Cape Henlopen Gets Progressive Dem Candidate for School Board!
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
Tags: Local Races
Way to go Meyer!
Cool. It sounds like the district’s voters have a great candidate.
I don’t see a middle initial in the story.
Well, not so fast there. He may be a progressive in his positions, but if his most recent past performance in the bungled mess called a referendum that is going on right now is any indication, he could simply end up being a parrot for an administration that rivals Red Clay and Christina for wonton spending and lack of transparency. It will be interesting to see how he does in terms of proving that he is his own man and not the superintendent’s like many could be considered on that Board. Let’s hope he is a breath of fresh air, not the second coming of old guard mentality (be damned the public – full speed ahead) in “progressive” clothing.
Political Observer – I am my own man. Since I don’t know any of the current board members or the superintendent, I’m sure that many will look warily at me. I believe in the technology referendum. Could it have been handled better – yes. Should the administration be more forthcoming in answering even the smallest question from the taxpayers – YES. Thursday night’s board meeting, where the final budget is going to be presented, will be enlightening, as I still have questions about some of the spending items. Give me a chance to put my ideas out there. Drop me an email at PersowForCape – I’d love to get together with you to hear your concerns and ideas.
Cassandra – thanks for the plug.
That’s what I call responsiveness.
I was just writing that.
One thing I wanted to mention – while I am a registered Democrat, the school board race is non-partisan. I’m going to be reaching out to everyone.
A regular Mike Castle.
(Kidding!)
Meyer is perfect for the job! He is such a genuine person who has an unbelievable nac for responsibility and hardworkingness. We should all be thanking him for running making Cape even better! He will really represent the people and be our words and opinions to greater the school district. So, Meyer, thanks fro running and good luck with the race! Us Delawarians love you!
What is “wonton” spending, #3? Are they buying Dim Sum with taxpayer dollars down there?
You’re going to need a better percentage of votes than the referendum just got. Your challenge, if you are elected, is to find the funding to do what the referendum was to buy (do we yet have any idea what that was exactly?), but do it within the existing technology funding. It is there. It just needs to be allocated toward the classroom appropriately.
There are a few “dim” sums to be found there…
So far, from what I read here I gather he’s a fan of Dr. Stone*, brought politics into the mix (yet claims it doesn’t matter that he’s a registered Democrat), and is openly concerned about “property values”.
Three strikes.
*After the past referendum debacles, anything with Stone’s name attached to it is destined for failure.
Miscreant – I’m not sure how you can deduce that I’m a “fan” of Dr. Stone from one sentence where I like his idea about the academies plan for the high school. Also, I didn’t bring “politics” into the mix – nowhere in my press release is there a mention about political parties. I responded to the header of this thread, pointing out that while I am a registered Democrat (and I have no apologies for that), school board races in Delaware are non-partisan. And I’m totally lost about your comment on my mention about property values. I think that everyone in our state, especially in Sussex County, wants to have the best public schools possible. And we need a strong tax base to achieve that. One way is to draw new businesses to the county. With new businesses come new homeowners (hopefully). We need to work to make our schools better, to turn out students who will be able to succeed whether they go on to college or into the workforce. And this is where the economy and property values come into play.
I’ll make you the same offer I made to Political Observer – sit down with me and let’s talk about what your concerns are for Cape.
So while I don’t see three strikes, maybe a foul tip and a three balls.
“A progressive voice with new ideas. Just what the Doctor ordered for Sussex County.”
More “progressive” than the gay black man who’s on the school board? Do you even know who makes up the CHSB cass? Obviously not.
And the Cape Henlopen School District covers the towns of Dewey, Rehoboth, Lewes and Milton, all progressive towns.
The last thing the Cape District needs is another idiot board member walking around asking other people what the district needs. What the district needs is one of the parents who has been fighting the district, a parent who already knows the district’s problems on the board.
anoni,
Don’t feel slighted. To a lot of front-page posters here, Sussex County is represented by John Atkins, Thurman Adams and Bob Venables, and is populated mainly by farmers and chickens. Everyone still congregates around the woodstove in old country stores eating scrapple sandwiches to start their mornings. 😉
Meyer-
“I’m not sure how you can deduce that I’m a “fan” of Dr. Stone…”
I noticed you where careful not to criticize any of his many epic errors in judgment over the past few years. I suppose that’s a safe course of action, but don’t underestimate his unpopularity among the voters in this district. Yesterday’s failure was a good example.
