6 Plum school board seats up for grabs

Voters in the Plum School District have plenty of decisions to make as they decide who fills six seats on the school board.

Ten candidates are vying for five four-year seats and two are in the contest for a two-year seat.

Contests are split along party lines with six Democrats and six Republicans

School board members serve unpaid terms in office.

Following is information submitted by the candidates as well as their response to questions posed by the Trib:

Question 1: Why did you decided to run for election?

Question 2: What is the biggest issue that needs addressed?

Question 3: What do voters need to know about you?

Steve Schlauch, Republican

Home: Hialeah Drive

Age: 36

Occupation: Corporate actions senior analyst at Federated Investors in Pittsburgh

Previous elected office: Plum school board

Question 1: When I first ran and was elected back in 2015, we inherited a major scandal, financial mismanagement issues, safety concerns, and a district that needed new leadership and a culture change. I pushed for a change in leadership at the top and helped clean house to hire a stellar new administrative team for Plum from top performing school districts to put the focus back on the students’ education. I also have a vested interest as a taxpayer and brought my financial background and fiscal common sense to help turn a $5.4 million dollar deficit into a balanced budget today. It is the first balanced budget without using borrowed funds since 2007-08. This includes no program cuts and right sizing the district to avoid overcrowding and reach optimum average class size of 22-26 in all buildings. As a board, we also implemented a school police with an officer in every building and did three external safety audits to help alleviate the safety concerns. We made many tough, smart decisions to get Plum School District turned around for the better.

Question 2: The biggest issue that needs addressed is to continue to steer this district into being more financially secure. Part of the problem lies with the state and the pension problem that they created back in the early 2000’s that has led to over 70 billion unfunded pension liability. With rising pension and healthcare costs, our district needs to continue to keep spending under control, find additional sources of alternative revenue, and look for other ways to reduce costs.

Question 3: I was the only board member to vote against both buyouts of previous administrators from the scandal since they both should have been fired. I bring experienced and principled leadership to the board and no one has been a bigger advocate of the taxpayers than I have. I helped fix the problems and change the culture that plagued Plum School District for years. If re-elected, I will continue to provide the best and most affordable education possible for our students. We also need to continue to review and make sure we are offering a most rigorous and challenging curriculum to ensure our students are exceptionally prepared for future success.

Karin Acquaviva, Republican

Home: Repp Road

Age: 47

Occupation: Practice manager for a local doctor

Previous elected office: Current Plum school board member

Question 1: I believe the district is moving in a positive direction. I want to continue that growth and be a part of the reformation of our district.

The second biggest challenge we are facing is keeping the positive changes and forward momentum. Our district has suffered tremendously in the past. This administration, teachers, and staff need to continue to work together to put our students first. If we always keep the students first then any changes we make will continue to better the district and save the tax payers money by providing a No. 1 school district where families want to move to.

Question 2: Proving that what the board and administration team, teachers and staff is doing is in the best interest of our students. We are putting our students first and remaining fiscally responsible. Look at the numbers -first balanced budget in 10 years. Positive bond rating and ability to increase revenue without tax increases.

Question 3: That I am here because I care. I no longer have a child in the district, but I am a tax payer and I want to be proud of my community. This is a volunteer position and I have two jobs in addition to family responsibilities, but I will continue to make time to be there as a voice for those not heard. I will weigh every decision against the following things; is it ethical, is it student based and putting our students first, will it help our students be exceptionally prepared for their future, is it fiscally responsible and how will this impact the future of the district and community.

Sue Caldwell, Republican

Home: Peppertree Drive

Age: 62

Occupation: Retired registered nurse with multiple medical certifications and degrees.

