With projects underway at Centre County schools, board candidates share priorities
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2025 primary election: Centre County school board races
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, and remember to vote in the May 20 primary election.
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Read how Centre County school board candidates view diversity, inclusion efforts
With projects underway at Centre County schools, board candidates share priorities
Where do Centre County school board candidates stand on school safety & security?
How do Centre County school board candidates view district finances, tax increases?
Editor’s note: The Centre Daily Times recently sent a survey with questions about a number of issues to all school board candidates who filed to run in the May 2025 primary election. Seventeen candidates participated, while eight did not. We have published their unedited responses, which were limited to fewer than 300 words each. We will publish additional responses in other stories.
May’s primary election is coming up quickly. To help voters evaluate candidates, the Centre Daily Times surveyed school board candidates across Centre County’s five public school districts to share their positions on large-scale projects.
Whether it’s new schools under construction in State College and Bellefonte’s districts, ongoing renovations to existing schools or plans to shutter some schools entirely, districts across Centre County oversee projects that can help meet community needs or significantly shake up public education. Some high-profile projects include Bellefonte’s new elementary school, a new Park Forest Middle School in State College, the potential closure of Miles Township Elementary in Penns Valley and planned renovations at Pleasant Gap Elementary School.
We asked board candidates to share how they view their districts’ current or future projects, the priorities of those plans and any concerns they might have as development continues.
State College Area School District candidates
Deborah Anderson — I think our highest priority future building project is the completion of a new Park Forest Middle School, which is long overdue. I am happy with the current progress being made on the project. We have chosen the site for the new construction, which is effectively across the street from the current PFMS (on the other side of Valley Vista Drive). With input from PFMS staff and SCASD community members, we have preliminary plans for the new building; we anticipate the planning phase to be completed by the fall of 2025. If all goes well, we hope to begin construction early in 2026. I am very excited about the project and providing our Park Forest Middle School families a new, light-filled space for their education. Our biggest current building project is an expansion of Mount Nittany Elementary School to provide additional classrooms for grade-level instruction and special education. This was necessitated by larger-than-expected growth in the school-age population in the surrounding area. Under current projections, this project should be completed in the fall of 2026.
Rebecca Arnold Desmarais — Current and future projects for our district that are highest priority to me would be the new Park Forest Middle School and maintaining our current schools to a high safety standard. I currently have a child in the Park Forest Middle school building and will have another one going there in four years. I am part of the steering committee for the new middle school and from listening to teachers, staff, and students talk about what our current school lacks and what they are hoping for in the new building, I think it is important to keep the school at the highest priority. My concerns don’t fall on our district’s plan but more on how we will be able to budget for the rising costs of goods.
Jesse Barlow — Replacing Park Forest Middle School is a must and should have been done years ago. This needs to be done as soon as possible as costs are likely to go up, especially with the tariffs. There are also plans to upgrade Mount Nittany Middle School and three elementary schools. The area Mount Nittany serves has expanded over the last few decades and that has created some overcrowding pressures and the same with Mount Nittany Elementary. It is conceivable that some of these projects may have to be delayed or scaled back because of budgetary pressures, but I hope not.
Jennifer Black — The construction of a new Park Forest Middle School building is the largest and most pressing project on the SCASD construction agenda. Having had two of my own children go through PFMS, I know how desperately a new facility is needed. The teachers and administration at PFMS go to great lengths to make the aging building feel inviting and safe. But in an aging building, there are limits to what you can do to improve the physical climate of a school. A roof that leaks during, “bucket season,” a number of classrooms with no windows and crowded, narrow hallways will all need to be eliminated in the new school.
Regardless of whether or not I am elected to the board, I plan to pay close attention to this building project. It is imperative that we are forward-thinking and plan appropriately for a school that will serve us well into the future. It will also be important to be fiscally responsible and be careful not to blindly approve unnecessary line items. When constructing the new Park Forest Middle School, we must take seriously the current research on building safe schools as well as the invaluable input of the students, teachers and staff whose new home this will be.
Jackie Huff — The expansion of Mount Nittany Elementary (already underway) is going to do a lot to build the capacity of the district to meet the growing needs of its students. The current Park Forest Middle school building has aged and our staff and students deserve a facility that is better suited to a modern educational experience. These are both great projects and I would classify them both as high priority.
Kirsten McTernan — Based on what I’ve learned, addressing the condition of Park Forest Middle School is my top priority. The current building is aging, with persistent issues like leaky ceilings and a serious mold problem. Mold poses significant health risks to students and staff if not addressed quickly and effectively. I’m glad to hear plans are underway to resolve these problems. However, I’m concerned about the financial burden of the proposed new building. At a projected cost of around $100 million, it is the district’s most expensive project since the $137 million State High construction. Understandably, this has raised concerns about steep tax increases across our community. Many believe that a more cost-effective solution — such as maintaining or renovating the existing building — could have preserved taxpayer dollars while still ensuring a safe, functional environment for learning. If elected, I will prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, community involvement, and that our facilities are maintained proactively — protecting our investment and ensuring a safe environment for generations to come.
Mihaly Sogor — I’m concerned about the decision to choose the more expensive option for building the new Park Forest Middle School — spending millions more to preserve a few trees. We could have selected the less costly alternative and replanted twice as many trees as would have been removed, all for a fraction of the additional cost.
Bellefonte Area School District candidates
Nate Campbell — As we are in the middle of construction on a new elementary building and also have plans to upgrade Pleasant Gap Elem. We are addressing the needs as much as possible while staying true to our budget. The new elementary and the upgrades to PG are both being accomplished without a major tax increase. This is a testament to mine and others on the boards’ dedication to continue to improve the district and still be fiscally responsible. I have supported the creation of a yearly budget item to set aside for future needs so that the district is prepared to handle future needs.
