The Echo

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100507/NEWS03/5070383

By EDWARD L. KENNEY • The News Journal • May 7, 2010

Voters in the state's largest school district will choose among three candidates for the District A seat in Tuesday's election.

Longtime Christina School Board member and current President George Evans faces challenges from opponents Eric Anderson and Paul Falkowski.

Evans, 62, a lawyer who lives in Wilmington and has served on the board for 29 years, said he supports passage of the almost $19 million referendum May 25 that is intended in part to offset an $8.1 million shortfall. The district can ill afford to take such a hit, he said.

"I am also a strong supporter of safe schools conducive to learning, sound fiscal management and full-day kindergarten," he said. "We are seeking to achieve that with the referendum.

"Equality for all of our students is what I'm seeking to achieve," he said. "A major part of that is closing the achievement gap and placing highly qualified teachers at all of our schools, and to prepare all of the students for career readiness and higher learning.

Anderson, 26, a math teacher at The Charter School of Wilmington who also lives in the city, is running for his first elected office.

"I support the referendum, and I believe there is no way the schools can operate with less," he said. "It's an operating referendum, so it's there to keep teachers in the classroom, and I'm 100 percent behind that.

"And I believe transparency is an issue, communication," said Anderson, who taught in the Christina School District for about seven years. "I believe the board hasn't been transparent enough in regard to the finances and the direction of the district. There hasn't been enough community outreach, not on the district level."

Falkowski, 61, of Wilmington, teaches math at James Groves Adult High School. He ran unsuccessfully for the Christina School Board five years ago.

He also has worked as a computer programmer who advanced to systems analyst in various industries, and he believes that would help him bring an analytical process to the board.

"The top issue for me is recognizing that teaching happens in the class, and everything else should support the teacher in the classroom," said Falkowski, who co-founded the Browntown Community Association in 1989.

"The reason I support the referendum is they need the money," said the retired Army infantry officer. And, he added, "we need new representation on the board to make sure we don't make the same mistakes from the past."

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Contact Edward L. Kenney at 324-2891 or ekenney@delawareonline.com