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Jennifer Barnhart (R)
BELLEFONTE -- Jennifer Barnhart is a Republican Candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Barnhart has been a part of the Bellefonte community since 2004. Barnhart was interested in moving to the community for her children's school experience at Bellefonte Area School District. Barnhart has taken an active role in the community as a Little League coach, team mom, a booster club board member, PTO member and founder of a non-profit travel softball program. Barnhart earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts and sciences from Penn State in 2003 and currently works at the university as a member of the Development and Alumni Relations team.
Below are a couple of questions Barnhart answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Barnhart's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I think first and foremost the one thing that I really want to put out there is that I'm a parent. I'm a parent of two wonderful children, I'm really proud of them. They've gone through the Bellefonte School District from kindergarten all the way to my oldest, now a senior. But I also feel like I'm a community parent in ways. I love seeing these children that are peers of my kids and other kids throughout different volunteering, whether it be Little League or other things that I've been a part of. It's been fantastic to just watch them grow and just find themselves in their own place. That's kind of led me down the road to trying to just really make an impact in life. That's overall my goal -- send the ripples through the water. That need for impact has led me down this path, so hopefully I'll continue to make the ripples bigger and bigger and leave a pretty healthy legacy behind.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: I think one of the things I really bring to the table for this is looking at how it's going to be used. Trying to look at outside perspectives, outside of the actual brick and mortar. Which, I will be the first to acknowledge is not my specialty or skill of mine. So those are things that I don't understand. But I'm very fortunate that I'm working with people who are also running for the school board that do have that skill that I can rely on and trust to make those decisions. It's really looking at 'do we have the space for this to occur,' whether it be extracurriculars, how do we keep these kids safe, are there things that we're looking at -- other opportunities, are there classrooms that have multipurposes to them so that as situations change there's that adaptability, are they meeting the teachers' needs and style of teaching or the students style of learning. That's really what I think I bring to the table for this new school structure.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: I think Charter Schools have definitely had the largest impact financially on public schools, and I think this is something that I'm still trying to take a lot in and really understand. I think for every child and every family it's important to have options. But those options should not detract from the other options that are available and from those that are going to public school or don't have other opportunities to look at something other than the public school system. I think that's where the concern has to lie, what meets all the needs without detracting from anybody else.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: As I've mentioned I'm not from around here. I do feel like I've encompassed Bellefonte pride and I want to be a part of continuing what is the pride here in Bellefonte. This road has led me down through all my experiences. I have a lot of skills that I've learned, life lessons that I've learned that I feel I bring to this table and hopefully I can continue to see them through and this is my impact moving forward. What I would like to say is, I'm calling on everyone to make your impact by getting out and voting. Making that difference, and hopefully together we can make the changes that we're looking to make.
To hear all of the questions and Barnhart's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829450?fullscreen=false
Patrick Buck (R)
BELLEFONTE -- Patrick Vincent Buck is a Republican candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Buck moved to Bellefonte in 2019 and lives with his wife and two children, one of which attends Marion-Walker Elementary. Buck is a process engineering manager with a degree in mechanical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Buck is running for school board to instill a focus and further develop STEM initiatives in the district and ensure students are provided with experiences and skills necessary post graduation.
