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November 3 , 2009
PRIMARY ELECTION
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
INDIANA AREA SCHOOL BOARD
Candidates 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)
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What in your background, training, and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member?
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What do you consider to be the most important issue your school district will face in the next few years, and how should the school board address this concern?
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Childhood obesity and school bullying are two issues frequently in the news. What can school boards do to help solve these problems?
David Ferguson
Indiana PA, 15701
Cross-listed, and endorsed in the primary by both the Democratic and Republican parties
YOB: 1972
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What in your background, training, and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member?
I have 15 years of experience as an educator. Prior to coming to Indiana, I was a public school teacher. I have conducted evaluations of school programs in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In my present work as a teacher trainer for IUP, I annually visit up to 20 different schools in Western PA, and I regularly visit all of the Indiana Area schools. These visits give me first-hand accounts of what is really happening in education within our district and the region at large.
Almost as important as the knowledge I bring to the table, however, is the manner in which I make decisions. I intend to make policy decisions based upon research into the best practices in education combined with old-fashioned common sense. While I know a great deal about schools, I don’t pretend to know everything. A doctorate in education (which I hold) can’t tell you everything, but I do know how to do my homework, and I intend to learn all I can about an issue prior to making a decision. To me, that just seems like the responsible thing to do. I intend to use my experience in education as a teacher, teacher trainer, and researcher to their fullest effect to make reasonable decisions as a member of the school board.
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What do you consider to be the most important issue your school district will face in the next few years, and how should the school board address this concern?
While I hate to second-guess what the future may hold, I feel that, in addition to routine building maintenance, the most pressing issues the board will face involve enrollment, technology, and the need for students to be more than “trained for employment”, but adaptable to change.
In the next 5 years, there is a projected increase of student enrollment due to higher birthrates. Already, incoming Kindergarten enrollments show significant increases over previous years. Similarly, with the addition of the conference center and sports complex at IUP, new groups of people will be moving into our community. We need to be ready for these enrollment challenges by ensuring that our buildings are sound, secure, and welcoming environments. Pre-K education is another consideration with respect to facilities and enrollment. Trends in education nationally, and future state mandates point to the potential addition of pre-K education in the schools. At the other end of the school age spectrum, the board is presently addressing the possibility of adding 9th grade to the high school in addition to the district feasibility study that examines our existing buildings, determines our needs, and makes recommendations for future action. The outcome of this decision will greatly affect the district in terms of educational structure, school environment, and facilities management for years to come.
Technology literacy continues to be an important factor as we prepare students for the world of tomorrow. The 21st century is now. In addition to all students having greater access to technology, I feel that it is appropriate for students to learn keyboarding skills at the elementary level. Technology is a tremendous tool for research and for engaging students in different ways of thinking. I applaud the recent "Schools of the Future" grant received by teachers at the High School, and we should continue to strive to be on the forefront of emerging technologies to make sure that our children can compete in the years to come.
If we know one thing about the future, however, it is that change is the only constant. Technology is one area that we have clearly seen change over a short period of time. But to adapt and react to whichever direction of change is needed, our students need to be encouraged to engage in many modes of thought so that decision-making, reasoning, and creativity may be enhanced. We have potential world leaders in our homes and classrooms. Creating an educational environment where their full potential can be reached requires more than achieving compliance on a standardized test, it means engaging students in critical thinking through many disciplines, where none is held above another. In this way, our children will have gained the ability to negotiate the changes that are sure to come.
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Childhood obesity and school bullying are two issues frequently in the news. What can school boards do to help solve these problems?
The Indiana Area School District has instituted a new anti-bullying program (Olweus) that will be put into place during the current academic year. I think that such a program is long over-due in the district, and I am glad that steps are being taken to address the issue. Personally, I would like to see greater availability of school counselors for work directly with classes in the early elementary grades, helping children understand their feelings. Transactional Analysis can be a helpful tool in enabling children to realize how their actions affect the feelings of their classmates, and having a little more contact time from professionals would help facilitate that understanding. If we can intervene and help all students understand the responsibility they have to one another from an early age, we can limit future instances of bullying and emotional abuse by students in the future. I see this as a reasonable way to get at the heart of what may be causing some of the bullying in the first place.
