How will Centre County school board candidates ensure financial stability? What they said
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2023 primary election: School board candidates
The Centre Daily Times recently sent a survey to all Centre County school board candidates with questions about a number of issues. Read their responses below.
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Editor’s note: The Centre Daily Times recently sent a survey to all school board candidates with questions about a number of issues. Twenty four candidates responded and 18 did not. We have published their unedited responses, which were limited to 1200 characters. We will publish additional responses in other stories.
With the primary election fast approaching, the Centre Daily Times asked local school board candidates to share their positions on school funding and budgets.
Approving a district’s annual budget is one of the most important functions of a school director’s job. Four hundred and ninety out of 500 Pennsylvania school districts have had to raise property taxes to keep up with costs.
We asked candidates how they would ensure financial stability for their district. Their unedited responses are below.
State College Area School District candidates
Amy Bader — In my tenure on SCASD, the district has maintained an excellent bond rating, at a level that only about ten percent of districts state-wide achieve. This is a result of the excellent work of our business office and the high-expectations the board maintains regarding our budget process. In budgeting, there should be a constant re-evaluation of many factors (earned income tax projections, tax appeals, new developments that can result in transfer tax changes, etc) while also monitoring the overall health of the local economy. These are all factors that go into budget formulation and approval, and of course subsequent tax increases. Aside from monitoring the revenue side of budgeting, the board must work with administration to always evaluate the district’s staffing needs. Unfortunately, the major costs of a school district are people-costs (salaries and benefits) and these never remain stagnant due to cost-of-living increases and escalating healthcare costs. Thus, the district must continually justify and update its staffing requirements and tie those directly to student experiences and needs.
Nathan Bish — As school directors, it’s not only our responsibility to be fiscally responsible on funds that are allocated to the district but it’s also our duty to be fiscally responsible on the amount of taxes we are charging members of our community.
Gretchen Brandt — Through responsible budgeting and being respectful of taxpayers. Ensuring high quality priming within the budget is a must.
Anne Demo — SCASD has nearly 7000 students enrolled and is the 4th largest employer in Centre County. Salaries and benefits for teachers and staff serving our students account for 70% of the budget. Although public schools are the cornerstone of communities, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in the nation for public education funding. The state needs to pay its fair share for the mandates it imposes. If elected, I welcome the opportunity to support efforts advocating for fair funding. Financial stewardship requires effective oversight, transparency, and accountability. With a district our size, data-driven deliberations routinely negotiate the tension between retaining expert teachers, maintaining academic excellence, and not overburdening taxpayers. I’ve been attending school board meetings this spring to learn more about district revenues and areas where smart budgeting can make a difference.
Daniel Kolbe — Develop a 3-5-year strategic plan to address inefficiencies and outdated processes. This includes forecasting expenditures and reducing costs. Prioritize financial stability and aim for positive academic outcomes in the school.
John Krajcovic — Expenditures need tracked and Committees that review them need established. Long range planning to meet future needs also should be addressed. As a Project Manager for PennDOT, I have managed approximately $100 million in Government projects. I am also a licensed Professional Engineer and could possibly offer insight for issues relating to infrastructure. I would want to establish and possibly act on a committee that reviews all capital expenditures. Teachers are the best resource that SCASD has. Great teachers can present materials in a special way that inspires students. I have the greatest respect for teachers and want to give them my honest support. Buildings need to be maintained to keep them clean, structurally safe, free from mold and with the best air quality. There needs to be a balance in what is necessary and what isn’t. I would do my best to offer insight into these issues and minimize tax increases while improving education.
Aaron Miller — In addition to annual budget oversight in partnership with district administration, we will use tools at our discretion (such as property tax increases) to ensure we have sufficient capital to meet SCASD’s educational needs.
Michelle Young — By ensuring accountability. Go to facebook.com/young4scasd2023 for more information.
Laurel Zydney — One of the most important jobs of the Board is financial oversight, which includes ongoing review of projected revenue and expenses. The Board needs to conduct honest analysis of current programs and and insist on well-documented cost projections before starting or renewing programs, then follow up to assess whether programs are operating within budget and meeting objectives. Ensuring financial stability sometimes means saying no to something we would very much like to offer so we can focus on our core mission: providing our students with the education and skills they need to be successful. Even relatively small sums need to be carefully considered since they add up to ”real money.” This has been, and continues to be, one of the guiding principles of my work as a Board member. We need to continually balance investing in our students and high-quality employees and providing excellent academics and activities with the impact taxes have on keeping the community affordable for young families and those on fixed incomes.
Barry Fenchak and Megan Layng did not respond to the survey.
