Lyryn Yacoe - CASD Region 3

Website/ social media handle: https://www.facebook.com/YacoeCASD

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

Being a board member is not a responsibility to take lightly. It requires much devotion of time and is a job for someone passionate about their school district. Anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about Coatesville and our success. Like so many proud alumni, I believe that the education and experiences that I had in Coatesville prepared me well for adulthood. That sense of pride in our school and community needs to be fostered.

As a parent and community member, I am continually looking for ways to be actively involved in this district, consistently advocating for district transparency and improved communication with all stakeholders.  School board members have a unique opportunity to work alongside the district employees and stakeholders to advocate for families, engage community organizations, and inspire our students. All stakeholders- community organizations, parents, district personnel, as well as students - must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.

 

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have attended nearly every school board meeting since 2017. Founding CCAP (Coatesville Community and Area Parents advocacy group for CASD)  allowed me to form many relationships and afforded me many opportunities to partner with CASD. I have a complete understanding of the duties of school board members, the rules and procedures required by Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA), and the dedication necessary to be an effective school board member.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community? 

• Founded Coatesville Community Area Parents (CCAP).  CCAP began as an advocacy group to analyze the negative trends that began to surface in CASD. The most important quality of CCAP is the responsibility to truth in communication. Our leadership worked diligently to ascertain facts and conduct statistically sound surveys to determine what was working and not working in CASD.  Through CCAP, we published Monthly School Board Updates for the community from 2018 to 2021.  CCAP's public blog and Facebook page as well as the private Facebook group continue to thrive today.
  
  
• Accepted responsibility of and facilitated “Adopt a Coatesville Teacher” Program (2019 to 2022)
  
  
• Worked on Discipline & Code of Conduct Task Force, Comprehensive Planning Team, Technology Task Force Team, and Master Facilities Planning Team
  
  
• Worked together to organize “Preschool Partnership” program for the district
  
  
• Partnered with CASD’s Food Services Supervisor on Covid Meal Distribution - CCAP organized immediate daily distribution to students during COVID quarantine.  Organized volunteers, packing, and distribution on an ongoing basis, including home deliveries
  
  
• Founded (and currently the head) the non-profit Coatesville High School Alumni Association
  
  
• Organized Hurricane IDA Relief Efforts - CCAP quickly organized food and clothing donations, 100’s of volunteers for the cleanup effort on 5th Ave and raised money for immediate hotel stays, gift cards for those impacted, and remediation efforts

• Assisted in the creation of the Community Partnership/Engagement policy 
  

 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing? 

 

Leadership  

• Over the last couple of years, we have had a great turnover in leadership positions such as the Superintendent.  It is critical that our leadership, improves communication with all stakeholders, engaging them in meaningful conversation, allowing for input into impactful decisions.
  
  
• We have remarkable teachers and staff working with our students. It’s essential for us to demonstrate that we value all employees and re-establish our commitment to them to help strengthen their morale to allow the school board to work harmoniously and productively in improving our district.

Academic Progress    

• All of our students are deserving of the very best services and education that we can provide.

• Many strides in the last few years have enhanced and enriched the happenings in our schools, but there is still so much more to do.  We must continue mapping a course that will provide the necessary opportunities that students need to reach their full potential in CASD schools and beyond. 

Fiscal Accountability

• Board members must review and request information to make informed decisions to ensure the district is fiscally responsible and includes equitable improvements to our educational programs. It is essential for us to become proactive instead of reactive.

 

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?  If elected, what will you prioritize?

 

Board and Community Relationship  

• Board members are elected officials from the community. They must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students, and the community at large, encouraging open dialog. The board must seek input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision.
  
  
• Board members have an obligation to the public to be transparent, to ask questions and discuss decisions made for the stakeholders. Board members should hold one another accountable to examine different perspectives in order to make the best decisions.
  

 

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

 

Our community is the backbone of the district.  Without the community, we wouldn’t have a school. Therefore, they should be as involved as much as they can.  However, I also understand that it can be extremely overwhelming to figure out where to start.   I created CCAP because I was one of those parents who didn’t know how to get involved and as I learned and then our team learned we realized how important getting the community informed and involved really was.   

When I wrote ‘What Does the Coatesville Area School Board Do?’ four years ago, I wanted to explain how important the community’s role was in selecting and keeping our school board accountable. This is just a tiny way for someone to be involved… I still believe this today. 