“…I didn’t bring “politics” into the mix – nowhere in my press release is there a mention about political parties.”
Obviously, I wasn’t referring to the Cape Gazette article when I said “from what I read here”. It was mentioned in the title of the thread, and by yourself in post #8. I agree that party affiliation shouldn’t come into play. So why mention it?
“And I’m totally lost about your comment on my mention about property values. ”
Your reference to property values simply struck me as a disingenuous and self-serving ploy*. As a lifelong resident of Sussex, I’m of the opinion that development is out of control, is rapidly out pacing existing infrastructure, and is making it less affordable for our children to remain here.
* I also found it disturbing that your comment on property values sounded like current school board member, Allan Redden, in his letter to the editor in the Cape Gazette. In my opinion, Redden does little more than carry water for one of the most incompetent administrations in Cape history.
From the Cape Gazette:
“There is a direct correlation between good schools and property values. Cape is still the district of choice for people moving to the area.”
Frankly, I believe we have reached our quota of retirees and assholes from Pennsylvania.
That said, I believe we could use someone who is ‘progressive’ on the school board, and I wish you the best of luck.
Cassandra-
“Just what the Doctor ordered for Sussex County.”
Just what Sussex County needs… a prescription from north of the canal.
Anoni – I’m not going to delve into who is or isn’t gay in Sussex County, whether they serve in office or not. And yes, I do know who the board members are – I just don’t go poking around to find out who they’re sleeping with. It’s none of my business and it shouldn’t matter. And being gay doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is progressive.
The Cape Henlopen school district covers a wide swath fo Sussex County. While Rehoboth, Lewes, Milton, and Dewey Beach are in the district, so is Harbeson, Lincoln, and other areas that don’t actually have a name of their own. It’s a mix of both progressive thinkers who may have moved from large cities, to many anti-tax conservatives who have been in the area a longtime.
I find it disengenuous to suggest that an elected official, whether it is a school board member or the governor, should not ask their constituents for their ideas on how to make things better. I don’t have all of the answers (and I never claimed that I did), and I wouldn’t trust anyone who said that they did.
There is a huge mistrust of the present board. As my campaign gears up, I hope that the voters of the school district will come to realize that I will be the one who will listen to their concerns. Not just listen, but respond. It appears that you’re looking for an outsider to serve on the board. If that’s the case, then I’m the man.
Again, drop me an email at PersowForCape@aol.com and let me know what your concerns are and why you distrust this current board so much. Get to know me before dismissing me as “another idiot board member.”
Thanks.
Meyer he’s openly gay, no “poking” was necessary. But its good to know you’re overly sensitive and you over react to criticism, that’s exactly the kind of person we need on the School Board.
And I like your generalizations about the people who moved here vs. the people who’ve been in the area a long time. A board member that feeds into the bigoted stereotypes about the people in Sussex is also exactly what we need on the School Board.
You’ve been dismissed.
Oh, let’s be fair, Anonni. You had dismissed Meyer long before your last comment and well before his first.
It’s a mix of both progressive thinkers who may have moved from large cities, to many anti-tax conservatives who have been in the area a longtime.
This will get some people seriously PO’d. He may not have meant it, but a quick reading of this could be taken to mean that progressives are only those who’ve moved here.
I do have a serious question that I’ll pose since Mr. Persow comments here. You work for OPM in D.C., correct? That means a several-hour-a-day commute. Will that job allow you to do the job of a board member – attend meetings, tour the schools, meet with teachers and parents, attend school functions and generally be up-to-date on what’s going on? Or will the other board members and administrators be able to work around you since you’re out of town so often?
“There is a huge mistrust of the present board.”
True, but only due to a couple of firmly entrenched board members who place the CH administration above needs of the community.
“As my campaign gears up, I hope that the voters of the school district will come to realize that I will be the one who will listen to their concerns.”
I actually appreciate the fact that you are getting input from the “voters”, but perhaps the students and parents should take priority.
Just what Sussex County needs… a prescription from north of the canal.
When Sussex Countians stop trying to diagnose the ills of Wilmington and or NCCo, perhaps you may have a reason for this silly observation.
“He may not have meant it, but a quick reading of this could be taken to mean that progressives are only those who’ve moved here.”
I doubt he meant it that way, but that remains to be seen. However, it does capsulize widely held belief that people move here for the quality of life, and then make every attempt to morph it into the shitholes from whence they came.
