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MAY 15, 2007 PRIMARY ELECTIONHOMER CENTER SCHOOL BOARDCandidates who have cross-filed (qualified for both party ballots) are listed only once. Each entry includes the candidate’s name, post office, and year of birth. 4 YEAR TERM (VOTE FOR FIVE) Timothy C. Taddie QUESTION 1: What in your background, training and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member? QUESTION 2: There is some concern that the No Child Left Behind focus on testing in reading, math, and science leaves scant time and attention for other important goals of public education. What other areas do you think are important to emphasize so that our children grow to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens? QUESTION 3: The PA School Boards Association Standards for Effective School Governance state that school boards govern by reviewing, revising and adopting board policy and delegate to the superintendent responsibility for implementation of board policy. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not? QUESTION 4: Much of the burden of paying for public education falls on local taxpayers. Under Act 1 (2006) school districts may not raise their tax rates above a state-determined index without voter approval-- the “back-end” referendum. In what areas do you think funding could be decreased or even eliminated to balance the school budget and stay below the index? Joy Sasala QUESTION 1: What in your background, training and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member? QUESTION 2: There is some concern that the No Child Left Behind focus on testing in reading, math, and science leaves scant time and attention for other important goals of public education. What other areas do you think are important to emphasize so that our children grow to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens? QUESTION 3: The PA School Boards Association Standards for Effective School Governance state that school boards govern by reviewing, revising and adopting board policy and delegate to the superintendent responsibility for implementation of board policy. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not? QUESTION 4: Much of the burden of paying for public education falls on local taxpayers. Under Act 1 (2006) school districts may not raise their tax rates above a state-determined index without voter approval-- the “back-end” referendum. In what areas do you think funding could be decreased or even eliminated to balance the school budget and stay below the index? Jerry Bertig QUESTION 1: What in your background, training and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member? I am a graduate of Homer-Center and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In addition to presently completing my second year since rejoining the board, I served two terms in the late 1970's and early 1980's, three years as president. At that time I was involved in the previous high school renovation, which we now must undertake again, and the institution of our successful all day kindergarten program, which was then a pioneering initiative. I have always maintained a strong sense of pride and interest in our school district.
QUESTION 2: There is some concern that the No Child Left Behind focus on testing in reading, math, and science leaves scant time and attention for other important goals of public education. What other areas do you think are important to emphasize so that our children grow to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens? It is good to have a system of accountability in any enterprise, but the act as constituted is rigid and in some ways can be counterproductive and unrealistic as a "one size fits all" solution. Still, we need to take it seriously, and strive to meet its challenges to the best of our ability. In some cases, it is necessary to forgo some electives to concentrate on the basics that everyone needs to function well in life, but not fully at the expense of other components of a well-rounded education. An appreciation for civics, history, the elements of good citizenship, and health and fitness all come to mind of being desirable .
QUESTION 3: The PA School Boards Association Standards for Effective School Governance state that school boards govern by reviewing, revising and adopting board policy and delegate to the superintendent responsibility for implementation of board policy. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not? For the most part, but not completely. Certainly, it is the board's primary role to focus on policy, and building consensus on the general direction and goals for the school system; as well as having in place competent administrators who are then accorded the confidence, support and resources needed to carry them out. However, I also believe that the board, collectively, has to reserve the right to have input into the overall agenda and question specific elements, issues, and areas of concern as they arise, within or outside of the parameters of policy. As long as everyone maintains respect for each other's role in the end, this creates an effective, balanced and accountable system of governance.
QUESTION 4: Much of the burden of paying for public education falls on local taxpayers. Under Act 1 (2006) school districts may not raise their tax rates above a state-determined index without voter approval-- the “back-end” referendum. In what areas do you think funding could be decreased or even eliminated to balance the school budget and stay below the index? Budgeting is one of the most difficult and frustrating tasks of board service, with so many elements and interests that are seemingly at cross purposes with each other. As difficult as it is to say, I truly believe that the present and past boards have done about everything that can be done to be conservative in their approach and meet previous budget gaps, leaving little left that could be cut without severely harming the education of our students and the competitiveness of our district. Although we have an array of course offerings that we can be proud of for a small district, this is largely accomplished by our core subject teachers taking on multiple assignments, instead of being a sign that we have a surplus of staff. We constantly appeal for more equitable funding and stronger tools for cost management from the state level; but it has not been adequately addressed to date. An example now is the skyrocketing cost of the pension system that the state legislature enacted, and we must fund. Education has and always will be an essential responsibility for all of us, if we are to remain a successful society. Our schools are also the heart of our community and very important for maintaining our attractiveness as a place to live and raise a family. In that respect they support property values, too. That said, I know that they they require more sacrifice than any of us would prefer, and that the burden has been growing ever more difficult for many. As we bring our buildings in good shape for the next generation, we will continue to focus on balancing needs with realities, and budgeting as carefully as we can.
2 YEAR TERM Julianne Rado QUESTION 1: What in your background, training and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member? QUESTION 2: There is some concern that the No Child Left Behind focus on testing in reading, math, and science leaves scant time and attention for other important goals of public education. What other areas do you think are important to emphasize so that our children grow to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens? QUESTION 3: The PA School Boards Association Standards for Effective School Governance state that school boards govern by reviewing, revising and adopting board policy and delegate to the superintendent responsibility for implementation of board policy. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not? QUESTION 4: Much of the burden of paying for public education falls on local taxpayers. Under Act 1 (2006) school districts may not raise their tax rates above a state-determined index without voter approval-- the “back-end” referendum. In what areas do you think funding could be decreased or even eliminated to balance the school budget and stay below the index? Dennis Buggey QUESTION 1: What in your background, training and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member? QUESTION 2: There is some concern that the No Child Left Behind focus on testing in reading, math, and science leaves scant time and attention for other important goals of public education. What other areas do you think are important to emphasize so that our children grow to become healthy, responsible and productive citizens? QUESTION 3: The PA School Boards Association Standards for Effective School Governance state that school boards govern by reviewing, revising and adopting board policy and delegate to the superintendent responsibility for implementation of board policy. Do you agree with this statement? Why, or why not? QUESTION 4: Much of the burden of paying for public education falls on local taxpayers. Under Act 1 (2006) school districts may not raise their tax rates above a state-determined index without voter approval-- the “back-end” referendum. In what areas do you think funding could be decreased or even eliminated to balance the school budget and stay below the index?
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