We as a district need to better engage the community to ensure representation for all of our students.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

Coatesville is one of the most diverse school districts in the country (26th in the nation). It’s important to embrace that diversity. We can do more to celebrate and leverage this important quality in our district for improvements. We must do better to address the diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in our schools.

I proudly support our district through various tasks and committees.  If I am elected to serve, I will continue to advocate for the district by thoroughly researching any information brought before the board, working with community organizations, and speaking up for our students to have the best and most equitable education CASD can provide.

Marilyn Harris - CASD Region 3

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am running for a seat on the CASD School  Board because I am very concerned about the reading illiteracy in our students, the need for each and every student to be educated equally to the best of their abilities, and to reduce the ongoing and recent violence and bullying incidents that adversely affects our students.

 

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

My experience and/or background that will assist my success as a school board member is that of personal experience in rearing my own children. As such, I am acquainted also with the challenges of children, teachers and learning.  Moreover, I have a love and compassion for the successful growth and development of all youth.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community? 

I do believe in being involved in and enhancing the community in which I live. Volunteering is important to me, and I currently do so on a regular basis at the Coatesville Salvation Army, in addition to feeding the homeless and those in need of food.

 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing? 

 

My top issues facing the CASD are improving academic scoring, IEP student follow-up, and securing a safe environment for learning.

 

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?  If elected, what will you prioritize?

 

A particular issue that motivates me to serve, and if elected, is the protection, safety, and emotional well-being of all students, especially in light of the recent disturbing events at school.

 

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

 

The role that I believe the community should play in our schools is to support each other interdependently; building a bridge for better and stronger relationships between families, community and schools.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

I would like to share with voters that when we, parents, community, and school board members, look to and work together resolving the challenges before us, and strategize with hopeful expectation, we can achieve even more successful schools!

Jen Shaut - CASD Region 2

Website/ social media handle: Facebook - Jennifer Shaut, CASD School Board Director

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am running to keep my current seat on the board because I think we are starting to gain some traction in moving things that we’ve wanted to get changed from the time I first took my seat on the board about 18 months ago.

 

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have been a board member for about 18 months. I am also the mother of 2 CASD kids, 1 graduate and 1 in 7th grade. I am a nurse and have been for 16 years.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community? 

I have been a board member for about 18 months. I also own a non-profit organization aimed at increasing accessibility for young women in economically depressed areas to period supplies.

 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing? 

- Student Attendance

- Funding 

- Teacher Shortages

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?  If elected, what will you prioritize?

 

I am motivated to serve because I believe that all children deserve access to quality education and resources that can help them reach their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances. Additionally, I am passionate about advocating for policies and programs that can provide support and opportunities for at-risk children, such as early childhood education, mentorship programs, and after-school activities.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

1. Providing resources: The community can provide financial, material, and volunteer resources to support schools. This can include donating supplies, equipment, or funds for programs, as well as volunteering time to assist teachers and students.
   
   
2. Advocacy: The community can advocate for policies and funding that support education, and encourage their elected officials to prioritize education issues. By speaking out on behalf of students and educators, the community can help ensure that schools have the resources they need to provide a high-quality education.
   
   
3. Partnership: Schools can partner with local businesses, organizations, and community groups to provide students with opportunities for internships, mentorship programs, and real-world experiences. This can help students develop important skills and knowledge, and create a stronger connection between schools and the community.
   
   
4. Engagement: Parents and community members can engage with schools by attending school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and other events. By staying informed and involved, they can help support their children's education and advocate for the needs of their community's schools.

Overall, the community can play an important role in supporting schools and improving education outcomes for students. By working together, schools and communities can create a more positive and effective learning environment for all students.

Liz Muirhead - CASD Region 2

Website/ social media handle: School Board Facebook Page

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I care deeply about getting involved in the community I live in and making it better.

Even before I finished building my first house in the district in 2004, I was attending school board meetings. I was concerned about high taxes and wanted to ensure the district was able to do its best to serve its students well. My first child was only 1 year old. I attended and spoke at meetings often, chaired committees, and researched policies, laws, and district statistics to help the school board and superintendent work effectively on behalf of students and taxpayers — and to hold them accountable when they didn’t. One thing people always asked me was “Liz, when are you going to run for school board?” But as a full time working mom, pursuing a professional designation, and raising two children, it was never the right time. Now my youngest child is a year away from graduation, and the time is finally right to step in and serve my community in a more official way.

