David Comalli is a Democrat running for CBSD School Board Region 3.
Why do you think you are qualified to effectively represent your community on the school board?
Public education has always been something that I have valued and supported. I have long believed that having an educated youth leads to a stronger and more prosperous community. That belief was a primary driver in my pursuit of a PhD in Developmental Psychology, and is likely one of the reasons why I fell for my wife, who is a reading specialist in the Hatboro Horsham School District. Additionally, as a parent of one (and soon to be two) kids in the district, I am extremely invested in ensuring that our school district maintains its track record of providing excellent education. Over the past 6 months, I have knocked on hundreds of doors and had hundreds of conversations with members of our community. I’m proud and heartened that the resounding message when talking to our neighbors, is a shared interest in ensuring our children have the opportunity to learn and grow in a well-managed and educationally excellent school district.
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?
I do not support book bans. I am a firm believer that the free exchange of information is a critical ingredient in successful operations, and that is even more true for education. Reading a book that has a gay or trans character will not turn a child or adult gay or trans. Pushing to ban books, based on the sexuality of the characters in it, only serves to belittle, demean, and dehumanize people who are in the group that is the focus of the ban.
I firmly believe that teachers and librarians are the individuals who should be choosing the books that they instruct students with, and I will support policies to help ensure that. This is not an anti-choice or parental rights position. Our district follows state law, which offers parents the ability to prohibit their children from reading books that the parent doesn’t want them to. So, calling for “parent choice” in this arena either shows a lack of understanding of current policies and law, or reflects a desire to make choices for our parents.
Having and keeping great teachers and staff is critical to ensuring our students receive an excellent education.
Decreasing teacher and staff retention is also 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 do to reverse this trend?
Having and keeping great teachers and staff is critical to ensuring our students receive an excellent education. The school board does not directly interview or hire teachers or support staff, but policies can be critical in making sure that your teachers feel empowered, supported, and appreciated. Furthermore, the board can and should listen to teachers and staff, and address their concerns as thoughtfully and promptly as possible.
What are the school board’s biggest challenges in the coming months; the next four years?
The biggest challenge in the coming months is difficult to predict, due to the chaotic and uncertain times we are in. Externally, the questions about funding from the state and federal government cause uncertainty and could lead to massive budget issues.
READ: Education Groups Highlight How Pennsylvania Budget Stalemate Shortchanges Students’ Education
Internally, the board will need to continue to navigate the situation at Jamison that led to a massive terminations of and resignations by high-ranking administrators. In the long term, I anticipate that the biggest challenge will be navigating how to update and renovate our schools that most need it. These renovations were put on hold due to uncertainty surrounding costs, and that uncertainty is likely to continue as long as the federal government acts on the whims of a capricious charlatan.
How will you work with administrators and fellow board members to address the district’s biggest challenges?
Open and honest communication is the foundation of any functional relationship. I plan to make sure that fellow board members and district administrators know where I stand on issues, and also that they know I have heard and understand their points of view. No one person has all of the answers, and we will all bring skills, knowledge, and points of view that hold value and warrant consideration. I look forward to working and collaborating with fellow decision makers to overcome the inevitable obstacles and do what is best for our kids and therefore our community.
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