Gateway school board has 4 open seats

Monroeville and Pitcairn residents will have a pool of six people to choose from in the upcoming general election to fill four available seats on the Gateway School Board of Directors, according to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list. Two candidates, Scott Williams and Robin Mungo, are incumbents.

School board President Brian Goppman and board member Rick McIntyre will not seek reelection.

Here are the nominees and their responses to election questions:

Gary Delorenzo

Political party: Republican

Age: Chose to withhold

Education: Doctor of Science, Robert Morris University

Occupation: Professor Emeritus, California University of Pennsylvania

If elected, what are two short-term goals? Professionalism – I look forward to bringing civility and decorum to the Gateway School Board, where nine directors act in a polite, reasonable and respectful manner on problem solving. The process should include working with a variety of stakeholders to follow both data-driven outcomes and subjective observations that can be assessed for overall conclusions that have merit based on critical thinking and traditional research models. Public education is not free – Fiscal solvency for taxpayers after a recent 3.6 percent school tax increase. Monitor financial compliance on the $40 million bond for middle school upgrade.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? Academic delivery and collaboration – Provide resources and funding for success in the classroom, for all students at the ground level. A robust curriculum and standards driven through student merit and achievements.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? True collaboration of key stakeholders on board committees. Each board committee will have more community representation in addition to teachers, administrators and parents to identify resource needs and recommendations for continued improvement for all students to the board with civility and professionalism.

James Lomeo

Age: 60

Political party: Democrat

Education: Pitt Law School, 1987, W&J College, 1984 and Serra Catholic HS, 1980

Occupation: 35 years as a real estate attorney handling real estate finance transactions, office in Monroeville

If elected, what are two short-term goals? To increase the reading skills of all students by 10%. This will be accomplished by hiring more teachers and having smaller classes. To make sure our real estate taxes are not increased in the next four years. After the substantial increase in market value over the last 18 months, there is no reason to increase taxes. My background in dealing with finance will provide direction to the administration.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? To structurally change the budget process, so there is public input and the administration is not making serious budget decisions days before the budget is due.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Email for specific questions, and use the Gateway website to make sure all documents are available to everyone. As mayor of Monroeville, I always encouraged public input and will do the same on the school board. Please note, I will only use social media to convey general information, I will not use social media to debate problems. Social media is not an effective way to solve problems.

Leslie McBride

Political party: Republican

Age: 47

Education: Graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work

Occupation: Caseworker 3 at Allegheny County Office of Children Youth and Families

If elected, what are two short-term goals? Renew a sense of trust between school and community. Increase collaboration between the board members to meet the needs of the districts and the student population.

Move towards solution-based, problem-solving strategies to overcome possible barriers in the district. This would include increased communication between the board members, parents, and all other stakeholders.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? One long-term goal is to continue and increase academic excellence for all students. This would have to include input from across the district and use the strengths within the district to meet possible challenges students may be experiencing. Also determine what services, programs or staff is effective or ineffective in achieving this goal.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? Encourage parent participation by bringing back committees to collaborate with the board and administration. Discuss and plan for a communication platform that would better service the community and to meet the responsibility of transparency. Be a voice for all, from all.

Robin M. Mungo

Political party: Democrat

Age: 52

Education: 1987 Gateway graduate

Occupation: Retired Pa. state trooper

If elected, what are two short-term goals? I currently sit on the school board and there is no such thing as a short-term goal. We have to understand we are a group of nine. We have to make the best of what the majority decides.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? I think everyone should have the same goals, and that is to be respectful of all who want to speak. Actively listen to others. Have empathy and know it’s OK to agree to disagree.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? As a volunteer elected official, constituents are voting for those who they believe will make decisions which are in line with who they are. I encourage emails because it can be the easiest way to communicate at any time.

Scott Williams

Political party: Democrat

Age: 56

Education: B.A. criminal justice and a minor in history from Edinboro University

Occupation: Disabled

If elected, what are two short-term goals? To provide and maintain a clean, safe and healthy environment for the children and employees of Gateway school district. We need to get back to five days a week of instruction and learning.

We need to utilize the government funding we have received to hire personnel to help the children catch up on all the learning they have lost. Over the next two to three years, we should hire teachers, tutors, social workers and aides. We should offer math labs, reading labs, English labs or basically any lab that is needed. We need to bring in people that will have a direct impact and interaction with the students.

If elected, what is one long-term goal? To provide the best education possible for the children of Monroeville and Pitcairn. To be a watchdog for taxpayers and limit tax raises and unnecessary spending.

How do you plan to communicate with constituents and involve them in the decision-making process? I try to encourage constituents to come to school board meetings. I know the school district currently broadcast their meetings on TV, YouTube and Zoom. They also use their website and people can also sign up to have alerts sent to their phones. I think the school district should also use snail mail two or three times a year for important communications along with what they currently do.

Two candidates, James Lomeo and Mandal K. Singh, did not respond to several requests.