Meet RTM Candidate: Tracy Brown Barusevicius

Name: Tracy Brown Barusevicius

Municipality: Upper Providence Township

Party: Republican

Running For (include district/ward if applicable): Re-election to the Rose Tree Media Board of School Directors

Positions Held Previously/Years in Office:  Current board member, 1 year

• Fourteen years experience in hospital and healthcare contract negotiation for medical device industry
• Two children attending district schools: Media Elementary and Springton Lake
• Second generation family owned business supporting RTM district since 1970
• Born and raised in Delaware County, resident of Upper Providence since 1999
• Served as Media Elementary School parent representative to RTM Special Education Inclusion Initiative

What are the larger issues facing the district and how would you like to see them resolved? 

The Rose Tree Media School District should be recognized first and foremost by the academic and performance ranking that is attributed to our students on a consistent basis. As part of the teaching and learning environment, rigorous oversight and compliance plague every school district from both a state and federal level, and costs untold dollars to manage and report to those mandates that we have no control over at a local level. This is by far one of the most cumbersome issues to date. 

How would you create a balance between spending taxpayer dollars and quality education? Are you satisfied with the cost/quality balance in an $84M plus budget?  

An overwhelming majority of taxpayers are pleased with the fact that RTMSD operates with the third lowest tax rate in the county (http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/treasurer/TaxRate2013), while maintaining an extremely high academic ranking in the commonwealth: (http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/treasurer/TaxRate2013).

I would consider this no less than a high quality education at any one of our district schools.

How can you improve school district and board transparency with residents? Would you support direct email communication with board members or a live broadcast of board meetings online or on public access television?   

It is inaccurate to claim that this board and our superintendent are not "accessible." None of us are "hidden," we all carry cell phones and have our own email addresses. All of the board's votes, budgets, and business is posted online and is accessible to all residents. Executive sessions are held to keep confidences in matters of employment and legal issues which are confidential attorney client privileges. All boards and municipal authorities hold executive sessions, this is not unique to RTM. All legislative meetings are recorded on tape, and legislative and committee meetings are held open to the public. To broadcast [a meeting] would incur costs not associated with student learning.

Why should residents give you their vote?

I am a passionate advocate of students and learning. Each decision I weigh carries a "cost/benefit" analysis—what is the benefit vs. what is the cost. Any advances in student learning or programs that benefit school age children and their families ensures that these kids are competitive on a national and global basis. The reality of being a board director involves oversight on levels beyond our immediate schools and community. It is my position to ensure that all state and federal mandates are looked at intimately, and where necessary fight back and advocate for what is best for our students and our district.