Sue Schor has been appointed to the vacant position on the Delaware Valley School Board by Court of Common Pleas Judge, Mr. Gregory Chelak. The decision came after the court held a hearing on Wednesday to interview the seven candidates, five of which were able to attend. The hearing was called because of a petition presented to the court to act on the matter, since the school board did not take action within 30 days of the original September 18th resignation of John Wladar. Mrs. Schor was the next highest vote-getter in the last election.

The court denied a later motion by board solicitor Mike Weinstein to delay the judicial intervention until after the October 23rd school board meeting when the official vote to appoint was going to be made by the board. Weinstein originally advised the board that this meeting was close enough to 30-day window that the court was unlikely to step in and make the appointment. According to sources at the hearing, the petitioner, candidate Jack Fisher, explained that the court was obliged to take action regardless if the meeting was close to the last day of the time parameter, and the Judge agreed.

There was no ruling on whether or not the board also violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act in its October 2nd meeting, when it met in an unannounced and closed session to interview, discuss, and unofficially vote on the candidates.

The board will be meet as scheduled tonight at 7pm in the Shohola Elementary School cafeteria.

Post by Nick Troiano, Executive Director

On Monday, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) visited Delaware Valley High School for a town hall meeting. PCYC's Kathryn Braisted greeted the Senator at the Dimmick Inn for lunch and presented a resolution the Coalition passed earlier this year in support of the US Public Service Academy. Braisted, president of the DV high school's student council, talked with the Senator about PCYC and its plans going forward.

The following letter was sent to Pike County Dispatch from PCYC Board Member Ryan Jameson in response to DV School Board Member John Kupillas, who opined that young people have immature brains that would exclude them from serving on the school board.

To the editor,

I found it very discouraging and disheartening to read a letter last week from School Board member John Kupillas who stated his opposition to a recent Delaware Valley graduate who applied for a vacant spot on the board. Mr. Kupillas reasoned that, “The section of the brain responsible for decision making and rational thinking doesn’t fully mature until the mid-twenties. Proof? Try to get auto insurance if you are a teen. The risk is the highest of any age group.”

This argument is objectionable since it is fundamentally based on age and not on merit. The candidate met the legal requirements for his candidacy, specifically being over the age of 18. Thus, it is very troubling that Mr. Kupillas would seek to impose his own qualifications on this public office and disregard the letter of the law.

Further, the argument itself is not only offensive but also surprisingly ignorant. Young people have held public office across the country, and there is no reason to believe that they were any less competent in their responsibilities. In fact, young people can bring knowledge and a fresh perspective that will benefit the people whom they serve. One need not look any further than Middletown, NY for an example of a recent graduate assuming a seat on a school board. Also consider that over half of this country’s 20 most recent presidents first held office before age 35.

It is shocking that, of all people, a school board member would aim to actively exclude young people who seek to involve themselves in decision-making and the democratic process. Young people’s brains are developed enough to let us drive, vote, and even die in war (and, Mr. Kupillas, we’re doing all three in record numbers lately). So I find it outrageous to claim that when it comes to having a say in the affairs of the school district we all deeply care about, that our brains are then not able to function as adequately.

I trust it is not true, as some suggest, Mr. Kupillas, that your comments were politically motivated. So I hope that at the commencement ceremonies this year, upon presenting a diploma to Delaware Valley graduates, you will be able to tell them in person that it will be a few years before their undeveloped brains can fully partake in democracy. I am sure they will appreciate the wisdom from your rational, mature brain. And perhaps some of the 3,122 registered Pike County voters aged 18- 24 will even send a personalized thank-you in the future.

Sincerely,

Ryan Jameson; Chair of Civic Engagement, Pike County Youth Coalition

The following is a response to a letter from Delaware Valley School Board director John Kupillas that was printed in the Pike County Dispatch on October 16, 2008.