Below are a couple of questions Buck answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Buck's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I moved to Bellefonte a couple years ago -- father of two. We really were interested in Bellefonte for a number of reasons. We really liked the community, the people and certainly the school district. I'm not a politician -- the part that probably I could do without -- I want to make sure the community's voice is heard, represent the community, represent myself, be able to have a say in the things that are going on in the district. Ultimately it's for my kids. This is kind of taking some of my time away from my family but I feel like it's a good investment of my time and we'll get it in the backend. It'll provide a good opportunity for me to make a difference.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: First and foremost everybody is going to be conservative about the budget, so the intent here is to build a new school and we're going to be on a specific budget and minimize the impact to taxes if not avoid a tax increase. So that's certainly critical to keep everybody happy within the district. But when you're taking on a project like this it's important to kind of keep the future in mind, future proof the school if you will. We want to make sure that it's relevant and that it's up to date for years and years to come, make sure it's flexible so you can change things around as a district needs changed, as technology changes. You want to make sure it's an efficient building too, so when you start talking about operating costs and things of that nature you really take into account 'is this system a little more expensive up front? But we're going to save in 3-5 years' and it seems like a no brainer. You want to have a lot of long term goals in mind when you're looking at doing that. STEM items are really important to me, so making sure that we've got the technology and learning rooms in place to be able to leverage those I think that'll really help long term.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: Charter schools are kind of a double sided coin. On one side of the coin it provides local families with alternatives. I think in some respects they're a benefit and kind of keeps everybody in line. There's a little bit of a competitive thing going on. There's some good things with charter schools, I do believe that. On the same token, charter schools are very expensive for the district. We have to allocate a lot of funding, provide transportation to students that go to charter schools so it's a challenge for the district. I think the most important thing here is to understand why families feel the need to send their kids to charter school. Is it an education need? Is the charter school providing something that the district isn't today? A lot of times childcare can become a challenge too. I know you've got to kind of come up with stop gaps in the morning and then after school. So what can the district do to kind of transition and provide those same opportunities to the families that are going and taking their children to charter school. I think that's step one, understand the problem and then we can develop a solution.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I'm not really a politician, I'm here to really support the kids. Ultimately it's about making sure that their education is kept at the forefront, that they're safe while they're doing that and that we use data to drive our decision making. Running with Win4Bellefonte, we have four very good candidates. We are bipartisan -- we are truly bipartisan, it's not something we just speak, it's what we practice. We work very well together and we pledge to do the same on the board. We do not have any ties to teachers in the district which I think is important that we don't have a conflict of interest. When you go out in November please consider us, it's ballot numbers 6, 7, 8 and 10. Kessling, Weaver, Buck and Barnhart.
To hear all of the questions and Buck's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829446?fullscreen=false
Paul Dombrowski (D)
BELLEFONTE -- Paul Dombrowski is a Democratic candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Dombrowski is a military veteran with a master's degree in counselor education and wants to bring his 30 years of teaching experience to the district's board of directors.
Dombrowksi and his wife, Judy, have raised two daughters. Dombrowski believes the district's community needs a school board that will work for the betterment of its students, teachers and community overall.
Below are a couple of questions Dombrowski answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Dombrowski's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I'm an emeritus Professor of English, I retired a couple years ago and relocated to Bellefonte with my wife who is also a Pennsylvanian. We met at graduate school at Penn State. I bring a lot of experience in education and even more experience in service with Military service, federal civil service and 30 years of teaching experience. Among my masters degrees is one in counseling and a bachelors in mathematics so I have a broad understanding of education. I'm running because I want to serve -- I've served, served, served. I feel an obligation to my community and the people who are growing up in that community. Community not in the sense of Bellefonte per se or Centre County but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the whole United States and the United States situated in the whole world. I'm a firm believer in the community of humankind -- of all homosapiens as one great big family of relatives who don't always live together nicely, but it's important to work toward doing that from a sense of fairness, equality and respect for law.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: I've attended all of the school board meetings since I threw my hat in the ring. It's pretty much decided what it's going to look like in broad terms. In narrow terms I think it's important to have some common meeting areas that don't exist in the current situation. It's important adjustments be made for population changes in the Bellefonte Area as they're expected over the years. As far as the building itself, I'm working at a disadvantage with respect to some of my other candidates who are already incumbent school board members who are aware of what is discussed within non-public executive meetings. I'm working only with public information and it seems like it's a great school and it's on course to be done very well.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: The term charter school has a lot of different meanings and connotations depending on who's using the word and for what purposes. In general, I am not supportive of charter schools because I'm a firm believer in public education. Public education is an education for what America is all about. Equality, fairness, rule of law, the power of the vote -- that's vitally important and that's what public schools are intended to teach. And they do teach it and they do it very well. A sense of civic responsibility, responsibility to others, kindness and consideration to others, public schools are terrifically important. They are fundamental to what America is meant to be according to our constitution. There are many sorts of flavors of charter schools, some are not particularly objectionable to me but in general the impulse is to move away from public schools and the motivation behind that is to get away from a sense of equality, fairness and inclusiveness for people who are different and I am very much opposed to that.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: There seems to be a fear of public schools and I think that's ridiculous because public schools are the cornerstone of America. They teach what it is to be American, equality, independence, rule of law, the power of the vote -- all these are cultivated within our schools, aside from the content areas of reading, writing and arithmetic. This enculturation of what it is to be American is what I think the most important part of our public education and that is the part that is being slighted by cyber schools and charter schools in general. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions, but in general I believe that to be true.
To hear all of the questions and Dombrowski's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829449?fullscreen=false
Tim Kessling (R)
BELLEFONTE -- Tim Kessling is a Republican candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates.