With respect to childhood obesity, new guidelines for classroom snacks and treats have been put in place by the IASD at the elementary level. This at least brings an awareness to the issue, and possibly helps to limit student intake of junk foods. As a board member, I would like to work with ARAMARK to see if we can apply similar standards for school lunches. Presently, Gatorade (loaded with high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and colors) is considered a “low-fat milk choice”. Perhaps a bottle or cup of water would serve as a healthier alternative to milk (in cases where students might be lactose in-tolerant). In addition to this change, we should ask that they provide trans fat-free meals that, when possible, utilize local produce prepared on-site. This would not only help insure that students that have school lunch receive a healthy meal, but would also help area farms and businesses in the process. In this way, we can be responsive to the nutritional needs of the students.
Diana Paccapaniccia
Indiana PA, 15701
Registered Republican listed as Democratic on the Ballot
YOB: 1957
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What in your background, training, and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member?
I am a Registered Nurse by education and have a Masters Degree in Nursing Education. During my tenor on the board I have attended many workshops, two (three day) regional conferences, and a board president’s workshop. I was one of fourteen selected out of 501 school board presidents across the state to develop a school board president’s orientation. During my tenor on the board I served as Chair of the Instruction Committee and member of the Athletic Committee. I have regularly attended the Audit Committee meetings. No one experience qualifies an individual to be an effective school board member. As a parent and a tax payer a desire to maintain and improve the current educational environment is a simplified explanation of what qualifies me to serve my school district.
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What do you consider to be the most important issue your school district will face in the next few years, and how should the school board address this concern?
The board is rightly limited in how much it can raise taxes therefore it is very important to make prudent fiscal decisions within budgetary constraints. The board has begun the process of evaluating educational programs, budget processes, building conditions, and grade configurations in order to have the knowledge to make the best decisions about available resources.
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Childhood obesity and school bullying are two issues frequently in the news. What can school boards do to help solve these problems?
Indiana Area School District is now implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. The junior high is the first school in the district to implement this program and it will be expanded next year to the elementary schools. The school board needs to continue to support the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program by approving needed resources.
Childhood obesity is a major problem across the nation. The Indiana Area School District has a Wellness Policy which is followed by all six schools in the district. The new turf field has provided many more opportunities to participate in outdoor fitness activities. The district in a joint venture with Indiana Regional Medical Center through grant money has implemented Project Fit America at two elementary schools. It is my hope that the district will expand this project to the two other elementary schools. The many after school athletic programs offer opportunities to maintain and improve physical fitness levels. The district participates in the Presidential Fitness Program which encourages all students to remain physical active. Recently the physical educational department at the district revised the physical education curriculum to allow students to set individual fitness goals and provide students the opportunity through the use of current facilities to meet their goals. The board needs to continue to support these initiatives and seek additional grants when available to offer new and interesting fitness opportunities to the students of the Indiana Area School District.
Alison Billon
Indiana, PA 15701
Republican and Democrat
YOB: 1958
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What in your background, training, and experience qualifies you to be an effective school board member?
There are four areas of my background, training, and experience that qualify me to be an effective school board member.
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The first area relates to my being a long-time member of the Indiana community. I have resided in White Township for over twenty years. During that time, I have developed long-standing relationships with many community members including elected officials, school district administrators and staff, business leaders, athletic coaches, and many parents. I have a sincere understanding of our community’s values and priorities. All of our children have been or are receiving their education from our district. I am committed to maintaining the quality education that Indiana Area School District is recognized for across the state.
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Another aspect of my experience that qualifies me is that I am currently the longest-serving board member with uninterrupted board service to our district. I have served the district for the last eight years’ time. During that time, I participated in priority setting and decision-making that has maintained and enhanced our education system. I have been involved in many new district initiatives as well as identified and eliminated unsuccessful education strategies. It is important to have a member on the board that has historical knowledge of past as well as of recent district activities and decisions. I have served as the district representative to the Indiana County Technology Center for over four years. I have participated in multiple searches for key district personnel including solicitor, business manager, and superintendent. I have participated in several building projects, contract settlements, and the annual budget process eight times. I have worked hard alongside the administration and other board members to identify cost-saving strategies to ensure that our taxpayers’ money is thoughtfully managed. This lengthy and involved experience in all facets of running the district gives me an extensive knowledge base related to school system functions.
