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NEIGHBORHOOD VOTER NETWORK

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE SURVEY, MAY, 2011


ALBANY, GREENWICH, LENHARTSVILLE

In 2002-03, Kutztown ranked 33 of 615 high schools in the 11th grade PSSA test results (94th percentile).
In 2009-10, it ranked 257 of 672 high schools (62nd percentile). [schooldigger.com]

QUESTIONS: NOLTE SHRAWDER

1. Should parents and taxpayers hold the administration and the teachers to account
for this decline in scholastic achievement? YES YES

2. Should we compare Kutztown to the top 100 schools in the State to determine what
Kutztown can do better? YES YES

The top 100 schools in the 11th grade PSSA test results for 2009-10 had an average of 14.8 students per
teacher. Kutztown currently has 10.5 students per teacher.

3. Given Kutztown now spends more per student than any other district in the county
[BCIU report], should we reduce the number of teachers to bring Kutztown’s ratio into
line with the average student to teacher ratio of the top 100 schools? NO YES

Nolte: “Given the information that was cited just before the question, I have interpreted your question to
be: Should Teachers be reduced to improve 11th Grade PSSA test scores? I have answered No, because
I do not believe that reducing teachers will have a direct improvement on 11th Grade PSSA test scores.
Instead of simply reducing teachers, they need to be held accountable for performance.”

Enrollment at Kutztown has declined from 2,300 students 30 years ago to 1,535 students this year.
Enrollment is projected to drop to 1,400 within the next 5 years.

4. Given this continuing decline in enrollment, do you believe we need to remodel and
expand the high school to provide better facilities for the education of our students? NO NO

Nolte: “The High School does not need to be expanded, it simply needs repairs.”

Shrawder: “I believe the school buildings should be well maintained.”

5. Should a voter referendum be required to raise local property taxes? NO YES

Shrawder: “I believe a referendum should be required if the increase in taxes exceeds an amount
necessary to keep up with inflation in the part of the budget that is subject to inflation.”

6. Do you believe that it is a conflict of interest for a school board director or their
spouse to receive compensation from the district? YES/NO YES

Nolte: “Yes – A school board director should not receive compensation from the district. No – As for a
spouse there would be no conflict of interest as long as the school board director abstains from any vote
that would even have the appearance of a conflict of interest involving the spouse.”

Shrawder: “If a school board director’s family profits from increasing tax rates, that director would
definitely have a conflict when voting for higher taxes.”

7. Do you believe that the school board should be equally concerned with
academic performance and fiscal responsibility? YES YES

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