Kessling is a 2004 graduate from Bellefonte High School. In 2008, he acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management from Pennsylvania College of Technology. Kessling has worked for Glenn O. Hawbaker since 2009, where he worked in on-site development.
In 2020, Tim was promoted to project manager and has been instrumental in P3 & PennDOT structure projects. He was the chair of the Associated Builders of Contractors from 2020 through 2021 and is currently the co-chair of the Glenn O. Hawbaker Charity Golf Outing, co-owner of 2 Dads & a Truck Contracting Company, husband to Kati Kessling and father to Emma and Ella who are enrolled in BASD.
Below are a couple of questions Kessling answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Kessling's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: There's a couple of reasons I'm running. I feel like I have a lot to offer when it comes to the new elementary building. I've worked in construction my whole life. I have a bachelor's in construction management from Pennsylvania College of Technology and I'm also a Bellefonte Alumni. I have two daughters that will be going through the system and the youngest one has the ability to see the elementary school if it comes in on time and under budget. So that's a huge reason why I'm running. I feel like I have a lot to offer.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: Obviously, the priorities would be to come in on time and under budget as I stated before. I question sometimes those that are running if they know how a change order works and what things cost and I feel like I can bring that to the table. Again, I've worked my entire life in construction. I've also served on boards -- I'm the chair of the Associative Builders and Contractors for two years, I am currently the chair of the Spring Township Parks and Rec committee. Working for Hawbaker for 15 plus years as a project manager, this is my job, this is what I do. I do construction, try to keep things on budget, under budget and on time. Really that's my goal.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: So I don't know too much about charter schools other than the fact that I think we lose people to charter schools from what I understand. When they come back from charter schools they have to catch up. I think it's important for parents to have the ability to make that decision if they want to send them to a charter school they can, but I have to ask the question as to why. Why are they leaving to go to these charter schools and what can we do to prevent them from leaving? Can we do anything better? Those are questions I'm going to lean on a little bit of the existing board as to whether I need to get up to speed more on charter schools.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I just want to stress the importance of why I'm running. I have two daughters in the district and my construction background. I'm solely in this for the new elementary school and to learn as I go. I don't know everything, I'm not perfect. But I'm here to ask questions and learn. I know I have experience on boards and I think that community service is a big part. I think that I want to give back to the community and being a Bellefonte alumni is part of it too. I'll leave you with one thing, I got this text this morning from my wife and this is exactly why I do it right here. that was my daughter and that was my good luck text this morning for my interview so that's exactly why I do it.
To hear all of the questions and Kessling's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829439?fullscreen=false
Denelle Korin (D)
From Staff Reports
Denelle Korin is a Democratic Candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors.
Korin did not participate in C-NET's interview and also did not provide a biography in the spring. She'll be on the ballot for one of five open seats.
Julie Fitzgerald (D)
BELLEFONTE -- Incumbent Julie Fitzgerald is a Democratic candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates.
Current Bellefonte Area School District Director Julie Fitzgerald is looking to retain her seat for another term. Fitzgerald holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Ursinus College and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University.
Below are a couple of questions Fitzgerald answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Fitzgerald's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I am a longtime Bellefonte resident. I've lived in Bellefonte for over 20 years now. Both of my children have gone through the Bellefonte school district and I am just very committed to education in general and our Bellefonte community. I currently work in higher education at Penn State on our world campus and I am really just interested in continuing to serve because I think it's an important role. As citizens we have an obligation to make sure that our children have the best education possible. They are our future. I would really enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve our community in this role.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new Elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: I think there are a couple of priorities. Number one is getting the project done right, which we've done a lot of work up until this time to make sure that the building that we're building, the size that we're building meets the needs of our current district but also our future district. This will be the building for 40-50 years or more, and so we want to make sure we get it right. You don't really get second chances on a project this size. I think making sure that the building has the attributes that we need to create learning environments that are conducive for elementary children, that are flexible, that our community can use the space are important. But I also think making sure the project stays under or around budget is very important. We can't put too much of a burden on our taxpayers. Our business managers come up with a plan in terms of how we can do the financing. So making sure that we get the building that we need and not having to overextend into the areas that we can't afford. There might be some things that would be fantastic and wonderful, but they're not crucial to children's educational outcomes. Those are the main considerations I have. Just bringing common sense, asking questions, asking questions about where we're building the space and how it's being developed, asking again about how we're planning for the future. Again, this is not just a building that is going to be right now in 2023 but will this building be able to serve us in 2063 as well as it's serving us now? So being very future-minded.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: I think parents have a right to choose what school has the best education for their students. But I do see that a lot of tax dollars are leaving Bellefonte schools for students to attend charter schools, especially cyber charter schools. I think where the reforms come in are trying to make sure that we have an equal playing field with those charter schools in terms of how their dollars are spent. Many of those charter schools -- especially cyber charter schools -- have incredible advertising budgets, and fund balances that are humongous and not really as controlled or as restricted by law as our public schools are. So I think the reform that's needed is to be sure that charter schools are in the same playing field as the public school, and also the same accountability in terms of performance, graduation rates, all of those types of things. I think a lot of parents may not realize that the performance of students in charter schools is not at the same rate as our public schools are.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I want to thank folks for the opportunity to serve in this role as a school director. I think that it takes a number of different perspectives and voices to be an effective board, and I think that I brought a sense of wanting to find areas of consensus and collaboration with other board members and work together. And quite honestly I've put kids first, and wanting kids education to be put first and so I would ask that people trust me again with that responsibility. It's an awesome responsibility but we have an awesome district and an awesome team and I look forward to being able to serve again should I be lucky enough to be reelected.