Previous elected office: School board, Allegheny County Council

Question 1: I chose to run for reelection because we need to keep building on what was promised and accomplished in my current term. During my current term we have turned Plum School District around. I began my term facing a teacher abuse of students’ scandal. A few months into my term, we were handed a devastating blow of a $5 million fund balance deficit. We have turned the district around by remaking administration and developing a culture of professionalism. We achieved what others said could not be done by eliminating the deficit. We have, for the first time in ten years, achieved a balanced budget without a tax increase. Our safety improvements have taken the lead in the region, including creation our own police force with an armed guard in every school. We now have top schools contacting us to learn of our safety initiatives. We are No. 1 in Allegheny County for percentage of budget spent on students, thus no needless waste of tax dollars. We achieved consolidation of elementary schools, and have an average of 22 students per class in grades K-4.

Question 2: Our stellar education team is reworking curriculum from grades K-12. We have provided every student grades 6-12 an individual tablet and kindergarten through 4/5 have Promethean Boards in every room. Now we must work to continue moving Plum schools forward to achieve excellence in education. I will push administrators to strive to make Plum schools a reason to bring families into Plum, creating students globally prepared for success. We have excellent educators, and will engage them to their fullest potential.

Question 3: I have been a dedicated public servant to Plum for the better part of two decades. Having raised, with my husband Bill, three sons here, and built two homes here, I am now excited to have the opportunity to create a top ranked school district for my young grand children. I will work to make Plum a premier district which others wish to emulate.

Adam Hill, Democrat

Home: New Texas Road

Age: 42

Occupation: Systems administrator for FedEx Supply Chain and part-time deejay/event coordinator

Previous elected office: None

Question 1: I have been attending school board meetings for several years and have constantly watched those running for reelection make individual decisions that negatively impact our kids and our community. We need honest leadership that represents all Plum and not just personal political goals.

Question 2: (The biggest issues include) overcrowded school buildings, especially our elementary schools, plan and budget to tackle the $20 million of capital improvement projects, plan and budget to create better programs to ensure we are educating for our kids for their futures, whether it be college or trade schools and expand on the tax rebate offering for our senior citizens to ensure we have balance between our seniors and students.

Question 3: I am a 13-year resident of Plum. With two children at Pivik Elementary, I am excited for the opportunity to make Plum Borough School District the best it can be for not only my children, but for all students and the community overall. I believe a successful school district leads to a strong community, and a student-focused approach without political interference is the way to build both. Plum is a great community, and I am excited to use my passion for Plum and experience in project management and community volunteerism to move it forward.

Michael Devine, Democrat

Home: Valley Fields Drive

Age: 39

Occupation: Senior client service manager at Highmark’s national sales department

Previous elected office: None

Question 1: I decided to run for office because I feel this board is working against our students. Taking programs away, dropping graduation requirements, and over crowding our schools just to name a few. Of the nine members on the current board, only a single member has a child in our district. Parents of students are not well represented, and that makes it easy for this board to make decisions, as they do not feel the repercussions of their actions.

Question 2: To narrow down the issues to a single one is difficult. We keep hearing that our budget is balanced. The current budget lists school property as being sold, which it is not, therefore, our budget is not truly balanced. We currently have $20 million in capital improvement projects that need to be done within our schools, again, to me, this does not sound like a balanced budget. Combing through that budget, line by line, to ensure a proper allocation of funds is my top priority, if elected. This board, along with previous boards, has been so fiscally irresponsible, it’s going to take time to correct this and keep Plum on the right track. There are not many promises I am willing to make, but one promise that I will keep is fiscal responsibility.

Question 3: Voters need to know that I am truly a voice for everyone. Not only a voice, but an ear as well. If you email the board today, you’re lucky to receive a response, let alone a good dialogue with someone on the other end that takes the time to listen to what you have to say, and address it in a public meeting. I am not backed by a party, and that is extremely important. That means, when an issue comes to the table, I will not be pressured by a party to vote a certain way. I can listen to the facts and make a decision based on what I feel will benefit our schools and communities without fear of party backlash. I am a registered Republican, running as an independent and I won on the Democrat ticket in the primary. I truly am a voice for everyone. Lastly, I am a devoted husband to another Plum grad, and father of three (6, 4, 1). We chose to raise our kids in Plum because of the fond memories we have growing up here. We want our kids to be proud of where they come from, and I want to be part of what makes them proud.

