From the press release:
Meyer Persow of Rehoboth Beach has announced that he will seek the at-large seat on the Cape Henlopen School Board in the upcoming May 12 election.
In announcing his candidacy, Persow listed three primary issues for his campaign – promoting alternative strategies for teaching, increasing school safety, and working to decrease the number of students who are “choicing out” of the school district. “We need to work with our new governor and elected officials to move away from having our teachers ‘teach to the test’ and allow them to be more innovative in the classroom, challenging our kids to think and reason instead of learning how to pass a test. While testing is needed to measure performance, we need to free our teachers to stimulate our children’s minds,” said Persow.
“Parents around the region have told me that one of their chief concerns is safety in the schools,” said Persow. “We need to ensure that each child has a safe environment in which to learn.” Persow said that he will work with parents, students, teachers and administrators towards this goal.
According to Persow, students leaving our school district should be a major concern to everyone, whether or not they have kids in our schools. Last year, Cape lost over 100 students to the other schools like Sussex School of the Arts. “Employment and property values will be negatively affected if people and businesses believe we have ineffective schools. We have good schools. Can we make them better? Of course we can. I believe that Dr. Stone has set us on a good path with his academies plan for the high school, but we also need to look at expanding arts education in the lower grades.”
Persow volunteers with the Sussex Family YMCA, serving on its Major Gifts committee for the Strong Kids Campaign, which raises funds to provide YMCA program scholarships. He is also a member of Seaside Jewish Community, where he served as a religious school teacher, and the Sussex County chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. He is a graduate of the University of Denver where he received bachelor degrees in Secondary Education and Political Science. Persow is employed as a Program and Management Analyst, specializing in government finance, with the US Office of Personnel Management.
The Cape Gazette provides additional information on the playing field. The at-large seat Meyer is running for is currently open and there is one other seat open on the Board this year.
Meyer announced on Sunday at Dining with Progressives Lewes. He got a rousing response from the audience (which included Lt. Gov. Matt Denn) to his announcement.
A progressive voice with new ideas. Just what the Doctor ordered for Sussex County.
Want to help? Meyer notes that his website should be up in a week or so, but you can contact his campaign to volunteer or ask about opportunities via this email: PersowForCape@aol.com. If you want to help with funds, make out checks to:
Friends of Meyer Persow
19856 Church St
Rehoboth Beach 19971-3171