7 in the running for 5 spots on Penn Hills School Board
Share this post:
Editor’s note: The Penn Hills Progress is publishing election previews with candidate interviews for contested municipal and school board races only. Previews for the mayoral and council races will run in upcoming issues.
In the race for Penn Hills School Board, seven candidates are running for five open spots on the ballot, all four-year terms. According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, five of the candidates are cross-filed on the ballot, while Heather Broman and Larry Choby are on the Democratic ticket only.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_image1.jpeg”]
Jackie Blakey-Tate
Party affiliation: Cross-filed
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? As a current school director, I have seen changes and growth within the PHSD. My vision is for the PHSD to improve academic outcomes; increase parental participation; increase the graduation rate; find quality staff with competitive salaries; provide safe schools; keep taxes low; and maintain a balanced budget.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? We have a responsibility to provide safe schools where students have their educational, physical/mental health, behavioral needs met; this will improve student outcomes. Better schools encourage families to move into PH, which will increase the tax base and be less of a burden for our senior citizens. It’s a cyclic effect.
Why should people vote for you? I am an experienced educator who has served as a principal, assistant to the superintendent, school social worker, developmental advisor and intervention specialist. As a school director, I witnessed education from a different perspective. This combination will help move the district forward. I am qualified and ready to serve my community.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_php-SchoolBoardPreview4-042023.jpg”]
Heather Broman
Party affiliation: Democrat
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? My daughter, who has autism, will be entering kindergarten here next year. I looked up the ratings online and found that our district is in the bottom 15% of schools statewide. I’m running because I’m terrified to send her to school, and I hope to turn these ratings around.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? I have three main issues. One: communication — we need to have a culture of positive communication where we are open to fixing problems, trying solutions and surveying results. Two: ratings – we need to improve them. Three: safety – every teacher, staff member and child should feel safe coming to school.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_Choby.jpg”]
Larry Choby
Party affiliation: Democrat
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? I decided to run for the school board after reading the Grand Jury reports that described several instances of poor judgement by the school board. The mistakes made during the development and construction of the new Penn Hills schools put an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? The largest constraint placed on the Penn Hills schools and the community at large is financial. The inability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to adequately support education places a massive obligation on so many taxpayers with a fixed income. Penn Hills retirees are most adversely affected!
What should voters know about you? Since the fall of 1987, I have lived in the same house with my wife, Pam. I have bachelor’s degrees in sociology, accounting, and a master’s in public health. I retired as the chief financial officer at Asbury Heights, a life care community in Mount Lebanon now affiliated with UPMC. I have experience with grants and have completed performance reviews for Health and Human Services nationally.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_php-SchoolBoardPreview2-042023.jpg”]
Devon Goetze
Party affiliation: Cross-filed
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? I currently facilitate the Penn Hills Partnership, which is a collaboration of agencies that work in Penn Hills to support its residents. I am also newly on the board of the Community Development Corporation. Community development is a huge passion of mine, and you cannot develop communities effectively without engaging the youth and considering their interests and needs.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? First and foremost is attendance. The district is in the top five districts with attendance issues. This affects everything else we do, including graduation rates, student interactions, test scores, relationships and learning. Directly behind this is a competitive curriculum and assuring students in special education are getting their individualized needs met.
Why should people vote for you? I recognize without the proper education of our young people, the community will not be able to prosper and grow effectively. I also recognize that by not offering competitive curriculum, parents will continue to place their learners outside of the district. Having a diverse school board that is able to come together for the betterment of the children of the community will bring about fresh concepts so the district can continue to advance.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_php-SchoolBoardPreview3-042023.jpg”]
Robert Marra
Party Affiliation: Cross-filed
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? I have been on the Penn Hills School Board for the past six years, and prior to that I was the district treasurer for two years. As the chairman of the finance committee, I worked closely for our business managers and chief recovery officer, and through the combined effort of the school board, administration and all employees, PHSD has made tremendous steps in improving our financial status. We need to continue this effort in the future years to enable the district to exit the state-mandated financial recovery and ensure financial stability, especially when the benefit of Federal ESSERS funds (Covid Relief) ends in 2024.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? As we have stabilized our financial situation, the district must focus on improving our academic performance and ensuring that our buildings are safe for students and employees. We need to make PHSD the desired education choice for all students and bring back students that have left our schools for private, parochial, charter and cyber schools. We need to advocate with our state representatives to change the unfair funding formulas for charter and cyber schools that is negatively impairing public schools across the entire commonwealth.
Why should people vote for you? My background and professional experience (PhD from MIT, 40 years of employment with Alcoa/Almatis, retiring in February 2022 as vice president of technology) provides a solid foundation in understanding the needs of running a fiscally sound, high performing organization. Our four children all graduated from Penn Hills and received an excellent education, which has enabled them to obtain successful careers.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_php-SchoolBoardPreview1-042023.jpg”]
Meryl Thomas
Party affiliation: Cross-filed
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? I am running for a second term as a member of the school board of directors to continue to move our district forward. We have made large strides in the last four years and it is important to continue this. I am committed to being a positive force for PHSD.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Since we have done so much to improve the financial situation, we can now move on. I feel a serious issue we need to address has to do with safety and addressing behavior concerns. Since returning from covid, these issues need our attention. This will also improve the educational environment.
Why should people vote for you? I have attended school board meetings for more than 25 years, so I am very aware of policies and the best practices we have in place. I can continue to be a valuable part of our board in discussions and decisions since I am aware of the district’s needs and challenges.
[gps-image name=”6086082_web1_IMG_7456.jpg”]
Erin Vecchio
Party affiliation: Cross-filed
Municipality: Penn Hills
Why did you decide to run for election? I decided to run again because I need to finish what I started and make sure we stay financially secure. Also, Jay Costa asked me to run again.
What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? We need to make sure we are financially secure and we need parents to be more involved with their children. We need to make sure everybody is safe and we need more discipline in these schools. People need to know I saved the taxpayers $12 million the second year I was there by going out and getting the bond refinanced when nobody said it could be done!
What should voters know about you? I have brought more money into this district than any other board member ever, by working with Senator Jay Costa and Connor Lamb, Mike Doyle and John Weinstein. I have brought in millions that nobody has ever done. I also hold people accountable and get things done. I return everybody’s phone calls. I take this position seriously because I grew up here and this town means something to me.