LH incumbents will continue ‘progress forward’ if re-elected
Incumbent candidates in the Laurel Highland School District will continue to address issues of concern, ranging from Common Core and nepotism to finance and curriculum, if re-elected to the school board in the May 19 primary.
Sitting directors Jamie Miller D’Andria, Bill Elias, Debra Bortz and Melvyn Sepic, all of Uniontown, are seeking both the Democratic and Republican nominations.
Previously, Elias was appointed to the board to replace an unexpired term for Tom Vernon when he resigned.
Bortz was appointed to the board in September following the resignation of Lyn Andaloro.
Seeking a second term as director, Jamie Miller D’Andria is passionate about addressing nepotism.
“Right now, my major focus is on hiring practices and creating a transparent policy addressing nepotism. I am revisiting the hiring policy to include nepotism in the final stages of drafting the policy,” said D’Andria, who chairs the strategic plan and board policy committee.
“I want to make sure the policy is adopted and being followed. I want to make certain we are hiring the most qualified and experienced staff.”
Using her 26 years as an educator, D’Andria hopes to create a better understanding and communication regarding Common Core.
Having two students in the district, D’Andria said she understands the need for parental involvement.
“Common Core is a big concern. As a parent and an educator, helping understand how Common Core works and how parents can get involved in understanding will help us have the most effective curriculum,” said D’Andria.
“Education is a shared partnership, and we need to work together. We need support of parents, and we need to increase parental involvement. That is a continued focus for me.”
D’Andria will also remain focused on reigning in spending and making sure the taxpayers interests are served, she said.
Melvyn Sepic is an educator with more than 47 years experience and is seeking a second term on the board.
As board vice president and chairman, and a member of the finance and budget and security and transportation committees, Sepic said he understands the challenges the district faces with funding shortfalls, and he is proud the district has rallied from past financial hurdles.
“I’m quite proud of the fact that our 2014-15 budget was balanced with no increases or furloughs, and we didn’t curtail any education programs,” said Sepic.
“As a board, we have added six elementary positions, which shrinks classroom sizes, and brought back all teachers and counselors that were furloughed in 2012. And a second custodian was added in an elementary school to better accommodate the students.”
Sepic said he is committed to making the right decisions for the district and its taxpayers.
“We were under quite a bit of scrutiny for the TIF (tax incremental funding) project, but I’m sure the taxpayers are aware we saved them $2.5 million by not approving the TIF. I’m not against economic development, but we just couldn’t do that to the taxpayers,” said Sepic.
He said he remains concerned about the financial obligations placed on school districts due to state mandates in the face of decreased state reimbursements.
If re-elected, Sepic said he wants to continue to work on the district’s comprehensive hiring policy to make sure the best candidates for positions in the district are hired, while also continuing to improve academics and infuse science, technology, engineering and math into the curriculum as much as possible.
After attending meetings and work sessions for years, Debra Bortz was appointed to a seat on the board and will now seek election to secure that position.
“I have been lucky enough to work with taxpayers, employees, administration and students so far. I put my heart and soul into it, and it’s been a good feeling,” Bortz said.
“I know we have many issues, but it’s not easy to walk right in and stop all production. Solutions don’t happen overnight.”
Bortz does feel the board is doing a better job of keeping spending under control, which she said in the past has been out of control.
“If elected, I’m going to be a bulldog and watch all spending,” Bortz said.
As a former business owner and now chairman of food services and co-chair of human resources, Bortz said she has the ability to work to have issues resolved.
“We must carefully weigh options and tighten up our pocketbook, but there has to be a balance. The kids need a lot. We need to make sure they have the supplies and other programs like art and music and anything that makes them better students.”
Bortz feels the board has made inroads in controlling nepotism in hiring, which she said was “out of control” in the past.
“We now sit in on interviews, observe the process and can choose the most qualified person. With a new policy that will continue to improve,” said Bortz.
“I hope to be elected because I want to continue to progress forward.”
Candidate Bill Elias did not return phone calls made to him for comment.
New candidates cross-filing petitions for election in the district are Nancy Glad, Carmen Grego, Daniel Hoff, Frank Mutnansky Jr. and Alicia Santore, all of Uniontown.