The upcoming election for Allentown School Board has five grade A candidates. Among them are two veterans of previous boards, again volunteering their experience.
Bob Smith Jr. is a well known activist in Allentown, with several previous school board terms on his resumé. The same applies to David Zimmerman, who also again is offering his experience to the troubled district.
The current board and administration has been very preoccupied with racial identity. While that is an important consideration in a system with a minority majority, education and leadership will always be the most valuable attributes for student success. With that in mind, I make the following recommendations.
Two Year Opening
Bob Smith Jr. for two year term. Smith is also on the ballot for a four year spot, but my vote will go for the two year slot, that way we can get five great board members.
Four Year Openings
1. Evette D'Amore- Evette has two sons at Dieruff, and is very active in the school system.
2. David Zimmerman- Dave is experienced on school matters and willing to serve again.
3. Tom Houck- retired city policeman and activist
4. Dianne Michels- Special Ed teacher with Masters in Education.
“The current board and administration has been very preoccupied with racial identity. While that is an important consideration in a system with a minority majority…”
ReplyDeleteThis might be the dumbest statement ever written. Should race also be “an important consideration” in districts with a white majority?
Why don’t school board members just choose the most qualified person, regardless of skin color, for whatever job is being filled?
That would seem to be the best way for any school district (or organization, or business, etc.) to improve.
Injecting “racial identity” into hiring sure hasn’t worked to improve the ASD, and opens the district up to lawsuits.
I would suggest keeping an open mind. In many fields, whites are no perceived as the most qualified. Medical, tech, even certain areas of engineering come to mind. Go to Silicon Valley, you will hardly see any white or black people working at the big tech firms.
DeleteThat's because H-1B workers from India are paid far less than what Americans would be paid. Its not because of their skills are better.
Delete7:10 - Anon 12:12 here. I don’t know what you want me to keep an “open mind about. I’m advocating a meritocracy, and hiring the best PERSON available regardless of race.
DeleteAs long as it’s a level playing field (free from disparities that 7:34 notes), I don’t care what color or race the person hired is. Just that they’re the best person available.
That’s part of it, but not the whole story. Visit one of our local suburban high schools. Very diverse at this point. White and black kids are still playing football and dominate the cheer squads. East and south Asian kids fill advanced calculus, honors physics, and music programs. We may need quotas in the near future for whites. (No judgement of good or bad here)
DeleteAre Asians the wealthiest ethnic group in the USA because of H-1B?
DeleteExcellent. Thanks for sharing this informations.
ReplyDeleteSome stellar candidates here.
ReplyDeleteHire some brown H-1B professionals to run the ASD.
ReplyDeleteWin/win.
A ray of light for the ASD.
ReplyDeleteMike, these are good recommendations. Thank you. One additional recommendation, when people vote for school board, the ballot will indicate, "vote for 4". Don't, vote only for the candidate/s you want to support.
ReplyDeletemj adams
ReplyDeleteRacial identity is an important consideration. Please tell us the race of each candidate you mentioned so we can vote accordingly.
Thank you.