President Deborah King and Vice President Stephanie Gonzalez Ferrandez are now leading the Bensalem School Board.
BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — The new leaders of the Bensalem Township School Board have some big plans for the school district's future.
Now holding a Democratic majority after Monday night's meeting, School Board President Deborah King and Vice President Stephanie A. Gonzalez Ferrandez spoke to Patch about some of their ideas and goals over the next few years.
King said the school board's mission moving forward is simple: "Keep children at the heart of every decision."
"We aim to improve communication, enhance trust, and support meaningful progress across all Bensalem schools," King told Patch. "From championing academic excellence to planning the development of a new campus-style middle school, our focus is on creating safe, innovative, and supportive spaces where students and educators can excel. By working openly and collaboratively, we will continue to move Bensalem forward.”
"For the first time in the six years that I have served on our school board, I woke up (Tuesday) morning, heading into my seventh year, with the happy realization that we will be able to plan," Ferrandez told Patch. "That sounds a little boring, but it is actually an incredible opportunity."
Ferrandez said the school board can develop plans for two years, five years, and even 10 years with "measurable and attainable goals," covering more than just a middle school project.
"And we can take action," she said. "We need no longer be confined by external political goals, which have plagued the Bensalem School Board, nor internal interests, which can develop in any bureaucracy. This will not be an easy task given some of the challenges our community faces."
King outlined numerous points she would like to set during her tenure:
1. Commitment to Transparency
2. Prioritizing Effective Communication
Keeping Children at the Center
4. Leading Positive Change
5. Supporting the New Middle School Initiative
6. Strengthening All School Buildings & Teaching Environments
7. Working Collaboratively With the Board & Community
"We will not always agree on steps and goals, nor do I speak for everyone," Ferrandez said. "But I believe our new majority shares a common motivation to move the district in the direction of uncompromised educational excellence for every student and family, grounded in their emotional well-being and daily realities. This will enrich the quality of life for our entire community."