With five candidates and five open seats, the next version of the State College school board might be set – but the future of the school district is anything but.
State College Area School District Superintendent Robert O’Donnell says he’s excited to see how the candidates for school board will handle the challenges facing the district after the November elections. What’s less exciting, he says, is the range of issues to tackle.
O’Donnell says the high school renovation project has gotten a lot of attention, but there are still other buildings in the district that are in similar states of disrepair. He also thinks that rising healthcare and pension costs will continue to be a major sticking point when considering the district’s finances.
“We also have to continue to make decisions within parameters set by the state, and there’s no question that the legislation dictating those parameters isn’t going to stay the same,” O’Donnell predicts. “All we can do is react to each change with the best interests of out students in mind.”
One of those major statewide changes is Governor Tom Wolf’s proposed budget, which aims to dramatically increase state funding to public education. However, Wolf’s budget is generating vocal opposition from Republican legislators, so the exact amount of money that will end up in the SCASD’s budget is up in the air.
School board candidate Gretchen Brandt – who will be new to the board if elected – says keeping the district’s budget balances is one the board’s most important responsibilities. What makes that difficult, she says, is the fluctuating levels of state funds the district receives – and without knowing how Wolf’s budget will pan out, Brandt says the board will have to keep on its toes.
SCASD business administrator Randy Brown agrees, saying any increase to the district’s funds from Wolf’s budget are being planned as “potential surpluses” – because no one knows whether additional money will come through or not.
“Since the increased funding is related to substantial changes in taxation which must be approved by both houses of government, we do not expect to make revisions to our budget proposal until evidence that these changes in taxation will be approved,” Brown says in an email.
Candidate Amy Bader, is also running for a seat on the board, first got involved with the school district as a volunteer for the “Friends of State High” advocacy group. While she was spreading the word about the high school’s poor condition, she learned how many other buildings are also in need of renovations.
“It seems like our students deserve a lot better,” Bader says. “They’re getting a great education, and I think they should learn in an environment to match that.”
Student mental health has always concerned SCASD’s leadership and has become an even more pressing issue since a survey revealed that a fairly high number of district students are reporting signs of depression.
School board candidate Daniel Duffy spent many years as a SCASD school psychologist before his retirement. He’s says it’s “not just appropriate, but necessary” for the district to “take a leadership role in students’ academic, emotional, social and developmental needs.”
Duffy says reports of depression are nothing new, but adds that it’s “absolutely crucial” for the board to do everything it can to support at-risk students and their families. He thinks expanding on the district’s collaboration with local mental health professionals is one possible avenue to explore.
Current board members Amber Concepcion and Laurel Zydeny are both seeking a second term, and both agree that curriculum planning will be a big topic for the board to tackle after the elections. Zydney says its especially important to have a curriculum that can account for students who learn at different speeds.
“If a kid needs extra help in a class, then we want that help there for them,” Zydney says. “And if a kid is miles ahead of the curriculum, then we still want to be able to challenge them.”
For more information about the five candidates for school board, click here. To learn about the three longtime board members who are not seeking reelection, click here.
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