Election 2021 voters guide: Meet the candidates for school board in State College & Bellefonte
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2021 election voters guide
The Pennsylvania general election is Nov. 2. Voters must be registered to vote by 5 p.m. Oct. 18 and apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. Oct. 26. This voters guide was compiled by the League of Women Voters of Centre County with assistance from the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
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Election 2021 voters guide: Candidates for council, supervisor races in Centre County
Election 2021 voters guide: Meet the candidates for school board in State College & Bellefonte
Election 2021 voters guide: Meet the candidates for council, mayor in State College & Bellefonte
Election 2021 voters guide: Centre County district attorney and district judge races
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Election 2021 voters guide: Here are the candidates for Pennsylvania judicial races
Bellefonte Area Board of School Directors
Candidates (choose 4):
Rodney E. Musser
Party: Dem
Date of birth: Nov. 28, 1951
Education: Bellefonte 1969, Michigan State University, B.S. 1974
Qualifications: Current board member; Former: Peace Corps Volunteer, VISTA volunteer, Spring Township Planning Commission, Agland Preservation Committee
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: Funding the needs of the district while respecting the community’s pocketbook. This process of managing our annual budget is difficult given the annual last minute unknowns from the state and federal governments. Fortunately we have an exceptionally good budget office. We have been able to upgrade our facilities on a regular schedule but we need to remain within our borrowing capacity and maintain our AAA bond rating which allows us to borrow at a favorable rate and save money for the community. Our graduates will enter a global economy and we need to provide them with a broad perspective of the world. We must continue to focus on inclusion, diversity and equity education if we are to grow as a community and give our staff and students a better understanding of issues both here and abroad. The board of directors must be willing to lead the way in this discussion.
Jon Guizar
Party: Rep
Date of birth: 1966
Education: B.S. Civil Engineering, Penn State
Qualifications: Served for 6 years as school director. Served as board president for 3 years. Served as volunteer on many boards over the last 20 years.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: 1. Learning gaps - I look forward to encouraging the administration to explore alternate methods of identifying the learning gaps now deepened by the pandemic and supporting/voting to allocate the resources needed to address these gaps. 2. Aging buildings - Our elementary project has been put on hold due to the events of the past year. As a civil engineer and sr. project manager in construction, I believe I am well positioned to get that project back on track and communicate concerns as well as opportunities to the administration to bring the project to a safe and timely completion. 3. Charter reform - I will stand strong with other members of the board and the district as we work to bring understanding and change to cyber and charter school funding. I am not opposed to charter schools but I do believe strongly that they should be held to the same rules and financial accountability as our district. Successful charter reform could save the district a substantial amount of money.
Jeffrey Scott Steiner
Party: Dem, Rep
Campaign Website: win4bellefonte.com
Date of birth: Feb. 12, 1966
Education: Bachelor’s Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Master’s in Education Penn State.
Qualifications: Two terms as a director for the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Education, four years in board leadership. Currently district representative on the IU 10 Intermediate Unit Board of Directors, where I chair the Finance and Facilities Committee.
Facebook: facebook.com/win4bellefonte
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: Four years ago I ran on building a track and renovating Rogers Stadium and am so grateful that we were able to accomplish this. We have initiated the process of upgrading our elementary schools and I very much would hope to use my experience with the track and stadium to help see this project through. We similarly need to ensure the availability of advanced technology for all students to ensure equal educational access. As we start to come out from under Covid we need to refocus on addressing mainstream learning gaps at all levels, which have increased due to the pandemic, as well as enhancing the identification of special needs and gifted students, with an easier and quicker path for testing and IEP development. Finally, ensuring the education of the whole student to include, but not limited to fine arts, clubs, athletic and non-athletic opportunities.
Jack Bechdel II
Party: Rep
Campaign Website: facebook.com/search/top?q=win4bellefonte
Date of Birth: Sept. 24, 1966
Education: Associate degree
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: I would promote civil discussion versus heated hostility among board members. A sense of unity is necessary for the benefit of the students. I believe that music and art programs help develop young minds and expand their thinking. Preserving these will prepare our students to face their future better. In light of the pandemic, we need to do a better job at educating our children when challenges arise that disrupt their normal classroom studies. Online classes have to deal with more distractions for the students and make it difficult for the teachers to determine if the students are actively participating.