Jon Guizar — We are currently building a new elementary school, a 50+ million dollar project. We are able to provide this much-needed school with very little to no additional tax increase to our community. We are currently putting steps in place to make sure that additional facility needs are also adequately funded. As a school director I will continue to advocate for fair funding to our schools and for the return of Plan-Con or a similar replacement program that offers some reimbursement for building projects.
Kristin Lyons — Bellefonte is in the process of constructing a new elementary school and upgrading Pleasant Gap Elementary. As a member of the school board, I fully support this project and will commit to ensuring it’s completed in a manner that’s safe and fiscally responsible. I will help maintain an open dialogue with the administration and community to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for students, teachers, and families.
Joe Yech — I support the current infrastructure plans in the BASD. The new elementary school building is a necessity due to aging buildings in the district. Future plans to improve Pleasant Gap Elementary School and Marion-Walker Elementary towards the standards used in the new building are also a positive step to ensuring our youngest students have an environment conducive to good learning.
Board candidate Jack Bechdel, who will still appear on the primary ballot because the filing deadline has passed, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in early April and resigned from the district’s school board days later. He said he would not participate in the survey. Holly Hopkins was appointed to fill his seat and has launched a write-in campaign for the primary election.
Penns Valley Area School District candidates
Daniel Decker — PVASD has spent over $58 million on school construction projects since 1996 (Source: CDT). The district’s spending of $8.53 million tax dollars on new asphalt for parking lots and driveways in 2024 did not create a school safety corridor and does little to improve student safety or school traffic congestion. The asphalt project spending cannot improve student academic performance. Construction spending needs to be halted until the school district’s debt is retired. I am very concerned about the loss of students to cyber schools, charter schools, private schools and home schools. Student population has dropped from a population of over 1800 students in the late 1980s to ~1300 students in 2024/25. Parents have told me that the school’s curriculum needs to be reformed to retain students. I support curriculum reform to help prepare students for success in the 21st-century job market. In addition, parents have reported that there is a bullying problem in the secondary school that needs to be addressed. I support revising the student handbook to enforce harsher punishment of student bullies. I also support the establishment of a “zero tolerance” student bullying commission to address this important issue.
Amber May — Penns Valley School District has undergone several major projects over the last decade, and I am excited to be a part of the planning process for new initiatives. This includes changes that may not see immediate benefits, or even have brief negative impacts, in the interest of a sustainable future. I am aware that one of the biggest and most controversial changes is the potential closure of Miles Township Elementary School. This prospect saddens me as a Rebersburg “grad” who remembers going trick-or-treating around town on Halloween — an experience totally unique to PV. However, if or when this closure takes place, my priority would be to provide opportunities for current students, staff, graduates, and the wider community to celebrate the irreplaceable experiences shared at this school. We must first make informed decisions on how and what we change as a district, but whether it is this transition or the next big one, we can and should all be a part of it. My desire to be a part of these initiatives through the school board is rooted in civic duty and genuine care for all students and citizens of the valley, and I look forward to ensuring every voice can be heard.
Mike Pase — Our District (Penns Valley) is currently losing students. I believe we have done quite enough in the area of projects. I believe now is the time to focus on the needs of the students and helping the teachers meet those needs.
Jessica Shawver — I feel like they should ask why buildings are being closed? Our district is planning to close Miles Township [Elementary] School, due to student enrollment. Why is there a huge drop in public school attendance? Ever think the topics discussed above have something to do with schools being closed and students choosing private schools or homeschooling? Our district’s plans to expand the PV High School and PV Elementary sport fields make no sense if the student attendance is decreasing. If plans to close elementary schools in the district and consolidate into one school, then an expansion onto the current building to fit those students (if it’s NEEDED) is necessary and should be done spending that money wisely. Student sport programs are important but spending millions on new facilities that don’t warrant the student body is just careless spending on the part of an administration that isn’t looking at the overall outlook of the districts needs and realizing we are still a small rural community that doesn’t need to compete with bigger “city” schools. Being a small rural school used to be what made our school great. The classes were small and the teachers taught what a student needed to succeed in life and our kids thrived. It’s sad to see what it’s become.
Kendyl Wittenrich — I think the district’s use of cash reserves has allowed for a lot of flexibility in new construction within the PVASD while taxes remained roughly static. Strategic expansions, such as the Route 45 Project, evidence the meticulous planning and thoughtful execution Penns Valley does when undertaking a large project.
That said, another consideration currently on the table regarding financial responsibility is the closure of Miles Township Elementary School. I feel nostalgic about MTE, as I began my teaching career there, and know from experience the incredible things that happen inside that tiny building. Students are grouped together from kindergarten through fourth grade and form almost sibling-like relationships. The community support is also incredible. I will never forget parading around town each year for Halloween as community members handed out candy to each child. It is truly like an experience from a storybook. However, the current enrollment doesn’t support keeping it open as an elementary school. I think there are countless opportunities for PVASD to utilize that space and building for the betterment of our district and students, even if it’s not operated as a school.
Filed candidates Douglas Roth and Vincent Nicosia did not respond to the Centre Daily Times’ survey.
Bald Eagle Area School District candidates
This district’s four filed candidates — Tina Greene, Mary Ann Hamilton, Mark Kresovich and Timothy Nilson — did not respond to the Centre Daily Times’ survey.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District candidates
Richard Wood — I believe we need to develop a 5-year plan by using a process to include many stakeholders.
No candidate has filed to run for the Philipsburg-Oceola Area School District’s two Centre County-based school board seats. Richard Wood and Shawnna Baney-Shaw have filed to run for the district’s seats up for election in Clearfield County and were invited to respond to this survey.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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