Letter to the Editor:

My name is Patrick Walker and I am running for one of the two open seats for the Avon Grove School Board in Region 1 (Franklin and London Britain Townships).  I think it is important to elect dedicated, interested and qualified people to the school board.  I am ready to commit the time and energy to work for the school district, the students and the local community to maintain and improve our school district. 

I am a parent of four school age children.  My wife and I moved here seven years ago, in part, for the opportunity for our children to attend the schools in this district. We considered it one of the best in Pennsylvania. We still do.  I want to keep it this way.  Professionally, I have a Ph.D in Chemistry and a J.D. of Law.  I work as an intellectual property attorney at a nationally recognized law firm.  I plan to bring my education and training to help address issues facing the school board.

One issue, for example, is keeping a diverse offering of school programs.  I am in favor of maintaining a dynamic school district which offers a strong academic curriculum as well as sports, music and art programs.  Currently, many extracurricular programs are under attack by both an ever increasing activity fee charged to student participants and by the extreme conservative members of the current Board.  I will work to maintain the high academic standards and as well as keep sports, music and arts programs in place and accessible for all students.

Interestingly, I am a registered Republican running on the Democratic ticket.  An unlikely combination, but one that I am proud of.  Local politics should be less about national issues and more about local issues, such as the quality of our schools and the education our students receive, the effective use of our tax revenues, and board decisions which affect the reputation of our district.  These are the issues I will focus my attention to if elected. To learn more about me and the issues that affect our district go to www.avongrove2013.com.  

Please vote for me, Patrick Walker, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 for the Avon Grove School Board. 

Patrick Walker

Landenberg