Photo Courtesy of UCFSD

Ian Coutinho ‘25

NEWS EDITOR

On Nov. 7, 2023, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District community put in their votes for candidates for the School Board. For months, candidates have been trying their hardest to share their mission statements and goals for the coming school years. This outreach has been done through interviews, signs, advertisements, and blogs. 

Candidates are expected to have goals to improve the education experience for students including goals regarding curriculum development, technology integration, and other important factors. As the education landscape evolves, candidates are also expected to address concerns related to inclusivity, diversity, and mental health support for students.

There are many candidates from diverse backgrounds that are running in the election. One such candidate, Dr. Rashi Akki, has been on the School Board since 2019. According to her website rashi4ucfsd.com, Akki is the mother of two UCFSD graduates and one current UCFSD junior. She “understand[s] our district’s need to uphold a strong budget with minimal spending unless absolutely necessary for [the] students.”

Isabelle Romine is another candidate for UCFSD School Director. According to her website isabelle4ucfsd.com, she has both a science and a business education, with a Ph.D. from Scripps Research in chemical and biological sciences, an M.B.A. from Quantic School of Business and Technology, and a B.S. degree in biochemistry from Cal Poly, SLO. She states “In addition to my daughter and son, a niece and three nephews live in UCFSD, and my husband went to UCFSD schools for all 12 years. I am deeply invested in our schools and passionate about quality education for all.”

Upon Akki’s re-election, Romine offered congratulations on her Facebook page: “I offer congratulations to Rashi Akki on her re-election,” she stated. 

Another candidate, Bob Sage, has been involved in the school for multiple years. According to his website bobsageucfsd.com, he is running to represent the Pocopson, Birmingham, and Newlin Townships. On the site, he states: “I have been actively involved in our schools since 2009 when my oldest child started first grade. And I have served on the UCF School board for six years, from 2014-2019 and again from June 2022.” He also discusses his goals for the coming years: “I understand the importance of being fiscally responsible. I will work to ensure that our schools are run in an efficient manner and that our taxpayers' dollars are being used effectively,” Sage stated. “This means being mindful of expenses, looking for cost-saving measures, limiting tax increases and being transparent about how funds are being used.”

As the election results come to a close, the community eagerly anticipates formal statements and actions from the Board’s new and returning members and the subsequent steps they will take to lead our school into the future. This election serves as a reminder that the strength of our education system lies not only in the dedication of educators and administrators but also in the active participation of the community in shaping the path forward.