Candidate for
School Director; Great Valley School District; Region I

As the parent of a child in the Great Valley school district, a classroom parent volunteer, and a district taxpayer, I commend the performance of three incumbent school board members running for re-election: Dave Barratt, Pat Gillespie and Andy Daga. To their great credit, these three have devoted considerable time and effort, at no pay, serving our area and striving to keep a top-rate education system in place for our community while practicing fiscal prudence. This Board's proven results are all the more laudable given that this current board inherited the effects of some previous decisions that were not of its choosing or making.
As a fiscal conservative, I am personally pleased to note that the management approach of this Board has brought about millions of dollars in reduced expenses. Prominent among these items includes seeking and securing contract givebacks from the teachers' union. All the while, the educational opportunities and value of a GV education has remained intact. Given the historic economic downturn and budget challenges facing all levels of government, this speaks well of the business savvy of this Board, as well as its interest in advancing the college, career and, indeed, the very life chances for our young people.
In our community, we are blessed to live in great neighbor-hoods that comprise a highly-ranked school district. Whether one has kids in the district or not, a well-performing school district is essential for the future prosperity of our region, because our employers need highly-educated citizens to grow our economy and all of our property values appreciate because of their being situated in an outstanding school district.
Please join me at the polls on May 21 to support the right direction of this current school board by voting to re-elect Dave Barratt, Pat Gillespie and Andy Daga.
Cordially, Duane Milne, Great Valley Class of 1986