Voters in the North Hills School District have full slates of Democratic and Republican candidates to choose from to fill four of the school board’s nine seats up for election this year.

The primary erased cross-filing among the candidates, resulting in four Democrats and four Republicans being on the ballot. Four incumbents are among the eight candidates.

Three incumbents — Allison Mathis, Mike Santucci and Sandra Kozera — won Democratic nominations along with newcomer Anthony Hall.

Board member Elizabeth Nease won a Republican nomination with newcomers John Hoffman, Dana Merlino and James Weiss.

All of the candidates had been cross-filed for the primary except for Weiss, who was on the Republican ballot only.

Here’s a look at the candidates:

Anthony Hall

Age: 41

Party: Democrat

Education: Doctorate in education administration and policy, University of Pittsburgh; master’s in science professional counseling, Carlow University; bachelor’s degree in legal studies, Point Park University

Occupation: School counselor, department chair and athletic director at Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12

Community involvement/volunteer work: I have spent nearly two decades deeply involved in education and youth development in the Pittsburgh region. I’ve served as a youth football coach for over 10 years, vice president of the North Side Youth Athletic Association, sponsor of the African-American Scholars Club and organizer of the PPS Alumni Basketball Game. I’ve also served on districtwide advisory committees, led student voice initiatives and continue to build partnerships between schools, universities, alumni, and community organizations to expand opportunities for students.

Years residing in municipality/district: Three

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

Public education requires both vision and fiscal responsibility. My approach is to prioritize equity, efficiency, and impact. First, I would thoroughly assess current spending to ensure funds are being allocated toward programs that directly improve student outcomes and community engagement. Second, I would advocate for leveraging grants, partnerships, and philanthropic opportunities—something I have done extensively in my professional role to bring resources into schools without burdening taxpayers. Finally, I would support thoughtful long-term planning that aligns capital projects and program growth with sustainable financial models, ensuring that we meet the needs of students while keeping taxes reasonable for residents.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

The top issues include equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities, strategic budgeting and resource allocation, community engagement and trust, and student wellness and support.

All students regardless of background deserve access to rigorous courses, extracurriculars, and supports that prepare them for college, careers and life. I would advocate for expanding advanced coursework, dual enrollment and specialized programming to close opportunity gaps. With limited funding, the district must be strategic and transparent. I would use my administrative and leadership experience to ensure budgets are equitable, data-informed and aligned with clear student-centered goals. School boards must be bridges between schools and the community. I would work to strengthen communication, ensure families and staff feel heard, and build partnerships that bring additional resources and support to our district. Academic success is inseparable from mental health and student well-being. As a school counselor and educational leader, I bring deep expertise in creating systems of support for students and families. As a board member, I would bring a blend of educational expertise, community leadership and fiscal responsibility to address these issues collaboratively and strategically.

John Hoffman

Age: 64

Party: Republican

Education: Multiple degrees including electronics technology and network administration

Occupation: Retired director of customer service for a global medical device company, president of the St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh, clerk of session for North Hills United Presbyterian Church

Community involvement/volunteer work: St. Andrew’s Society of Pittsburgh president and volunteer, North Hills Area Churches annual passion play sound engineer, active in multiple church activities. Previously, I held multiple leadership positions in Scouts, including cubmaster and treasurer. I have also taught Sunday School classes for youth.

Years residing in district: 63

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

Since the number of students has remained steady over the past decade, I see no problem in maintaining the current number of staff. As with any business, we must work within the boundaries of our income. We need to seek ways of managing budget needs without raising taxes. Too many times, maintenance is avoided leading to the need for a total replacement. I would work with the administration to maintain our facilities, thus avoiding the need for replacement.

It is also important to remember that the primary reason for the school district’s existence is education. Our focus needs to be on educating our students.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

With the ranking of the North Hills School District dropping over the past 12 years, the focus must be on improving our academics. After all, this is the primary reason the taxpayers are funding the district. We must give the taxpayers value for their taxes, and we owe it to the future of the students and society to graduate well-educated students. I would work closely with the administration to see that our students receive a quality education, starting with curriculum with proven results. The United States ranks in the top 10 countries in educational spending, but we have dropped in reading, math and science per the TIMSS report. We must do better, and it starts with the North Hills School District Board. Thank you for your support.

