Long-time fiscal watchdog steps down
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District Board of Education Director Keith Knauss announced his resignation from the school board, Monday.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Keith Knauss, a vocal voice for fiscal restraint resigned from the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education, Monday.
In a message to his colleagues on the board, Knauss, a representative of Region A from East Marlborough, said it was time for him to move on.
“I am resigning from the school board,” Knauss wrote. “There are a number of changes in my family life over the next year that will require the time of my wife, Mary Pat and I — not the least of which is the upcoming birth of our first grandchild.
“Some may wonder whether the recent teacher contract was a factor. Yes it was, but probably not for the reason one might think. I ran again for office 2 years ago specifically to participate in negotiating another union contract. A settled 4-year contract signals that my work is done.”
Knauss served two tenures on the board, first in the early 2000s and he ran and won election in 2009. He often argued for fiscal restraint and limiting tax increases. His was the only vote against approving the fact finders report that resulted in a four-year contract with the district’s teachers in September, saying he felt that the salary and benefit increases might prove to be unsustainable under Act 1 tax limits. He served as Finance Committee chair and served on the last two teachers contract negotiating committees for the board.
His colleagues thanked him for his dedicated service to the school district and the greater community.
“I am grateful for Keith’s service and dedication to this Board and the UCFSD community,”Board President Vic Dupuis said in a statement issued by the district. “Keith’s intellect, wisdom, and thought-provoking commentaries have been instrumental in ensuring that the Board considered many options on many issues. He will be missed but we wish him and Mary Pat a future filled with good things.”
although he often disagreed with Knauss on fiscal matters, board Vice President, Gregg Lindner said the back and forth the two shared helped better inform decisions.
“Keith gave freely of his time and I learned from his perspective,” Lindner said. “I truly respected his opinion and views. Our dialogs led, at the end of the day, to making the ultimate decisions better.”
Speaking to the community at large Knauss, in the district statement, said he wanted folks to know “the work of a school director was hard, but enjoyable and I’ve been rewarded many times over. The current excellent performance of the district along with the strength of the current board and administrative team allows me to resign without concern.”
The board will be discussing the next steps in selecting a replacement for Keith at the next Board meeting on October 19th.
