*Correction: Lynch was incorrectly reported as a Democrat in a previous report. In the May primary, registered Democrats selected Lynch (a Republican) as their nominee for school board director.
Jane Schrader Lynch is a Republican and Warminster resident.
Why do you think you are qualified to effectively represent your community on the school board?
“Experience, knowledge and dedication.” Presently I am serving my 18th year on the Centennial School Board along with serving as [its] president for five terms. I have gained knowledge by serving on each committee on the board. As a resident of Warminster for over 50 years, my husband and I have raised our three sons here. All graduated from Centennial School District along with [our] daughter-in-law and grandchildren. “Education is my passion, [and] having a good education for each child is my desire.”
Over the past few years we have seen attempts by some school boards across Bucks County, as well as Pennsylvania and the country, to either unilaterally ban books or make it easier for community members to challenge and have books banned, often by usurping the authority of librarians and administrative leadership. What is your position on book banning, and how will you implement policies to support faculty and students?
Librarians try to choose books that are recommended by various authorities with guidelines for schools. In the event parents object to a book, they have the right to object and file the proper paperwork to cite their case for removal. What we witnessed a few years ago in national headlines caused havoc and in reality produced nothing but bad will!!
Decreasing teacher and staff retention is a growing issue school districts are facing. What is your role in the recruiting, interviewing and hiring process and what role can a school board serve to reverse this trend?
A school board member can work to ensure our district has a stable working environment of administrators and cabinet [members] to invite new teachers and staff who would want to be part of our team.
What are the school board’s biggest challenges in the coming months; the next four years?
Budgets will be the biggest challenges all school boards will face.
READ: Pennsylvania’s Budget Impasse Causes Funding Headaches for Public School Administrators
Federal and state cuts will drastically impact our income. Extremely hard decisions will have to be made in expenditures in order to maintain a good education for all of our students.
How will you work with administrators and fellow board members to address the district’s biggest challenges in the short and long term?
As I have previously stated, it is mandatory for this board and all future boards to have administration and the finance director bring forth cost cutting measures to reduce our budgets. Currently, over the last two budgets, our expenditures exceeded our income by just fewer than $9 million. Funds to balance [the budget] were taken from the reserve fund.
Centennial Candidate Q&A’s:
School Board Candidate Q&A: Flemming Godiksen – Centennial School District