To hear all of the questions and Fitzgerald's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829444?fullscreen=false
Darrell Sharp (R)
BELLEFONTE -- Darrell Sharp is a Republican candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates.
Sharp was born and raised in Loretto in Cambria County and graduated from Penn Cambria High School and then attended Penn State University where he obtained an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a bachelor's degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering. Darrell has worked for Graymont for over 17 years and is the mine superintendent. He has lived and worked in the Bellefonte Area School District since 2005, and he and his wife, Heather, have three children that currently attend Marion Walker Elementary.
Below are a couple of questions Sharp answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Sharp's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I've been a resident of the Bellefonte Area for just short of 20 years. I've got three kids in the district, two attending Marion-Walker and one at middle school. That's the biggest reason I want to get involved, (I'm) emotionally invested in it and I want to do everything I can to represent the Bellefonte community and have an impact on my child's education and all the kids of the district. That's the biggest motivation and it keeps me driving to do something different. So I'm going to give it a run and see what happens.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: I think the priorities are to listen to the community. It's a once-in-a-generation investment, it's a lot of money for a pretty small community like Bellefonte. We're talking a $40-50 million building. It's important to have good resources, good structures, and bring in good talent -- that's how you get good teachers that want to work there, with the newest technology. That's important. Make it one investment, do it right and do it once. Don't have any regrets while still respecting a budget. Money isn't unlimited. I think they're doing a pretty good job, I've been following it online -- they've been having community forums. The structure they've got going on -- they're listening while still maintaining a budget. They're on a really good track and they've got some good contractors involved. I think what I bring is a degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering so I have a little bit of an engineering background, currently a plant manager at a big industrial operation about four miles away from where that building will be built. We're very used to running multi-million dollar projects. It's not over my head, it's very commonplace. There again is some experience, level headedness, (I didn't let) the numbers overwhelm me. I can bring the talent of running a business and treat the taxpayer's money with the same level of importance. I think the experience I bring from educational and professional experience will be valuable in helping run a project like this.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: I like that they exist. I'm pro-charter schools, I think a parent should have choices. Being a parent myself, I want to have choices. It should drive competition in a capitalist world, competition drives quality. I think that parents should have a choice. I believe what's not fair now and what needs to be reformed is the calculations on how the money is split between the Bellefonte School District -- the normal school district -- and the charter schools. Now it's terribly unfair. If the charter schools are going to compete with the public school system, that should be better balanced and those calculations be more fair. Right now they get way too much money per student and they're not held to the same standards. Competition is good but when the playing field is equal. Right now I think charter schools have a pretty decent unfair advantage, so I think we need to keep pushing for legislative changes to bring that balance back to it. Parents need a choice, but it's going to be hard. Bellefonte has to pay for it out of their own pocket, it's not balanced so the reform needs to keep them there but get the rules to be the same. What it truly costs to educate a child in Bellefonte, that's what can be passed on to the charter schools and then hold them to the same standards. If our teacher has to meet certain qualifications and attend certain trainings, you can't just bring in anyone and pay them a fraction of what we're paying a teacher and think you're going to compete. You'll get crushed every single time. Let's get the financial playing field level and it'll sort itself out from there.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I appreciate the time, for sure. I'll sign off the same way I did last time, I encourage everyone to do your homework. If I'm the candidate that you believe that fits for Bellefonte then please vote for me in November. For more information about me you can look me up on Facebook, Sharp for Bellefonte School District or Bellefonte School Board. I make a lot of posts on there and try to get people to follow that. I encourage every voter, do your homework, put the people in place -- me or not me -- that fit your values. That's the most important thing for our district.
