There are five candidate for four positions on the Mount Carmel Area School Board.
Candidates include two incumbents, Donna M. James and Raymond Kraynak, and three others, William J. Brecker Jr., Tony Mazzatesta and Joseph Edward Zanella, who are running for the board for the first time.
James, Kraynak, Mazzatesta and Zanella filed on both the Republican and Democratic ballots. Brecker is a candidate on the Democratic ballot only.
The News-Item invited candidates to respond to four questions, and their responses are published below.
QUESTION No. 1:
Suppose the board, having already cut waste and still needing to balance the budget, had to choose between cutting educational programs or increasing property taxes. What course would you pursue?
William J. Brecker Jr.: If the cutting would be isolated to the current budget year and the cuts would directly result in a balanced budget and future budget sustainability, I would consider the cuts and explore means to compensate for the cuts. If cuts were necessary to balance the previous budget, and cuts will likely be a subject at budget time next year, I would favor a tax increase in lieu of a cutting trend. However, prior to making a final decision, I would seek public input. For example, if I was a school board director last year faced with the decision to cut pre-kindergarten, I would have researched how many extra tax mills were necessary to cover the budget deficit. I would have then translated the extra mills into actual dollars the average school district citizen would have needed to pay in extra taxes.
Upon publicly sharing this information, I would have encouraged citizens to contact me, attend the next school board meeting or use other means to voice input regarding the tax increase versus no pre-K dilemma. My formal vote would have paralleled public opinion.
Donna M. James: I am not for cutting educational programs or burdening the community by increasing taxes. School boards must live within their budget, and their first obligation is the education of the students.
As I have in the past, I would continue to work with the rest of the board and administration by exploring creative ways to balance the budget. If all cost-saving constraints are exhausted, I feel taxpayers should have a voice in such a major decision that I would opt to hold a public forum and/or place this question on the ballot for referendum.
Raymond Kraynak: To answer this question, we would have to assume that waste had already been eliminated from the budget. That is not the case. There is still plenty of fat to be trimmed from our current budget. In regards to increasing property taxes, I am against it. Recently, when taxes were raised 30 percent by the school district, I voted against it. If the question for the need to raise property taxes was made, I would ask that it be placed on a referendum to see if the taxpayers would want their taxes increased. It has always been my position that it's not a revenue problem, but an expenditure problem. I believe that more than $16 million a year is more than enough money to run a school district that graduates 100 or so students a year.
Tony Mazzatesta: Establishing these two metrics as the only options to balance the district budget is limiting the ability of the board to be effective in successful fiscal management. Alternate sources of revenue, reimbursement grants, educational programs, aid and other avenues of support are ways of decreasing the burden on the school district community prior to evaluating the need for increasing property taxes. Additionally, prior to cutting educational programs, evaluation of various budgets with respect to school and after-school activities may need to occur more rigorously and the effectiveness of various programs assessed. Upon completion of any assessments, program funding allocations can be evaluated and appropriate funding levels determined.
Joseph Edward Zanella: I believe wholeheartedly that it is the duty of government, among other things, to keep taxes as low as possible. However, the primary prerogative of the board is to provide a proper education for the students of Mount Carmel. When it comes down to deciding to cut or tax, that depends on the individual case. I'd have to assess the benefits, the drawbacks and the student involvement in the program to determine the correct course of action. Let there be no mistaking this, though. I will not raise taxes for frivolous programs. It is my goal to avoid them as much as possible, just not to the point at which it undermines the overall quality of education.
Question No. 2:
If a parent, teacher or ordinary citizen alerted you, as an individual board member, about a potential problem in the school district, how would you go about addressing this concern?
Brecker: Any concern brought to my attention will be addressed in a timely, direct and consistent manner, regardless of who alerts me and regardless of who or what the problem involves. I do not believe in delaying, sugar-coating, nepotism or double standards. I strive to treat others with respect and fairness, professionally and personally, and view all potential problems as equally important. These characteristics will not change in an elected position. I purposely did not cross-file on the school board ballot. This would have required a person of the opposite political party to circulate, have notarized and file my petition. Nor did I campaign or ask anyone to vote for me, as I don't want any strings attached if elected. This is not to say that I will attempt to solve problems by myself. After independently gathering information regarding all aspects of the potential problem, I would share the information with the school board to resolve collectively.
James: Whenever a board member is alerted to a potential problem within the school district, two things need to be remembered. First, no individual school board member has authority over district policies, operations or decisions. Only the board can discuss and take official action on district matters at a properly advertised meeting. Secondly, board members should follow the chain of command and refer to the Mount Carmel Area School District's policy on public complaints that is to be followed for such instances.
Kraynak: Our policy is that if someone notifies me about a potential problem in the school district, we refer that person to the proper party within the school district. If the problem is not solved, I would make a phone call directly to the appropriate party. However, oftentimes, school board members take it upon themselves to try to solve a problem without going through the chain of command. This sometimes creates other problems.
Mazzatesta: Depending on level of urgency and importance, I believe any administrator, nurse, staff employee, director or teacher has an obligation to assess an issue brought to them and pass on to the appropriate personnel. Successful organizations have common elements, including a functional organization chart and clearly defined roles and responsibilities. If it is a security concern, there may be an obvious need for an urgent response. If there is a health issue, there is protocol for minimizing the impact. For disciplinary issues, the seriousness of the issue would dictate at what level it is required to be addressed. Given the above, I would assess the concern and forward as necessary to the staff personnel, the school board or whomever is appropriate to address it.
