For the Good of the School District

By Richard Seamon, Somerset.

Over the past 14 years, I have had the privilege of serving two terms on the Franklin Township Board of Education – which encompassed a total of 6 years and 8 months.  During my first term, I played a significant part in the successful referendum for the new High School and then served on the Facilities Committee, which oversaw the final design of the new building.  During my second term, as chair of the Facilities Committee, I managed the creation and implementation of the Long Range Facility Plan, the current Referendum Plan for the District and the Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP), as well as worked with District administration to complete the previously unfinished athletic complex at the high school; as chair of the Ad-Hoc Strategic Plan Committee, I managed the creation and implementation of the District’s Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015.  I also served on the Negotiations Committee, which worked successfully with the FTEA to agree to 4 years of contracts during the most difficult economic period that we have experienced in decades.

At the end of my last term, I ran for re-election in the hopes that I could follow through on the Referendum and ESIP programs and manage them to their successful conclusion; unfortunately, I was not re-elected and the Referendum, ESIP Program and Strategic Plans have languished in 2014 due to a Board of Education that is paralyzed due to its own poor management and absolute lack of any direction from Board leadership.  Our current Board has created such a negative environment that our District currently does not have a permanent Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Director of Personnel, High School Principal, Director of Guidance and Athletic Director.  Personally, my heart aches for the children and staff of this District who will continue to be negatively affected by a lack of permanent and consistent oversight, rising class sizes and buildings that are crumbling due to maintenance that the Board has deferred year after year.  So much work was done by so many people yet, our Board has allowed the District to wither on the vine in front of our eyes.