Superintendent: ‘Be the change you want’
CALIFORNIA – “‘Be the change you want.’ I have that quote on the school district Web site and I have it at the bottom of all my correspondence,” said Linda Mancini, the new superintendent in the California Area School District. Mancini’s philosophy is a paraphrase of Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
What Mancini wants to see is unity in the school district.
“We have eight different little communities who see themselves as separate entities. We’re only one school district,” Mancini said.
To begin that process Mancini has visited each of the communities and invited the local elected officials and community members to her office recently to see what they would like from the school district. Officials from California and Roscoe boroughs took her up on the offer.
Mancini noted that there are 967 students enrolled in the district from kindergarten through high school.
“You understand that when the school district dwindles, so does the community,” Mancini said. “What would it take to get developers here? We have the land. What’s stopping us?”
The answers came quickly:
“There’s no infrastructure,” said California Councilwoman Sheila Chambers.
“We need an attitude adjustment with our elected officials and our people,” said Roscoe Mayor Tom Wilkinson.
“They’re worried about taxes increasing,” said California resident and retired district secretary Donna Bridges.
Wilkinson said that the elected officials in Long Branch Borough urged residents to reject a proposal for the installation of public water lines. California council President Jon Bittner noted that the water line would have been a significant improvement to the community.
“You’ve added $5,000 to $10,000 to the value of your property,” Bittner said.
Leigh Ann Folmar, the assistant high school principal, said a family from Ohio contacted her as part of the decision-making process for relocating to southwestern Pennsylvania. Both the parents and the four children agreed they wanted to be in the California Area School District, but then they met with a local realtor.
“They couldn’t find adequate housing to suit their needs,” Folmar said.
Folmar said the family wasn’t looking for anything excessive and was used to living in a farmhouse type of home.
Mancini is hoping there will be changes in the housing market as the district goes through changes as well. Although the school board has not yet decided if administrative offices and a multi-sport complex will be built at the current high school/middle school/elementary school campus, Mancini said she has been authorized to begin the preliminary search for an architect.
Mancini said it makes sense academically for the football, softball and baseball fields to be on the same campus as the school buildings, making the fields available for gym classes and other academic uses.
“It does make good sense to have that up there and use it the way it’s meant to be used,” Mancini said. “If the board approves the multi-sport complex, I’ll carry that picture everywhere with me to all the community meetings.”
“I think you’re off to a really great start. I’m impressed that you’ve been to all these different communities. Don’t give up,” said California Councilwoman Shelly Roberts.
Bridges suggested publicizing concerts and plays to area senior citizens, possibly through Center in the Woods.
Mancini said she would also consider sending a student representative or letter to each municipal meeting to let the community know about upcoming activities and events and student achievements.
The group suggested that Mancini continue to invite community leaders to her office on a quarterly basis.
“This is my 25th year (in office) and this is the first time someone from the school district ever showed up,” Wilkinson said.
Mancini said she doesn’t intend to be a superintendent who stays in her office.
“On my part, I’m going to be at the schools so the kids know me,” Mancini said.
She said she also intends to attend district sporting events, even working the concession stand at times in order to meet more people in the district.
“We need to lose the idea that the superintendent is here to take something. I’m not here to take, I’m here to give something and that’s service,” Mancini said.