To hear all of the questions and Sharp's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829440?fullscreen=false
Donna Smith (D)
BELLEFONTE -- Incumbent Donna Smith is a Democratic candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Smith is seeking her second term on the Bellefonte Area School District's board of directors. Smith enjoyed a 33-year teaching career in the district and was the chair of the English Language Arts Department at the time of her retirement. Her two children, both of whom have careers in public service, are Bellefonte graduates, and her grandchildren attend school there. Donna was an active member of several athletic booster clubs, served on the COVID Reopening Task Force and volunteers for Bellefonte Reads. She attends Trinity United Methodist Church. During her time on the board, Smith has served on the PSBA's Legislative Advisory Committee, Policy Committee, Legislative Committee, Branding Committee and PSBA Liaison.
Below are a couple of questions Smith answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Smith's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I am a mother of two grown adult children who were graduates of the Bellefonte school district. I have two grandchildren who will be graduating from the school district. I worked for my whole career as a teacher there, and when I retired about five years ago I was Department Chair of the Language Arts Department. I currently serve on the board. I have a position on the policy committee. I am also a legislative liaison which means that when a legislator has a bill in Harrisburg that affects public education, I let the board know about that and, vice versa, I let the legislator know how something affects our school district, be it positively or negatively. I do those two things. On the state level I sit on the platform committee and also I am a legislative advisor for PSBA. I am quite busy when it comes to the school district. Why I'm running, originally I ran because I believe in my whole heart in public education and I've a fondness for the school district and for the students that I've taught for many years and I felt that I had a lot to give. Specifically, I have finished 5 years and there are a few things that we have to finish, one being the superintendent search and the other is our building project and our other facilities maintenance. Those are two things I would really like to see come to fruition. I've worked very hard at those things and I would sure like to see the final product.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: The priorities are set already by all the stakeholders, the priorities were set by the administrators, the superintendent, the teachers, they've all weighed in on the priorities. But we want something that is going to be future-ready. That our students in the future are going to be able to use that is going to be exciting, open, safe and something that our school district is proud of. As a school board member, I've been involved with the project from the beginning so I've asked the questions, I've looked at the budget, I've looked at the plans and I can offer my expertise on what we've decided so far. Holding all of our construction managers and architects accountable for what they said that they would be doing.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: Charter schools themselves don't affect the Bellefonte School District. We are all in agreement that school choice is very important, so it's not the charter school specifically. There are brick and mortar and then there are cyber charter schools -- it's the funding. And that is something that I have advocated for for the past five years across the state. They affect us because we write a $3.8 million check every year to various of these both brick and mortar and cyber charters. But the cyber charter are the ones that seem to be the most problematic. So for example, with one small change -- and that is a flat fee that is going to cyber charter schools, instead of the entire $13,000 per pupil up to $32,000 per pupil, paying them what they are actually spending. That one change will save our taxpayers a half million dollars in one year. So we had to specifically raise taxes this past year to make up that $500,000. Again, it's not the schools themselves, it's the way they're funded and they're improperly funded. That's something that I have been working on in earnest ever since I got on the school board.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I would like to first shout out the Bellefonte school teachers for giving me their endorsement regardless of how the election turns out. That is something that I really take to heart. I appreciate their trust in me. I would also like to mention that there's so much noise -- not just our school district but across the state and the nation -- about school boards, what they do and what they shouldn't be doing, but honestly what we really do is we really focus on budgets, facilities, creating the framework for student success, the superintendent, things like that. It is important that we select the right people on the board who have the institutional knowledge and the educational background to get those things done. Hopefully, people know me enough to know that I will be able to do those things and I will work my hardest to make sure that they're all done.
To hear all of the questions and Smith's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829437?fullscreen=false
Kimberly Weaver (R)
WEAVER -- Incumbent Kimberly Weaver is a Republican candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Weaver is a 1995 graduate of Bellefonte Area School District and is currently a kindergarten teacher at a neighboring school district. Kim is a current school board member that has been elected two times, the first being in 2015 and again in 2019.
