School Board Meeting Reflection

On September 22, 2014, Wissahickon School District held a school board meeting to be updated on daily events or decisions in the community. The President, Charles McIntyre, led the meeting that started with roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the welcoming of guests. The people on board stated they would go off the agenda because Tina Viletto from the I.U. just arrived from a day trip to Harrisburg to attend hearings on the state education system. She informed us that basic education funding was the problem; in response to the situation, the state government passed the cigarette tax in Philadelphia. She also described the funding factors that make up the education spending formula. I was very shocked when she mentioned about Senate Bill 1193, which states that teachers can carry firearms, could show up in the next session. At the end of her speech, she referenced the common core standards in relation to the Pennsylvania’s standards. When Mrs. Viletto left, each of the school

The first to talk was Donna Salen, mother of two daughters who ride Bus 173. She complained Shady Grove Elementary School morning bus (173) was inefficient because it went south to north and then south again. Trying to get the board’s approval to talk with the director of transportation, she printed out maps suggesting a new more efficient route that minimized the time the children were on the bus. Laura LeGower and Ying Sue also complained about this bus. They claimed it causes more pollution and wastes tax money. Having to drive their kids eight minutes to school to prevent a fifty-minute bus ride puts more cars on the road and creates more traffic. Towards the end of the meeting, a man on the school board offered to talk with them after the meeting to set up a plan for meeting with the director or transportation. I thought that this man was very accommodating to these