Regarding filling a board vacancy, Mr. Kupillas wrote:

“Can a teenager fresh out of high school connect to the residents served by this board? Maybe in the future, but not at this point. The section of the brain responsible for decision making and rational thinking doesn’t fully mature until the mid-twenties. Proof? Try to get auto insurance if you are a teen. The risk is the highest of any age group.” (Pike Dispatch, 10/16/08)

It is discouraging and disheartening that a public official, especially one who is responsible for the education of thousands our community’s students, would express such contempt for the candidacy of a recent Delaware Valley High School graduate, Ryan Balton.

Mr. Balton is over 18 years of age and has lived in the district for over one year, meeting both qualifications for office. Disregarding Mr. Balton’s candidacy because of his age is not only unfair but also blatantly discriminatory.

“To dismiss young people who want to become further involved in the democratic process through seeking public office, especially by reasoning that their brains are not fully developed, is destructive and unconscionable,” said Nick Troiano, PCYC’s Executive Director.

Though PCYC does not endorse political candidates, including Mr. Balton, we support having a youth perspective in decision-making.

“On a school board with nine members, the idea of having one of those be a recent student with intimate knowledge of the school system following 13 years of education should be welcomed, not publicly scorned,” commented Sam Dutkus, Board Member of PCYC.

According to the Young Elected Leaders Project at Rutgers University, over half of the 20 most recent presidents held public office before age 35. Young people have demonstrated their capacity to be a constructive part of our governance. In this most recent election cycle, youth voter turnout has reached historic levels. We recognize that encouraging youth civic participation is vital to the future of a healthy democratic society.

Young people under the age of 24 gathered in Pike County in an unprecedented effort almost a year ago to form the Pike County Youth Coalition, which has grown to over 200 members and supporters since then.

“Our main mission is to mobilize young people to become engaged in their community. We find it insulting and counter-productive to have a school board member, who should be nurturing this quality in DV’s students, say such disheartening things to our community’s youth,” said Eric Neumann, Chair of the Schools and Education Committee for PCYC.

Young people’s brains are developed enough to let us drive, vote, and even die in war. It is outrageous to claim that when it comes to having a say in the affairs of the school district we all deeply care about, that our brains are then not able to function as well as those of older people.

“We strongly believe that participation in community improvement transcends age. Young people bring a useful perspective to the decision-making table, and it is very discouraging that Mr. Kupillas would publicly express such disdain for the efforts of a recent graduate to use his experience and knowledge to serve the district,” Troiano added.

Media Contact:

Kaitlin Paul, PCYC Communications Director; (845) 741-2754

Available for Comment:

Maya Enista, Chief Executive Officer of Mobilize.org – a national all-partisan youth civic engagement organization; (202) 736-5703

For more on the Pike County Youth Coalition, please visit www.pikeyouth.org.

CAMP HILL PA - The Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) today announced that Oct. 16 will be designated as Lights o n Afterschool to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for Pennsylvania's children, families and communities.

More than 250 communities across the Commonwealth will mark the day through various youth- focused events.

In America today, 1 in 4 youth -- 14.3 million children -- are alone and unsupervised after school; in Pennsylvania, 26 percent of youth are "latchkey kids" who go unsupervised after school. Pennsylvania ranks 31st in the nation in terms of percent of youth who are unsupervised after school.

"Lights o n Afterschool is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and relieve working parents of worries about how their children spend their afternoons. Unfortunately, we don't have enough afterschool programs, and too many kids are home alone in the afternoons or out o n the streets where they can be exposed to crime or engage in unhealthy behaviors," said Kisha Bird, PSADYN Project Director.

Lights o n Afterschool was launched in October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide. The event grew in 2001 to more than 3,600 events and more than 7,500 in 2007. Lights o n Afterschool is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs.

"Afterschool programs provide opportunities to help young people develop into successful adults and are key to children's success," Bird added.

Lights o n Afterschool events are scheduled October 16 across Pennsylvania. To find out about Lights o n Afterschool events in your community, visit: http://www.psaydn.org/.

About Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN)

Formed in 2004, Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) operates out of the Center for Schools and Communities in Camp Hill. The organization promotes sustainable, high-quality out-of-school time youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania's children, youth and families. PSAYDN's mission is that all children and youth deserve access to high quality out-of-school time programs that promote positive youth development and support the successful transition to adulthood.

Reposted from tristateobserver.com.