Five seats open on California board
CALIFORNIA – Five seats are open on the California Area School Board this year, one of which is in Region 1 of the school district, covering most of California Borough. California Area School Board members are elected by region, not at-large.
The two candidates running for the one open seat in Region 1 are Gerald “Galvie” Gardner and Norm Hasbrouck.
Gardner is the former mayor of California and a former police officer for California, West Brownsville, Long Branch and Fayette City. He is president of the California Optimists Club. He is a retired steelworker and United Steelworkers union officer.
“Most people know me,” Gardner said. “One of the top priorities on my list is to see that the district is not overspending. We need to account for every dime.”
As mayor and the former president of the California Area Parks and Recreation Authority Gardner was involved with plans for a wellness center when the borough was looking into the matter. He is actively involved in seeking donations for the renovation of Booster Field.
Gardner said neither the renovation of Booster Field nor construction of a wellness center should be done through a tax increase.
“I’m not against the wellness center, I just don’t think they have the money to do it,” Gardner said.
Gardner said he doesn’t feel the current security measures in the district are adequate and he would like to see a school security officer in the district again.
“When you see what’s happened at Virginia Tech and around the country, we have a very good school district, but to think it can’t happen here is mistaken. It can happen anywhere,” Gardner said of school violence. “The protection of our students while they are in class is number one.”
Gardner said he’d also like to see the district setting high standards in the No Child Left Behind program.
Hasbrouck was appointed by the school board to serve as a director when Cindy Dunlevy moved out of the district last fall. He is the special assistant to the president at California University of Pennsylvania, where he as worked for the past 28 years.
“I have always said I would be willing to serve the school district, but I never wanted to do that while my kids were in school,” Hasbrouck said.
His daughter graduated last June, freeing him to pursue a seat on the school board.
“I do believe that our students today are our leaders tomorrow,” Hasbrouck said.
Hasbrouck said the Booster Field renovation is needed whether another football stadium is built or not.
“There are just too many sports now to fit on one field,” Hasbrouck said. “The wellness center is another whole issue. I think it makes sense if we know all the information and I don’t think everyone has all the information right now.”
Hasbrouck is against the district taking over the special education programs, noting that it opens the district to liability issues it doesn’t have when special education is handled by the Intermediate Unit 1. Hasbrouck said going through the Intermediate Unit also gives the district flexibility to meet whatever student need arises.
Hasbrouck also sees a need to have an armed security officer in each school building.
“If nothing else, it is a deterrent. I think it gives the children a sense of security,” Hasbrouck said.