Albert Gallatin School Board
There are five candidates running in the Nov. 5 general election for four seats on the Albert Gallatin School Board.
The candidates are incumbents Edward Andria and Kenneth Plisko and challengers Michael Dunham, Terry Ryan and Doug Sholtis. Dunham, Sholtis and Andria all won both Republican and Democratic Party nominations in the primary last spring while Plisko secured a Democratic Party nomination and Ryan won a Republican nomination.
Of those five candidates, Dunham, Ryan and Sholtis came in and met with the Herald-Standard Editorial Board while Andria and Plisko declined our invitations. We’re not sure why they choose not to meet with us but we have to mention that they also declined our invitation in the spring primary.
Of course, we’re disappointed that they decided not to meet with us but the people who should really be upset are the taxpayers in the Albert Gallatin School District, who have little or no idea of what Andria and Plisko think about the major issues affecting the district.
For that reason alone we couldn’t support Andria or Plisko. But luckily for AG residents, the other three candidates are all very intelligent, informed and committed candidates. We endorse Dunham, Ryan and Sholtis without any reservations.
Ryan and Dunham are both former teachers and bring an important point of view to the board. In addition, Dunham is a former school board member. Sholtis is a lifelong resident and an attorney, bringing his valuable training and experience to the board.
They expressed skepticism about the Common Core curriculum standards in Pennsylvania, claiming it’s one-size-fits-all formula might not be best for students in the school districts.
They also opposed the recently passed House Bill 1189, which would allow school boards to reduce property taxes but force them to raise mercantile or earned income taxes to make up the money. Dunham had it right when he called the bill a “shell game.”