“When Sussex Countians stop trying to diagnose the ills of Wilmington and or NCCo, …”
Diagnose the ills? We’d prefer you secede and become a true suburb of Philadelphia.
“When Sussex Countians stop trying to diagnose the ills of Wilmington and or NCCo, perhaps you may have a reason for this silly observation.”
Cassandra – What do you mean??
Anon – Yes, I do work for OPM and the HQ is in DC. However, I telecommute and work from home. There may be a time where I might have to make an appearance in my office and I’ll travel to DC. But with 25+ years of Federal service, I have a lot of leave to use if I need to.
Anoni – I’m sorry you view my responses to your comments as “over-reactions.” And I was merely pointing out that the Cape Henlopen school district is made up of more than just Dewey, Rehoboth, Lewes and Milton. There is a very vocal anti-tax group in the district – it’s pretty evident in the results of the last 2 referenda. I wasn’t feeding into anything – I know why I moved here from DC – I’m sure others moved for the same reasons, others for other reasons (as an aside – AARP listed Rehoboth as one of the top 5 places to retire to in 2007). Not all of the people moving here are “progressives,” and not all of the people who have grown up here “conservatives.” We have a good mix that promotes, sometimes, open, honest debate. Again, if you have some concerns that I should be aware of, let’s get together and talk about them. At least give me that much.
Thanks very much! I appreciate that.
I just wish other companies would become as intelligent as the civil service and expand telecommuting. But that’s another issue… 😉
Meyer is getting his campaign firebombed by Bill Colley on WGMD… RIGHT NOW.
“…- sit down with me and let’s talk about what your concerns are for Cape.”
Thanks for the offer, but since you are reluctant to engage here, I have low expectations that anything productive would come out of a meeting.
BTW, no-class Colley just read your Reagan/Aids letter to the Washington Blade on-air, and invited you on his show to discuss your campaign. He only generated a few calls, so the subject changed. Let me know when you are going to be on WGMD. I’ll call in.
Thanks for the offer, but since you are reluctant to engage here, I have low expectations that anything productive would come out of a meeting.
What bullshit.
You really are a low life fuck wit.
Meyer is getting his campaign firebombed by Bill Colley on WGMD
That’s a plus, right?
nemski –
You clearly don’t know the power of WGMD. That station can pretty much singlehandedly bring down a school referendum through the strength of idiots.
This letter?
Now Reagan family knows suffering of AIDS families
To the letters:
Many conservatives are covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes to mark the passing of Ronald Reagan. Tributes are pouring in from all corners. So let me be the ant at the picnic. I will not mourn the passing of this man.
Reagan was acting in the role of Nero while our country suffered through the early stages of the AIDS pandemic. He and his administration, many of whom are now working for Dubya, refused to even acknowledge there was a problem.
Of course, this was a gay disease and who cares about faggots and queers anyway? The blood of thousands of victims who died from AIDS complications in the first 10 years of the epidemic is on Reagan’s hands.
I know I’ll be skewered by many for saying this, but Reagan did not suffer from the pain and anguish many of us did as we watched friend after friend waste away from something that could have been prevented.
It’s probably a terrible thing to say, but Reagan didn’t suffer enough. Now his family knows the pain that many of us have experienced over the past 23 years.
No, I will not mourn this man’s passing. I will mark it sitting by the pool in Rehoboth Beach, enjoying the day off that was given to government employees — those same employees who Reagan viewed as a problem.
MEYER J. PERSOW
I love him even more now.
Great letter Meyer, great letter.
“You really are a low life fuck wit.”
As always, when you realize your ineptitude is kicking your ass, you make a profound contribution to the thread.
Is that all you have?
Thought so.
Please.
this…
Thanks for the offer, but since you are reluctant to engage here, I have low expectations that anything productive would come out of a meeting.
…is about the weakest bullshit I’ve read since I’ve been blogging.
You need to live with that reality fuck wit.
“I love him even more now.”
“Great letter Meyer, great letter.”
I somehow knew a repugnant hate-filled diatribe would would bring joy to your pathetic lives.
“…is about the weakest bullshit I’ve read since I’ve been blogging. ”
Sometime when you’re lucid, you should read some of your own shit.
Is the fact that he only responded (rather lamely, I might add) to my first post where I called him out on his bullshit really kicking your ass?
Furthermore, wonder why he isn’t engaging under his regular ID? Are you even knowledgeable enough about the topic to comment, or are you content with just being a coward?