Sandra Kozera

Age: 49

Party: Democrat

Education: BA College of Wooster, JD University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Occupation: Senior compliance counsel

Community involvement/volunteer work: School board director since 2018; parent volunteer with NH Drama and NH Instrumental Parents Association; past volunteer with the Ross PTO and past participant in the United Way’s Be a Middle School Mentor program

Years residing in municipality/district: I grew up in Ross, graduated from North Hills in 1994 and returned to the district in 2011.

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

As school directors, we have more control over our local property taxes than we do over state funds, which are unfortunately at the mercy of our Legislature. It’s certainly challenging to balance keeping those local property taxes manageable with our commonwealth’s Constitutional requirement to provide a “thorough and efficient system of public education.” As such, it’s irresponsible to say that as a school director I would never raise taxes, because we cannot predict what future circumstances will arise that could require an increase in revenue via taxes to fulfill this duty. However, we are absolutely in a position to consider other revenue streams for new projects or services. During my time on the board, we have made some huge strides toward this goal, increasing our grant applications and identifying areas where additional grants may be useful. It’s not fair to put that burden solely on our taxpayers, and I want to continue to support alternative funding methods. We do not raise taxes every year, and we provide a quality education for the students of the district, which is an incredibly important endeavor.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

Funding is a top priority. Every district is still working to recover learning loss from covid and adjust to teaching students in a post-covid world. Supporting our teachers and staff in navigating this changing environment is a critical board function — these professionals have devoted their careers to our community and our students. I have been involved in the district’s Math Task Force, which supports development and implementation of our math curriculum, and I hope to continue these sorts of educational endeavors in the coming years. At the end of the day, however, as board members we need to be ready to face challenges we cannot predict when we run and prepare to serve the community in the capacity of “other duties as assigned.”

Allison Mathis

Age: 47

Party: Democrat

Education: BA, Johns Hopkins University

Occupation: Client service manager, Shift Collaborative

Community involvement/volunteer work: President, North Hills School Board; president, Pennsylvania School Boards Association; vice president, North Hills Foundation; chair, NHSD Education Committee, parent volunteer, NHIPA; former president, Ross Elementary PTO; member, NHSD Math Task Force; volunteer, Ross Pride

Years residing in municipality/district: 17

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

A well-rounded school director must balance financial stewardship with a commitment to district excellence and student success. I will continue to support the district in seeking out grants and community partnerships as alternative sources of revenue. Last year, we received $1.5 million in funding to improve life safety and HVAC systems and equipment at North Hills High School. We also received a $199,840 grant to fund equipment upgrades and support staff for the welding program. We must continue growing Game Day athletic partners and community partnerships through the North Hills Foundation, both efforts I have championed while president of the board.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

Providing a high-quality education for students to prepare them for post-graduate life. North Hills must continue to support academic excellence with a focus on strengthening study skills and math instruction in particular. As a board member, I will continue to support a rigorous curriculum, strong support for educators and championing policies which help all students succeed. We must remain committed to academic achievement while maintaining fiscal responsibility. It is only by balancing these competing responsibilities can we ensure strong communities.

Pennsylvania is still facing a significant ongoing bus driver shortage. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to transportation challenges and, admittedly, our direct influence on this as a board is limited, but we must continue to encourage the administration to find creative cost-effective solutions and consider all options when evaluating our next bus contract.

Dana Merlino

Age: 43

Party: Republican

Education: North Hills High School, medical billing certification

Occupation: Small-business owner

Community involvement/volunteer work: Vice chair for the North Hills Republican Committee, volunteer for youth ice hockey organizations

Years residing in district: 33

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

I believe our district needs to do a deep dive into the programs that we offer, as other districts in the area have already done. These reports prove to be very accurate and show areas that are working and what needs to be improved. I also think a line-by-line self audit needs to be completed. North Hills is audited by an outside company yearly and does meet the requirement to pass the audit. However, it does not tell the taxpayers if there are any areas where we can save money or points out wasteful spending. After attending the public budget meetings for the last five years, something I always ask is “What did we cut or review?” The district continues to add things yearly but doesn’t balance that with a review of things already in place. North Hills also belongs to a consortium for health benefits via a contract with the NHEA. Some districts have left the consortium and now receive more affordable health care. Medical benefits are a huge increased cost for the district yearly, and there should be negotiations with the brokers for better rates and better services to NHEA members.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

Improving education is and always will be the top issue for me. Over the years, North Hills has fallen in the education rankings while neighboring schools are in the top 15. The district could benefit by looking at the education programs being used for math and English in these schools to determine what is working for them. I also feel that we need to expand the options for the high school math credits by adding classes such as business math, consumer math and practical math. These classes have a better focus on applied math for future life skills.