Bellefonte Area School District candidates
Jennifer Barnhart — Careful and consistent evaluation of expenses and needs. I also encourage creative and innovative input to continue growth of learning and awareness of financial resources.
Patrick Buck — The district needs to continue to assess their budget, how it is allocated, and ensure they are meeting the needs of the students and community. Prioritizing where to allocate funds is essential to maintaining a healthy budget.
Nate Campbell — Bellefonte has has done a great job at staying in a good financial position. We are in a position to build an elementary school with little to no tax increase. Making informed decisions and spending wisely will keep our district stable.
Julie Fitzgerald — As a board member, I have continued to educate myself and ask questions about the budget to ensure it aligns with community priorities. Good financial stewardship of tax dollars comes from proper planning and oversight and I have taken this role very seriously. As a board, we need to continue developing a long-range vision for the district. In doing so, board members can understand current and future needs as well as projected revenue streams so that current resources can be allocated appropriately. While we all want to keep taxes as low as possible, the board needs to understand and also plan for the resources needed in the future to preclude any extreme future tax burdens on the community. In that same vein, the board also needs to place priority on identifying other available funding sources and community partnerships which can lessen the fiscal burden while striving to provide the best for our students. Involving the community in these discussions is important to develop awareness and trust in the district’s financial plan and stability.
Darrell Sharp — The school board must always respect the budget. Bellefonte is not a large district with overly deep pockets. This does not equate to a lower quality educational environment. Ensure all spending is going to improve the educational environment.
Donna Smith — I will continue to monitor the financial reports of the district and ask the appropriate questions. I will only approve a budget that leads to the district’s financial and educational stability.
Kimberly Weaver — We need a consistent review of the budget, which, in my opinion, we do quite well. Our business office manager does a fabulous job at updating the district and helping the board to understand our budget. We need to continue to allocate resources so our students and staff are successful.
Joe Yech — Our students deserve the best educational experience we can deliver. This requires funding. We need to be responsible with taxpayer money even as costs increase and should pursue other avenues for revenue to shift some burden off taxpayers.
Denelle Korn, Timothy Kessling and Paul Dombrowski did not respond to the survey.
Bald Eagle Area School District candidates
Erica Danneker — Ensuring a school district’s financial stability involves developing a financial plan with a team of administrators and financial professionals. The development of a budget process should include the following: documentation of all revenue and expenditures as well as long-term goals; frequent monitoring of financial performance to help identify any potential problems and allow for corrective action to be taken; diversifying revenue streams to reduce vulnerability to sudden decreases in funding; implementing cost control measures such as energy efficiency, shared services and reducing unnecessary expenses; seeking grants and other funding; and engaging stakeholders.
Gary Heverly Jr. — By asking questions during board meeting, ensuring money is being appropriated the way the Board decided, and paying attention to account balances and line items.
Jason Penland — Plan for the worst and hope for the best. One time grants like ESSERS cannot lead to permanent positions or legacy costs. We must always have sufficient reserves to avoid unexpected expenses with facilities or mandates.
Molly Hoover and Brandi Bartley did not respond to the survey.
Penns Valley Area School District candidates
Kim Kellerman-Domin — Financial stability is about a mindset, not a bank account. As it relates to a school district, it is knowing that you have the financial means to cover your expenses and that you are able to financially support the students and staff with exceptional resources that are needed for providing a public education. Achieving financial stability takes individuals who are dedicated to a financial plan and disciplined enough to stick with that plan. It takes responsible budgeting, spending taxpayers’ dollars on items that are needed-not necessarily wanted (we don’t have to have what all the other districts have), saving money for emergencies, investing wisely in things that are important-in this case our teachers and students, and avoiding debt at all costs. My husband and I were both able to retire at 50 years of age and we have achieved what we believe is our personal financial stability. I know what it takes. I know it isn’t always easy, but I know it can be done on both a personal level and at the school district level.
Michael Pase — I would encourage the school board and administration to strive to provide the necessary resources for the students, teachers, staff, and facilities, while at the same time being a good steward of the tax payers’ money.
Celesta Powell, Molly Miller, Dan Hall, Karla Groy, Daniel Pick, Domer Smeltzer, Nickelaus Engle and Scott Butler did not reply.
Philipsburg Osceola Area School District candidates
Tiffany Warlow — Being on the board the last two years, I also have a better understanding of the budget, and balancing what the district needs vs wants with the financial realities of our community. Making financially sound and fiscally responsible decisions that benefit ALL our students must be one of the top priorities, while also taking into consideration our taxpayers. These decisions must not only benefit our students, but also put our district on a good financial path for our future.
Tim Bainey, Todd Jeffries and Alexander Boumerhi did not respond to the survey.