 

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

As someone who has worked in finance for 25 years, digging into numbers and understanding statistics and district finances is where I believe I can add the most value. I also have a deep understanding of charter school funding laws, their evolution, and their flaws. In addition, I’ve done statistical analysis of district data over many years and believe in having decisions informed by an accurate review of data.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community? 

I have spent time in the schools - volunteering for the PTA as a member and officer, helping with various student activities, and spending 7 years as a marching band/ color guard chaperone and “band mom” at Coatesville Area High School. 

I chaired the Act 1 commission, co-founded the Coatesville taxpayer alliance, contributed to the creation of CCAP, and served on multiple strategic planning committees in the district.

I’ve built connections and relationships with numerous educators and staff in the district and understand both the challenges and the spirit that ties the school community together.

 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing? 

 

The top issues are the financial strain that the district is under due to the way education is funded in PA (particularly charter school funding) and the district’s approach to educating the whole child, after considering the high percentage of special needs and socioeconomic disadvantaged students in the district.

 

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?  If elected, what will you prioritize?

 

Accountability and transparency are huge for me. For years, the district has made proposals and decisions without clear insight into the goals or factors considered. I want to ensure the right decisions are made and the board is not a rubber stamp that accepts whatever comes before it. I will not be afraid to ask for more information and context and do so publicly so the taxpayers and community members can learn why a proposal is being brought forward.

 

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

 

Especially in a community like coatesville, the community is essential to the success of the school and the children it serves. We need community members to share expertise, volunteer, set examples, and lift up the school community. What makes coatesville special is what will help the students and the district succeed.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

Please support me to be your Region 2 school director, so I can continue my devotion to improving the district my family has called home for nearly two decades. As your representative, I will be focused on increasing transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Thank you for your support!

Rebecca Harlan - CASD Region 2

Why are you running for a seat on the school board? 

I am currently on the school board, and I would like to continue working with the new Superintendent.  I also believe that we still have a lot of work to do in our Special Education department, we are doing great things and I know we will continue to do great things, and I want to be a part of this.  I also believe that the special needs population still doesn’t have a loud voice, and I want to be that voice for parents and students.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member? 

My current role as a school board member.  I am also a special education advocate, so this helps me to be the voice for the voiceless. I already know and understand the amount of time it involves being a school board member.  

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I was a volunteer for CYI, current school board member, currently sitting on the mental health consortium that the district is involved in. 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

1) A teacher shortage, as well as support staff shortage

2) Special Education

3) Finances

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

My particular issue is special education.  Parents understanding what is involved in special education.  This is the platform that I ran on and I will continue with this platform.  Making sure that our students with needs are not left out and are getting the education they deserve.  I would like to continue to educate our families on special education and help them understand the process, and what their child is entitled to during their time at school.  I would like to prioritize a transition program for our students that are 18-21.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The community is important to our schools, they are our biggest cheerleaders.  We are headed in the right direction with the community helping our students, and I believe that the new Superintendent will continue to have our community come into our schools and help where they are needed.

Bob Essl - CASD Region 2

Website/ social media handle: Facebook page soon to be published

 

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board? 

I am a concerned parent who wants to see our Coatesville area youth receive the best resources for a better education. I am also concerned about the budget that supports our schools but has a significant impact on our community.

 

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I've held a 20-year career in sales with the last 10 years working with enterprise organizations managing budgets and forming strategies to accelerate growth. I take a delicate consultative approach to understand their core issues, carefully listening to key stakeholders in order to formulate a positive outcome that is measurable and accountable.

 

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

 I am an assistant coach for the Shanahan / Coatesville Middle school ice hockey team.

 

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

1. Fiscal responsibilities
2. Age-appropriate material
3. Parental rights

 

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?  If elected, what will you prioritize?

I want to create transparency between the school board and the community. I want to understand from the community what they feel is most important for the school district. Issues that I've already been hearing from the community are poorly managed budgets, overspending, unnecessary tax increases, inappropriate material being presented to our youngest school children.

 

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The community is a vital part of the success of an effectively managed school board, they need to play a vital role in influencing the decisions the school board makes to improve the district.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

If elected, I will work tirelessly to be an advocate and a voice for the students, teachers and parents of the CASD community. It is especially important for me that the board is accountable for the decisions they make in supporting the Coatesville area schools, teachers and students. I feel transparency is the key to building a strong relationship between the school district and its community.