Elizabeth Nease

Age: 43

Party: Republican

Education: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Occupation: Homemaker, previously insurance sales and training

Community involvement/volunteer work: I actively support Highcliff Elementary School through my involvement with the PTO, where I currently lead the Field Day Committee. Additionally, I contribute to various school events and initiatives, including Veterans Day celebrations, classroom parties, book fairs and the 5th Grade Committee. Beyond the school setting, I serve as a classroom assistant for religious education classes at our parish, St. John Neumann. As a parent of three daughters who are competitive swimmers, I also volunteer with both our summer and winter swim teams whenever opportunities arise.

Years residing in district: 43

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

It is very important to me to always keep the taxpayer in mind when making financial decisions for the district. Over the past four years, I have worked hard to be fiscally responsible and to ensure that your tax dollars are used wisely and effectively, which is one reason I was the only no vote on the 2024 tax increase.

When considering new projects, I ask three questions: Does it directly benefit the students? Can the district function without it? And do we as a district currently have the funds to support it? I believe there is a clear distinction between “nice to haves” and “need to haves,” and I strive to prioritize what truly matters for our students and schools. I believe my voting record over the past four years reflects this thoughtful and balanced approach.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

One of the most pressing challenges facing our district continues to be declining math test scores. Over the past several years, student performance in math has steadily decreased, and this remains a serious concern. I am encouraged by the district’s recent steps to address this issue, including the formation of a Math Task Force last year and the expansion of math tutoring opportunities this year. These are positive developments, but more needs to be done. As a school board member, I believe it’s essential to engage directly with our teachers to better understand the current math curriculum — what’s working, what’s not and whether there may be more effective options available. Our teachers are dedicated professionals, and it is critical that we provide them with the strongest possible curriculum and instructional tools to support student success. Improving math outcomes must be a top priority.

Mike Santucci

Age: 42

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Education: BS in education, California University of Pennsylvania

Occupation: Technology and engineering teacher at Quaker Valley High School

Community involvement/volunteer work: In addition to volunteering on the North Hills Board of Education, I am heavily involved with Valley Brook Swim and Tennis Club, managing the facility and lifeguards for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. I also volunteer my time to coach the North Hills Middle School track team, specifically the throwing events. Additionally, I serve on the West View Ross Athletic Association board of directors.

Years residing in district: Lifelong resident of Ross

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

The key is thoughtful planning and prioritization. I believe in carefully evaluating new initiatives to ensure they truly benefit students and align with the district’s long-term goals. I support pursuing grants, partnerships and cost-saving efficiencies wherever possible to reduce the burden on local taxpayers. For example, I have supported the application and securing of grant funding such as the $200,000 “Manufacturing Training to Careers Grant” that helped fund our welding program, as well as the $1.5 million “Public School Facility Improvement Grant” that helped fund the air-conditioning rooftop unit replacements at North Hills High School. Additionally, I have been a large supporter of the district forging partnerships with local businesses that can be mutually beneficial to the business as well as the district. When capital projects are necessary, I advocate for transparency so our community understands both the costs and the value they bring.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

One of the most pressing issues is maintaining high-quality educational opportunities while managing financial challenges. As a board member, I will continue to focus on responsible budgeting and creative funding strategies to sustain programs that prepare students for success in college, careers, and life. I am passionate about supporting technical education and the creative and performing arts, as these are often the cornerstones of producing well-rounded students. Working closely with administrators and staff, I will ensure our district provides the resources, staffing, and safe learning environments needed for every child to thrive. I believe that North Hills is a great district with vast opportunities for each child to learn and grow. I’d like to do my part to ensure we keep it that way for the next generation of learners.

James Weiss

Age: 56

Party: Did not respond

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Occupation: Technical sales

Community involvement/volunteer work: Church youth volunteer

Years residing in district: 23

With state funding often limited, how would you balance the need for new projects or services with the responsibility to keep taxes manageable?

These items would need to be prioritized in importance of urgency. If there is a burden on the budget, the nonessential projects could be tabled to the following fiscal year.

What do you feel are the top issue or issues facing the district today? Explain briefly how you would address them as a member of the board.

The burden placed on the teachers with the influx of non-English speaking students. The additional staff and materials to educate these students in English will help facilitate their learning experiences proficiently.

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