Meet School Board Candidate Robert Phillips

Robert Phillips

Age: 50 

Family:  Wife, Sarah.  Two children attending Saucon Valley Elementary School. 

Political party affiliation:  cross-filed. 

Tell us about your educational background: 

MBA, Moravian College.  BS, Computer Science with a dual major in Communications, DeSales University. 

Tell us about your professional/business background:   

I have worked in the computer and communications industry since graduating from college.  I have held assignments with increasing responsibilities in sales, sales management, marketing, and client management.  Currently I am a Client Director for a number of Fortune 500 companies at AT&T. 

Why are you running for school board? 

I started attending school board meetings on a regular basis over five years ago.  As a taxpayer, I wanted to understand where the money went.  As a parent of children attending the school, I wanted assurance that my children were receiving the best possible education.  As well, I wanted to see that Saucon Valley was maintaining its reputation for delivering an outstanding education and preparing students to be successful and productive adults. 

I am not running as part of a slate of candidates, nor am I running to support the ideals of a political party.  My interest in serving is as a parent and to ensure that our school district returns to a focus on quality education and the school board considers the impact that each decision will have on current and future students.  The majority of the current board does not have children that currently attend our schools.  I am as aware as anyone of the importance of keeping tax bills as low as practical.  Equally important, however, is properly preparing our children for success in their working life - which impacts all of us. A healthy school system is a critical component of a healthy community. 

What qualifies you to serve on the board? 

Because of my attendance record at school board meetings I am well versed in current issues and the operation of the board.  I know what needs to be done and how to go about doing it.  Being active in the community is important to me.  My volunteer board and committee experience includes work with Artsquest (Musikfest Communications Committee), Hillside School (Audit Committee), Cub Pack 349 (Treasurer), and Central Moravian Church (Trustee).

My professional skills include project management, marketing, budgeting, matrix team management, personnel management, understanding the application of technology, and negotiations.  

What do you see as the board's primary role and responsibilities?

What everyone sees is the board sets the budget.  More importantly, the board sets the school district’s goals and the methodology for how those goals are achieved.  The board needs to operate with zealous transparency and a keen interest in listening to and interacting with the community.  The board sets the tenor for employee relations with administration, faculty and staff.  A successful school board measures itself on striving towards excellence and collaborating with all stakeholders in finding innovative ways to improve education.  

What's your position on outsourcing school bus drivers' jobs?

I am not in favor of outsourcing transportation.  There would need to be clear and compelling evidence of material long-term savings without risk to safety and quality.  

Outsourcing transportation was considered a few years ago and bids were received.  The determination at that time was there would be minimal if any savings as well a risk of uncontrollable higher costs in the future.  I'm not aware of any significant changes since that time that would cause the outcome of a bidding process to be much different today.

The current board did not present their reasons for issuing the request for bids now.  The item was not on a published meeting agenda.  Instead the topic was added to the agenda by a board member the night of the meeting and a vote was taken without discussion.  

In many ways, this issue highlights the cooperation, teamwork and transparency I am looking to bring to our schools.  The impetus behind the outsourcing consideration should have been stated publicly.  And we should be working with the drivers and community to find solutions, rather than creating fear, unrest, and concern.

SV teachers went on strike in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and they are currently working without a contract. Do you support the pay freeze teachers have been asked to accept, along with other district employees? What do you think must happen to avert another strike?

My understanding is the teachers offered to accept a pay freeze but had some questions - the board declined to accept the offer and continue the discussion.  It has never been publicly stated why the board objected to the teacher's offer or if the board was willing to meet to find a mutually acceptable solution.  For the 2012/13 school year, our teacher's have been working under the terms of an expired contract, effectively accepting a one-year pay freeze.)

Nothing can completely prevent another strike, but the key to averting one is working together and being mutually respectful.  I do not believe the teacher's wanted to strike in prior years, but felt they had no other option.  I know the community is against a strike. As a parent, I understand the disruption of a strike and that the impact on learning is much greater than just the days out of school.

We must commit to working together, not apart.  We must commit to a spirit of cooperation and openness.  We must turn away from the ‘we’ vs. ‘them’ mentality and instead realize that it is ‘us.’  And collectively we are all committed to the same thing - educating our children.

Tell us about any other major challenges facing the school district and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):

1.  Recognizing and implementing new approaches to education.  Technology is providing exciting new opportunities for how learning is accomplished - smart boards in the classrooms, tablet computing, flipping the school day, and online collaboration among students and with teachers.  We have the tools to do much of this already … we need to encourage and support our faculty as they embrace these new techniques.

2.  Adopting the Pennsylvania common core standards.  The state has dictated much of the curriculum.  We need to adopt it and ensure a smooth transition and that we focus on excelling within these new regulations and standards.

3.  Building maintenance.  We must ensure that we are maintaining our buildings for safety, longevity, and efficiency.  

4.  Pennsylvania State Retirement System payments.  This is a state created challenge that will impact every school district in Pennsylvania.  We need to continue to be mindful of the possibility of increased pension fund payments in coming years.  

But this cannot be an excuse for doing less than our best today.  It cannot continue to be a reason to increase class sizes and cut academic programs.  So far, the state has provided relief every year from the doomsday predictions.  My belief is if the state legislature does not provide funding relief, most every state representative will lose the next election.  And they aren't going to risk losing their jobs based on bad decisions made by their predecessors.  

Saucon Valley is reasonably prepared for the possibility of significantly increased pension payments.  We have to stop using this as a standard excuse to continue to cut into the depth and breadth of the education offered at Saucon Valley.

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

I spent $190 in yard signs for name recognition.  My funding is entirely my own - I do not have benefactors, I do not have a PAC. 

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

I have not solicited any endorsements.

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

I do not use social media on a regular basis.