Kim earned an associate degree in business from the South Hills School of Business and Technology and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Phoenix.
Below are a couple of questions Weaver answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Weaver's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: I have lived in the district for most of my life. Between my husband and I we have six children and, in the spring I said that we had eight grandchildren but now we're actually going to have 10 grandchildren. I would like to continue to stay on the board -- I'm currently a member of the board -- and there are things that I would really like to see through. We have a program that's called the MTSS program which is helping our elementary students push through these COVID years and close those learning gaps. Also, I'm part of the CPI board and I'd like to continue to see the growth with CPI, that opens the doors for our students at CPI.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: My priorities are what we're doing right now with our SitelogIQ manager. He is pushing through, he is doing a great job with our elementary project. We're on a great timeline so I'd like to see that timeline to continue through. I think that I bring to the table -- I'm an educator, an elementary educator at a district beside us and I have those qualifications. I may not know a whole lot about the building and the infrastructure, but I certainly know what goes into an elementary classroom.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: The charter schools definitely affect our budget. We have over $7 million going out to the charter schools. I do believe that reform is needed, I believe that financial reform is needed. I don't have a problem with charter schools in the sense of parents having that choice, but I do believe that we have to hold them to the same standards that are held to the public schools. The same education standard, all of those kinds of things versus just the district handing over the money and they're not being held accountable.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I would just like to say thank you for voting for me, and that I will continue to put forth an amazing effort. I believe in our public education system, I believe in Bellefonte School District and the future that it has.
To hear all of the questions and Weaver's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829433?fullscreen=false
Joe Yech (D)
BELLEFONTE -- Joe Yech is a Democratic candidate for the Bellefonte Area Board of Directors and is one of 10 potential candidates for five open seats.
Yech and his wife moved to Central Pa. in 2012 and are proud parents of three children. Yech has a Bachelor's degree in paper engineering from Western Michigan University, and earned his MBA at Frostburg State University. He worked in the paper industry 24 years as a process engineer, first in Indiana, then Illinois, then West Virginia before settling in Central Pennsylvania for the last 10 years. He is currently working in the paper industry where he manages large budgets and staff. His parents are both retired vocational teachers and his wife is currently a teacher.
Below are a couple of questions Yech answered during a C-NET interview by Halie Kines, a Centre Daily Times reporter. Some of Yech's answers have been edited for length, but the full interview can be viewed on C-NET's website.
Q: To get started do you just want to tell me a little bit about yourself and why you're running for the Bellefonte School Board?
A: My wife and I, on a personal level, we have three kids in the district. Two at Marion-Walker Elementary and very exciting we had one that moved up to the middle school this year. I have that personal connection to the school district in that way and I want to have more of a connection to the schools. I think I can help contribute and set our schools up for a very strong future.
Q: The district is in the process of planning for a new elementary school. What would be your priorities for the project and what would you bring to the process as a school board member?
A: That's a great question. I think this elementary school is a great thing for our school system and the community. It fixes some aging infrastructure needs that we have with some of our other elementary schools. I would like to make sure that we have our budget and we do what we can to stick to that budget for the taxpayers, but also maximize what that new building will be able to provide for our students through technology, layout and different educational opportunities. From what I've been hearing about the plans, that seems to be going that direction. I would like to be on the board to help make sure it stays in that direction.
Q: How do charter schools affect the Bellefonte Area School District and what if any reform do you think is needed?
A: Charter schools, by means of students leaving Bellefonte Area School District and moving into charter schools that are not affiliated with the school district, siphon funds away from our schools. We do have a cyber program -- BeLA -- through the Bellefonte Area School District to help offer a different learning opportunity for students, if they would explore that as well it would be great. But taking funding from our schools helps limit what we can offer our students. I would like to see a way that we can keep our schools funded fairly and equitably.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the voters?
A: I guess it comes down to how my wife and I are wanting to raise our kids and see them grow and develop. We want them to be open minded, free thinking individuals when they reach adulthood, and know that when they ask why something happened or how something happened that they have the skills to go and figure that out for themselves and not rely on other people who may give them biased answers. I want to bring that philosophy with me to the school board and how I will make decisions on policy and help set our school system up to be strong for the future generations that will come through.
To hear all of the questions and Yech's answers, visit videoplayer.telvue.com/player/GNduNoua2rBThhw6N4PRP9OCSPf6B2ru/playlists/4810/media/829425?fullscreen=false