Michael Caliguiri, Democrat

Home: Patriot Court

Age: 42

Occupation: Runs a real estate and property management business in Pittsburgh

Previous elected office: No response

Question 1: I have two children in the school district, pay taxes, and felt that with my background I could make a positive impact for the students, district staff and the community-at-large.

Question 2: The district is currently mired in mediocrity in almost all regards and on a trend downward given the method of cutting programs and personnel to balance a budget. We must generate new sources of revenue outside of the residential tax base and create a long-term budget strategy to avoid monstrous tax hikes. These plans must be transparent and developed in cooperation with community input, Plum council, state legislators, etc.

Question 3: I have a background in running human service programs and grant writing, have no prior political experience nor aspirations moving forward, enjoy spending time coaching youth ball hockey and am an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.

Michelle Stepnick, Democrat

Home: Settlers Court

Age: 42

Occupation: Chief executive officer of MK Inc. of the Palm Beaches

Previous elected office: Plum school board

Question 1: My decision to run for school board this fall is to change the direction of our district. Our students education is my main concern. Our community is paying higher taxes for a district that is offering a great deal less to our students. My focus is to re-appropriate funding that we currently have in our revenue stream and ensure that it is being spent in the classrooms, not on administration and frivolous items.

Question 2: The biggest issue we have is to find creative and innovative ways of thinking and refocus our tax dollars on educating students. For example, universal full day kindergarten is be assessed through the state. Should that be mandated we have to be prepared with a plan to bring back full day kindergarten. We need to make classroom space. In addition, transparency is lacking. As a parent and taxpayer I have concerns about the hiring practices and lack of transparency in our community. It’s time to end the nepotism. As a community we should be able to see who will be hired prior to a vote, not after a vote. We also deserve to know how are tax dollars are being spent, not just who is hired.

As important to education is our students safety. A priority of mine is to reinstate the Plum police office that has been removed from our district. A professionally trained neutral party is important to have in our buildings and the consistency for our students is critical.

Question 3: As a past board member and engaged community member, I’m prepared to lead on day one. Currently, I am a PTA council board member and a board member on the Pivik PTA. I spent my previous four years on the school board advocating in the legislature for Plum so we can maximize all revenue available to our community. I’m extremely passionate about the quality of education our children receive. I am committed to being accountable, transparent and accessible to all members of the community.

Nathan Polacek, Republican

Home: Leechburg Road

Age: 23

Occupation: Business operations executive

Previous elected office: none

Question 1: I decided to run for Plum school board because I feel I can represent the long-term interests of the students. As a recent graduate of Plum, I am very knowledgeable of which areas our schools have the best strengths and also which areas our schools need improvement. For example, as I went on to college and looking for career opportunities I have found how Plum has prepared me for these life challenges.

Question 2: I believe on the greatest issue facing the school district is not one single issue matter but rather the issue of providing the best education and opportunities possible to our students. We need to look at our curriculum not as a way to prepare good test takers but rather give our students options and flexibility in their educational path.

Not all students learn the same or would desire to take the same life path after graduating, we need to provide students the opportunity to learn more about themselves and how they learn. Plum School District’s relationship with the Forbes Road Career & Technology Center allows students to learn outside of a classroom environment to experience different careers and options for life after school.

Question 3: Since I was young I have been committed to serving others in whatever capacity I was privileged to serve in. In 2011, when I was 14 years old, I started a non-profit charity organization called the Community & Wildlife Foundation. Through it, as well as other opportunities, I have been doing what I can to help others and make a difference in the world. I also currently serve on the Plum Borough planning commission, where I have had the opportunity to help shape the borough through encouraging responsible development and encourage the positioning of local business. Plum school board would be another one of those opportunities for me to contribute and make a difference in my own community.