Dude,
I’ve seen more manly, less bullshitty comments from Dave Burris.
You are floundering now, but that is how it should be. You’ll be thinking about this for a while and that should do you good if you let the reality of your bullshittyness in.
Mis, ever met anyone who has AIDS? Ask them what they think of Ronald Reagan.
“Mis, ever met anyone who has AIDS? ”
Yes I have, a childhood friend and former employee who died way too young. Reagan never came up in any of our conversations. Of course, he wasn’t very political, and was the kind of guy who accepted full responsibility for his actions.
The last thing we need on any schoolboard is a radical ‘educrat’. Public education is crippled by the stress on methodology at the expense of subject matter expertise.
Too much tax money is already being thrown down gold-plated bureaucratic ratholes. How does Delaware rank in terms of per-pupil expenditures? How does it rank in student performance?
Will more money squandered on trendiness really solve the problem?
Why are teachers spending so much time teaching to tests that are legally mandated?
Ask Meyer. He has tremendous insight on these matters because he is a “progressive Democrat, and has talked to some… *voters*.
But don’t ask Jason, he’s totally clueless on this issue.
Of course, he wasn’t very political, and was the kind of guy who accepted full responsibility for his actions.
How very Reaganesque of you. And probably close to how Reagan himself justified ignoring gay Americans dying of something no one could quite identify. Reagan indifferently watching gay men die, BushCo indifferently watching New Orleans die — there really is something in the ideological genes there, isn’t there? All of my friends who died from AIDS certainly were responsible for their lives and their actions, too — they were NOT responsible for the AIDS epidemic or the Reagan indifference to it.
Mine was a direct answer to a valid question, based on my first hand knowledge of an honorable young man who lived , and died, with great dignity. Although there were periods when he was bitter about his plight, but he didn’t place any blame on anyone, or anything. If faced with a slow death, I only hope I could be as courageous.
Yours was a dark, vitriolic tirade, and a tactless attempt to deflect to anything… a person, the government, some figurehead… Perhaps there are ideological genes. It possibly, could be the only explanation of your morose condition.
Proving what? That we’re vastly different people with divergent perspectives. I’m very glad of that, but especially gratified that I’m not like you.
“When Sussex Countians stop trying to diagnose the ills of Wilmington and or NCCo, perhaps you may have a reason for this silly observation.”
Cassandra – If you don’t mind, really, I’ll ask for a second time – what did you mean by this statement?
I can recall lots of times over the years when politicians from Up North have effectively overridden what Sussex County has tried to do (both in terms of the county government and the county’s elected representatives in the legislature). You can argue that Sussex or its leaders were stupid and wrongheaded in their positions, but that’s another issue entirely.
I can’t think of one case where anyone from Sussex tried to tell Wilmington or New Castle County how to run things. Perhaps people with longer memories can, but I can’t.
(And no, Thurman Adams and the desk-drawer veto doesn’t count. If he were targeting bills that W’ton and NCCo wanted, yeah, but he doesn’t exactly discriminate on the basis of geography.)
I’m very glad of that, but especially gratified that I’m not like you.
Me too — as your posts pretty clearly indicates, you are subject to delusions. But we already knew that, I think.
Anon, my post was a response to Miscreant at 27, who seems to think it illegitimate that I should have an opinion on what happens below the canal.
“When Sussex Countians stop trying to diagnose the ills of Wilmington and or NCCo, perhaps you may have a reason for this silly observation.”
“Anon, my post was a response to Miscreant at 27, who seems to think it illegitimate that I should have an opinion on what happens below the canal.”
I understand what it was in response to. What I’m trying to figure out is what you meant by it. You discredit his observation based on the argument that Sussex Countians are out trying to order Wilmington and NCCo around. I’m just not seeing that, but maybe I have blinders on.
Or do you not have any examples and are resorting to the downstaters-control-the-state-out-of-proportion-to-their-population argument?
If that’s the case, I’ll see you and raise you one gigantic office building in Wilmington over a few office suites in Georgetown.
Why is lowerslowerdelaware now open to “invited readers” only?
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Any takers?
Cassandra, any replies?
Are you sure anon? I just looked at it from the link on DL.
I swear I’m not going all googlesnickerty here. It WAS restricted earlier today.
Cassandra? Seriously…. I’m not trying to be a dick, but, per 6:07, what did you mean?