Zanella: No matter what the concern or problem is that is brought up to me, I will address it. However, my reaction will vary upon severity. If the problem in the district is extremely drastic, to the point of emergency, my course of action would be very clear. Do everything in my power to bring it to light and have it dealt with. Of course this would entail notifying everyone who can sate the problem, even calling an emergency board meeting. The above is, of course, only for the utmost drastic pressing measures. If I were addressed with a problem that could wait until the next school board meeting without harm being done, I believe that to be much more beneficial to everyone. It's not my goal to make mountains out of mole hills or cause drama.
Question No. 3:
In what specific area (financial, academics, extra-curricular activities) does the Mount Carmel Area School District most need improvement?
Brecker: Without strong financial ground, academics and extra-curricular activities will be compromised. There are many notable extra-curricular strengths, but to name of few, the Odyssey of the Mind team is traveling to Michigan, the girls' basketball team has won three consecutive district championships, "Big Red" is used throughout the region and state to describe our band and football team and I am not aware of another school district having its own television studio. Academically, I hear mixed results. Before and after learning that MCA has been designated as a school not meeting PSSA requirements, I have been present at two school board meetings in which the CSIU executive director presented MCA an award from the state Department of Education for adequate yearly academic progress. Financially, over-reliance on state funding was exposed last year, when significant reduction in these funds directly resulted in staff and program cuts at MCA. The school swimming pool appears to be the latest example of financial distress, closed due to need of repair for the past three months. Money, or lack thereof, has been an ongoing topic of conversation during school board meetings.
James: Financial stability within any school district leads to the hiring of quality staff, forms a constructive work environment and increases morale for teachers, administration and ancillary staff members. A positive work environment is reflective of meeting educational goals such as meeting AYP, improving PSSA scores, Keystone scores and enjoying other educational accolades. Currently, we have a small tax base to generate revenue and are working at creative ways to generate revenue for the district, along with ongoing efforts in making improvements with our special education program and educational curriculum in general.
Kraynak: I think, overall, the MCA School District is doing pretty well. Into the future, financial considerations are going to be at the forefront. We have tremendous pension and health insurance obligations that are large now and will balloon as time goes on. The school district has to be extra-vigilant to wisely and prudently spend the money that they have in order to prevent cuts in academics, extra-curricular activities and staff.
Mazzatesta: There are needs in all three categories that require not only attention, but ongoing guidance. Any of the financial, academic, extra-curricular activity or other major sectors of the school's culture and operation may be in good standing at any one snapshot in time, but it should be the function of the board, administration and staff to maintain stability in all areas at all times. This can be accomplished through logical analysis and foresight from experience. Throughout my career, I have developed the analytical skills to aid the board in the establishment of processes that can help create or maintain stability. Thus, when evaluating any entity as a whole, there is always a need for a proper balance and prioritization of goals for both the short- and long-term good.
Zanella: I think some of the policies implemented need a serious revisiting, the main one being the dress code. With the policies currently in place, a student can be sent to ISS and made to change, or even stay there all day for wearing a slightly off-shade shirt. This causes the student to miss valuable class time due to something so trivial as a blue shirt being a little too close to purple. Even on the late policies, a student can be absent 10 times, but only late five before they're punished. Imagine a student is feeling ill in the morning with a cold and decides to come in later in the day, but hasn't visited the doctor. If they have five late marks, it discourages them from attending school. It's policies like these that need a revisiting.
QUESTION No. 4
What is the primary motivation behind your decision to run for the school board?
Brecker: I was born and raised in Kulpmont, and currently live in Mount Carmel. I have a wonderful wife and family born and raised here, and would like my 4- and 6-year-old sons to have the same opportunity. I love the communities that comprise the Mount Carmel Area School District. Our region has always been known for strong family values and work ethic. Unfortunately, our communities, as we know and love them, are being diminished by blight, drugs, crime and transients. I can no longer sit back and watch this happen. I would like to be in a position of leadership, where I can utilize my career experience, channel my passion, share my pride and make a positive impact. With four seats on the MCA School Board to be open, I feel this is my chance.
James: My primary motivation for running for school board is the vested interest I have as a parent, and a taxpayer, in continuing to focus Mount Carmel Area's efforts to serve all of the children of the community in an educational and fiscally prudent manner.
Kraynak: I am completing my fifth consecutive term as a Mount Carmel Area School Board director. After 20 years, the job that I started to do has not been completed. We are still not in the financial condition that I would like to see. There is still a lot of work to be done to integrate the educational process with other schools and entities to try to increase the quality of education while simultaneously diminishing its cost. This is a challenge given the geographical area in which we live. As everyone knows, we have a poor tax base that is getting progressively poorer. We have to be creative and frugal in the way we spend taxpayers' money. I have always been up to this task and look forward to another four years of serving the public.
Mazzatesta: For me, it comes down to giving back to the community through civic service, utilizing the skills and information attained throughout my personal life and career. This is the direct result of strong family values and work ethic that come from growing up in this community, as well as the education I received at MCA. The values that were instilled in me by my family, teachers, mentors, coaches and community have served me well, and those lessons still ring true today. I respectfully feel that I owe this community a debt of gratitude, and being a part of the school board allows me the opportunity to repay the community through civic service. Throughout my career, I have always been known as a creative problem-solver and someone who brings a great deal of leadership to the workplace. It is my sincere belief I can be a valuable asset for the community and school district.
Zanella: I've attended Mount Carmel since I first started going to school. I know the teachers and the policies from a firsthand perspective. I know how the students feel about things and how the teachers feel as well. I'm looking to bring a new view into the board. I'm running to improve the school with the input of everyone involved.