6 candidates compete for 5 seats on Greater Latrobe school board

On the heels of Greater Latrobe school board’s passage of a multi-million dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039 is the Nov. 7 general election.

Six candidates are vying for five, four-year seats on the board.

The incumbents include: Susan Mains, who is seeking a ninth term, Michael Zorch, who is seeking a seventh term, Merle Musick, who is seeking a fourth term, and current board President Eric Hauser. Bradley Toman and John Urban are the two newcomers.

Mains, Hauser, Zorch and Toman cross-filed, Urban is on the Democratic ticket and Musick is on the Republican slate.

Incumbent Rhonda Laughlin, who is cross-filed, is also running for reelection — but for a two-year term that is uncontested on the ballot.

Laughlin and Hauser did not respond to requests for comment.

The resolution to move forward with the revitalization plan passed at the September board meeting 5-4. Of those running in the general election, Hauser, Laughlin, Mains and Zorch voted in favor, and Musick voted no.

The plan will cost between $182 million to $198 million, and district property owners can expect tax hikes totaling 24 mills by 2039.

Mains, 70, of Latrobe, said she voted for the plan because there are safety issues in the district that “need to be addressed.”

“I believe that the better you keep your schools, the more your property values stay high,” Mains said.

She said she believes school boards should concentrate their energy on ensuring the success of students — including a strong curriculum and the right environment to implement it.

However, she said she does understand those who are opposed to the tax increase as a result of the plan.

“My main point here is we can’t let the schools go downhill,” Mains said. “I really think we need to do as much as we can to keep the schools the best they can be.”

Zorch, 68, of Latrobe, also voted for the plan, as he believes the junior high school is “beyond repair.”

He said his main prerogative on the board is doing “what’s best” for students and staff.

“I should be a voice for the kids,” Zorch said. “You’re not there except to do what’s best for the children — that’s why I wanted to be on the board.”

The main priority of the board needs to be fiscal responsibility, according to Musick, 60, of Latrobe, who voted against the revitalization plan.

“As school directors, we’ve always been charged with balancing the needs of the students, which is ultimately our biggest goal — along with how it’s going to be funded by the taxpayers,” Musick said.

He said it can be a “fine line” to walk to be cognizant of taxpayers, and he believes the district could renovate its existing buildings at a “lower cost.”

Greater Latrobe’s student population has been declining, Musick said, just as the local population is aging. The district has had a declining enrollment of 800 students over the past 20 years, and it maintains 150,000 square feet of unused space.

“Therefore, right now, I’m opposed to any building of new structures,” Musick said.

He said he hopes to continue keeping education standards high as a school board member.

Urban, 71, of Unity,

initially cross-filed but ended up on the Democratic ticket. He is a registered Republican.

His main priority would be to “put the emphasis back on education” rather than building “extravagant buildings” that are unnecessary, he said.

“We don’t need that … expensive architecture,” Urban said. “The money should be spent on (the) quality of education.”

He said he has grandchildren in the district, and he hopes to get to work with administration on the board to improve education and find a “cost-effective” outcome.

Toman, 39, of Unity,

said he believes it would be “inappropriate” for a new candidate to take a stance on the decision to move forward with the revitalization plan.

“I really don’t think that any new candidate can come in with a proper, fully functioning understanding,” Toman said. “We weren’t part of that decision-making process.”

Toman would like to be a part of the process moving forward and find solutions by researching alternative options — if there are any — and hearing community feedback.

He said he would like to continue growing educational opportunities and advocate for parental involvement.

“I’m not a single-issue candidate, so I think while this is a very important issue, (the revitalization plan is) not the only issue the school district faces.”