional Learning; Robust Infrastructure; Data and Privacy; Community Partnerships; Budget and Resources; and Use of Space and Time.
The Candidates are motivated to run for Del Val’s Board of Education because they believe that the experience they have gained from their jobs bring a new viewpoint to the Board. To see more information on the Candidates’ backgrounds, please view their website here.
With their positions on the Board, the Candidates would make sure students are able to express their opinions without being ridiculed, that they would be intellectually challenged and that they would be set up for the future they want to pursue.
“We would be reasonable, collaborative members of the board, representing community interests,” the Candidates said.
If you agree with these ideas and wish to support any of these candidates, make sure to vote on Nov. 2.
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Amelia Mead is a senior at Del Val and this is her second year as a staff member of The Delphi. She enjoys working at Jimmy’s and watching soccer.