Jordan Emely
Party: Dem
Campaign Website: facebook.com/groups/emelyforbasd
Date of Birth: March 27, 1999
Education: Bellefonte Area High School, Class of 2017; Penn State, Class of 2020; Penn State, Class of 2022
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Education and Public Policy; Relevant advising experience at the collegiate level
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/emelyforbasd
Twitter: @EmelyforBASD
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: 1) Equitable education: The debate surrounding the Red Raider mascot has shown more of the cracks within our curriculum and the depth we need to go in the classroom over what the mascot of the district should be. Equitable education is important to ensure that we are preparing students to go into the world with the knowledge they need to be caring and contributing members of society. Finally, an argument against stripping the name Red Raiders has been “educate not eradicate.” If this is something the community is truly passionate about, we need to enhance our education to be equitable to all races and their experiences. 2) Accessibility: As a member of the board, I will research opportunities to expand broadband to areas that don’t have it, and advocate for policies such as universal pre-k, and universal free and reduced lunch. 3) Listen to the constituents: give students space to ask for change within the school. They are the ones that we vote on behalf of, and they deserve a voice.
Andrea Royer
Party: Dem, Rep
Campaign Website: win4bellefonte.com
Date of Birth: Feb. 1, 1975
Education: Bellefonte High School, 1993; B.S. Elem. Ed., Indiana University of PA, 1998; M. Ed. Indiana University of PA, 2001
Qualifications: I am a 1993 graduate of Bellefonte High School. I have experience in teaching 6th through 12th grade in an alternative education setting. I also have experience teaching in a private, residential group home for adjudicated girls. I have experience in mental health and substance abuse counseling as well as with adjudicated males, ages 12-21. I currently work with individuals with disabilities in a local day center. I also have two children in the district, Lillian (15) and Jackson (13).
Facebook: Andrea Royer for Bellefonte School Board, Win4Bellefonte
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: If elected to the Bellefonte School Board, my top three priorities are: To look at identification and testing regulations for special needs and gifted students. Often times students get overlooked, resulting in delays with testing, proper placement and IEPs. Better processes are needed to assure that every student experiences success in education! To investigate the availability of advanced technology for all. This would include further training for our staff to teach, prepare and advance our students for the constantly changing world of technology. To advance education of the whole student; that includes opportunities for students to participate in fine arts, clubs, athletics and non-athletics. Our responsibility is to provide the best education and extra-curricular activities that help students grow into well-rounded, young adults, ready to adapt to the world around them.
State College Area Board of School Directors
Candidates (choose 4):
Deborah Anderson
Party: Dem, Rep
Campaign Website: deborahandersonphd.wixsite.com/deborahandersonscasd
Date of Birth: Jan. 9, 1972
Education: B.S. in labor and employment relations, Penn State (Schreyer Honors College), 1993; M.S. and Ph.D. in labor economics, Cornell University, 1996 and 1998.
Qualifications: 12 years of active volunteer work in SCASD, including Ferguson Township Elementary PTO president and State College Music Boosters treasurer. Seven years of college-level teaching experience in economics and education. Served three-year term on governing board of State College Presbyterian Church. Current volunteer at Meals on Wheels. Involved parent of two children in SCASD.
Facebook: facebook.com/Deborah-Anderson-for-SCASD-School-Board-109155454576757
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: My first priority is providing excellence in education for all students. We should offer all students a challenging curriculum that helps them to reach their full potential. In addition, access to art, music, technical education, sports and other activities allows students to explore their interests and become well-rounded individuals. Second, I believe in financial responsibility: the school board should help ensure that monetary resources are used efficiently and effectively, so that we can provide the best opportunities to our students and support our faculty and staff without overburdening taxpayers. Third, I believe strongly that our schools must be welcoming and inclusive. All students deserve to learn in a positive environment, free from bullying, harassment, bias or discrimination, so that everyone feels supported and at home in our schools. If I am elected, I am committed to listening, learning, and making decisions for the benefit of all students.
Peter Buck
Party: Dem, Rep
Campaign Website: buckforpa.com
Date of Birth: July 8, 1976
Education: State College Area High School, 1994 B.A. music, Penn State, 2001 M.M. music theory & composition, Penn State , 2003 Ph.D. educational theory & policy, Penn State, 2015
Qualifications: 20 years of teaching experience
Facebook: facebook.com/BuckForSCASD
Twitter: BuckforSCASD
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: My top three priorities are recovering from COVID-19, tackling inequity, and providing fiscal oversight to support incredible learning environments for our children’s sustainable future. Our kids need to be safely back in school full-time as soon as possible. Like many, I am eager to see my son fully reunited with his teachers and his peers. We must also focus on social and emotional recovery and coping with lost learning opportunities, especially for our most disadvantaged students. Racial disparity in discipline and inclusion in advanced placement courses has barely improved since I graduated in 1994. I look forward to carrying the conversation forward to build will, policy, and a culture of real inclusion. School board service goes back to fundamentals: fiscal responsibility. With forecasting, efficient budgeting, and wise long-term capital investments in our buildings and grounds that draw down climate-forcing greenhouse gases, we can improve health as well as learning outcomes.