Amy Wetmore, Democrat

Home: Unity Center Road

Age: 48

Occupation: LEND program coordinator

Previous elected office: None

Question 1: I am running for school board in this election because I feel the majority of the current board continues to place their politics and personal agendas ahead of our children and our community. They are elected to be our voice- yet they refuse to hear us speak for more than 3 minutes at a time. A strong school director should emphasize community involvement in the decision-making process; work to build camaraderie among teachers, staff and administration, not drive a wedge between them; and place the success of students above all else. I will be that school director.

Question 2: The rebuilding of our district is the biggest issue needing to be addressed. The current board touts a balanced the budget- but at what cost? In the last four years, our district has seen the loss of an elementary school, undergone reconfiguration to accommodate the loss- resulting in larger class size, less space for necessary elements of education, and cuts to programming that includes a move to half day kindergarten. At the same time, the community has endured tax increases to the maximum allowed by the state. This is unacceptable. We need a comprehensive long-term plan that provides a path back to full-day kindergarten, a broadening of programs available and new approaches to generating revenue outside of property tax increases.

Question 3: I am a mother of a Plum High School student, I’ve recently celebrated 20 years of marriage and I have lived in the borough for 23 years. I’ve coached inhouse soccer, belonged to the PTA, am an avid community volunteer, and have participated in several board-created parent committees including the Diversity Forum, Safe and Supportive Schools Committee and the Reconfiguration Committee. I bring to the position a 25 year background in education administration, including budget management, curriculum planning, and community outreach. It is this combination of knowledge, experience and commitment that I believe makes me an excellent candidate for school board. I welcome anyone wanting to know more to reach out to me via my Facebook page, @amywetmoreforplumschooldirector.

Jackie Thomas, Republican

Home: Rustic Ridge Drive

Age: 44

Occupation: Spanish teacher at Butler Area School District

Previous elected office: None

Question 1: Education is extremely important, and I think a school board benefits tremendously from someone with an educational background. I’ve been involved in public education for more than 20 years, and I want to make sure that education is always a priority in Plum. I want to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all students.

Question 2: Improving test scores, keeping students safe and taxes low.

Question 3: I’m fully committed to our community. My husband and I have lived here for nearly 15 years. I’ve been a community volunteer for many of those years. I’m a full-time working mom with a child in the district, and I’m focused on putting students first.

Joe Tommarello, Republican

Home: Greendale Village

Age: 27

Occupation: Tommarello Landscape and Construction

Previous elected office: Plum school board

Question 1: I decided to run for election after hearing from hundreds of Plum citizens who wanted me to run again. They appreciated how I stood up to corruption and for my beliefs, and did what was right in 2015 - how I was the only board member who called for action on creating strict policies and for getting rid of administrators who had direct knowledge of wrongdoing in the 2015 scandals. I’m running because I have the experience needed and the right morals and beliefs to always stand up for what is right.

Question 2: I believe transparency is a big issue right now. The school board works on behalf of the citizens and students, and spends the taxpayer’s money. We need to be open and transparent with all that goes on. Open negotiations, televised meetings, full and detailed agendas, and monthly town hall meetings. We need to earn the public’s trust and respect.

Question 3: I want voters to know that I have the mentality and experience needed to be successful on the Plum board, because I have a record of working with both sides of the aisle, compromising to get deals done, and I never ever let politics get in the way of doing what is right. I am a straight forward, no nonsense kind of guy, and will always do what’s right for all Plum students, parents and citizens. I will always stand up to corruption, fight for my beliefs and have the honesty and integrity to do what is right. Always.

Tim Sandstrom, Democrat

Home: De Haviland Drive

Age: 65

Occupation: Retired teacher, coach and athletic director

Previous elected office: None

Question 1: I am concerned the quality of education is slipping. We have eliminated full day kindergarten, ended a 40 year partnership with the YMCA and have massive study halls in the high school.

Question 2: The biggest issue is planning for future growth with all the new homes being built.

Question 3: I know the value of a Plum education, class of 1972. I believe in public education. I believe taxpayers money should be spent as if it is your own money.