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Owning a small business with my husband has provided me with key insights that add to my ability to serve as a school director. I have developed an understanding in regards to what it takes to be an effective employer. I know that efforts must be made to keep costs down while still providing a quality service. I attempt to keep up-to-date on new technology and business strategies. Concepts like these transfer easily to running a school district. My exposure to small business has helped me to look at school-related issues in a more comprehensive manner.
- The last and one of the most important factors that contribute to my ability to serve our district is the fact that I have two children in the schools and have graduated two children from our schools. I, as well as many in our community, care very much about the quality of education my children receive. I live, on a daily basis, the Indiana Area School District. I see every night what my children are learning, what experiences they are having, and what choices they are being offered. I have relationships with building administrators and teachers that afford me greater insight regarding the day-to-day functioning of the district. I get regular information that relates to curricular and extra-curricular activities. I attend many school-related activities. I have been able to see two of my children attend competitive universities and achieve academic success thanks to the education they received in the Indiana Area School District. Through all of this activity, I have developed a very keen understanding of many of the strengths and weaknesses of our district. Through my work on the school board, I can contribute to enhancing our education system in a meaningful way. I want all of our children in Indiana to benefit from an exceptional school experience.
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What do you consider to be the most important issue your school district will face in the next few years, and how should the school board address this concern?
I believe that there are two very important issues facing the Indiana Area School District. The priority issue is the chronic problem of decreased funding by the state to adequately run our public schools. Over the past 30 years, the state has time and time again returned less of our state tax dollars to home districts. The state used to fund 50% of our public education budget. Now, we are lucky if the state funds 33% of our budget! The result of this shift has created an unfair tax burden on our local communities. Local taxpayers have had to make up this difference. It would be great if the government in Harrisburg would see fit to restore funding levels to the 50% mark. In the meantime, districts must develop alternate resources for funding. Indiana is committed to developing creative initiatives to attract additional funding from non-traditional means. Our district aggressively identifies and applies for grant monies and has established a Foundation where private donations are used to offset some school expenses. Identifying prudent financial strategies to meet public education’s costs will continue to be a priority. At the same time, the Board, district administrators, and staff need to constantly be identifying methods that will reduce overhead. This issue requires commitment from all involved.
The second pressing issue facing our district is the completion of the current feasibility study that Kimball Architects are conducting. Along with a detailed study of our district buildings and their utilization, Kimball’s study will provide our community with a starting point for many potential discussions. Some conversations may occur that relate to district concerns such as reconfiguring the grade levels, appropriate utilization of district buildings, possible curriculum implications including diversified learning opportunities like co-operatives, incorporation of green technology in any building projects, and potential financial impact of any significant changes proposed.
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Childhood obesity and school bullying are two issues frequently in the news. What can school boards do to help solve these problems?
School Boards are in a key position to develop school policies to address current issues such as childhood obesity and school bullying. In the Indiana School District, with the assistance of administrators and our teaching staff, our school board has taken very strong action on both of these topics. Regarding the childhood obesity problem, our district now has a Wellness Policy. This policy identifies many activities the school supports to help students develop more healthful patterns. For example, when certain celebrations occur during the school day, there is a suggested list of approved nutritional snacks that parents may send in with their child. The district also is committed to a period of vigorous, physical activity everyday for elementary children. The district has applied for and received multiple grants from “Project Fit America.” Such grants give our district monies to purchase additional physical education tools and outside physical education equipment.
School bullying is a very serious concern in today’s schools. A recent study by Nansel documented that 17% of sixth through tenth-graders have been victims of bullying. Indiana recognized bullying as a significant issue over the past several years. I am proud to share with you that two years ago our district made a philosophical and financial commitment to bring the nationally recognized Olewus Anti-bullying Program to our district. Marilyn Walther, Indiana Junior High Assistant Principal, has taken the key leadership position in getting this integrated into our schools. After much training of staff and minor schedule alterations, we are ready to implement this in our junior high building this October. Eventually, all schools will be participating in this very effective program to stop bullying.
In closing, I would like to thank the League of Women Voters of Indiana County for their interest in educating the public on election issues. Thank-you!
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