David K. Hutchinson
Party: Rep
Campaign Website: facebook.com/HutchinsonSCASD
Date of Birth: Dec. 7, 1953
Education: B.A., MBA, Penn State
Qualifications: State College Area School Board. 2003-present; PA School Boards Assoc. governing board 2012-2020; PSBA president, 2019; National School Climate Council, 2010-2011
Facebook: facebook.com/david.hutchinson.52438
Twitter: twitter.com/hutchinson153
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: We need to continue to do the things we do well: preparing our students for college; an excellent career & technical school; music, art, extra-curricular opportunities. We have been able to do this due to strong community support and prudent financial planning. However, we need to be more intentional about helping our students develop “21st-century” skills: the ability to think critically, to communicate clearly in multiple contexts — including public speaking, and listening! — to work effectively with people of different backgrounds and perspectives, to creatively solve real problems. Most importantly, this will prepare our students to become effective citizens. This will require that we intentionally develop school and classroom climates in which every student feels socially, emotionally and intellectually safe; in which every student is seen as an individual and as a contributor to the greater community. Finally, students, parents, teachers — and the community — must be our partners.
Jackie Huff
Party: Dem
Campaign Website: huff4scasd.org
Date of Birth: July 10, 1981
Education: B.S. electrical engineering, M.S. electrical engineering
Qualifications: -6 years teaching secondary math in public schools -currently teaching in higher-education
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: Education is the story I know, and I want to serve my community. I have first-hand experience from K-12 to higher-ed and understand the impact that good governance can have on the learning experience in a classroom. If elected, my priorities will be to (1) grow quality educational opportunities for all students, (2) give a voice to teachers and paraprofessionals in the governing process, and (3) serve the community and promote transparency in decision making.
Michelle Glenn Young
Party: Rep
Campaign Website: www.young4scasd.org
Date of Birth: Nov. 2, 1971
Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science - University of California, San Diego. Masters of System Technology - Naval Postgraduate School. Masters of Military Science - US Marine Corps University.
Qualifications: US Naval Officer - 22 years of service, leadership, and team building while managing programs with budgets of $995M and leading over 400 people. Active SCASD Parent - served on the FTE PTO executive board for the last five years helping to formalize the organization through recognition as a 501c3 non-profit and PA non-profit incorporation and raising funds to pay for all school supplies, field trips, and family fun events. I supported the Delta Middle Student Advisory Council as a Parent Advisor. Over the last three years, I assisted SCASD by substituting as a paraprofessional and secretary when needed and more recently, as Chairperson of the SCASD Citizens Advisory Committee for Technology. I am experienced in the navigation of SCASD special education and gifted policies and procedures. I also focus my efforts on supporting youth athletics clubs including State College Youth Wrestling (SCYW), State College (SC) Lions Youth Football, and State College Little League (SCLL).
Facebook: facebook.com/young4scasd
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: My top priorities include: Advocating for more district transparency and communications. Maintaining SCASD’s high academic standards. Ensuring taxpayers get the best value from their taxes and the district lives within their means. This is accomplished through my experience with: Strategic vision – I spent much of my Naval career in leadership positions that successfully developed and promulgated the strategic vision for several headquarters and departmental organizations. Policy management – I have extensive, career long experience creating and upholding policies in the Navy and the Information Technology field. Fiscal management - I’m an experienced, 22-year successful manager of defense programs with budgets of $995 million and leading over 400 people. Community Representative –My experiences, thoughts, and opinions are different from current board members. I represent a fiscally conservative, constitutionalist, socially moderate, grassroots voice on the board.
Carline Crevecoeur
Party: Dem
Campaign Website: www.carlineforschoolboard.com
Date of Birth: Oct. 2, 1963
Education: St. John’s University BS in Chemistry 1985. SUNY Downstate Medical School MD 1989. SUNY Downstate Health Science Center Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology 1993. Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology 1998.
Qualifications: Wife, physician, mother and teacher of five State College graduates. A resident of Centre County for 15 years. Volunteered on education boards such as WPSU and NAAHP and sponsored public health programs. Public speaker on women’s health and community issues. Corroborates well with others.
Facebook: Carline Crevecoeur for SCASD School Board
Twitter: @medicrev
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities, and how will you address them?
A: My priorities are accessible learning, an inclusive environment, and a re-imagining of education in the district. I would strive to eliminate any barriers to a child’s learning related to their ability or socioeconomic status. I would move to provide more digital and mental health access. Students learn best when provided with a diverse curriculum, relevant materials, and an inclusive environment where they feel welcome. I will bolster special education programs and nurture our high-achieving students in their pursuits of excellence. I want to re-imagine education by providing a quality pre-k to close the opportunity gap and create a positive feedback loop between academic progress and social and emotional learning. I will foster partnerships between parents, teachers, and staff to ensure our students are safe while also exercising responsible stewardship of our community’s financial resources. Our schools are successful when we meet the needs of every one of our students.