2015 Parkland School Director General Election
***Names in blue are links to the candidate's website, names in red means the candidate has no website. Some candidates are crossfiled in both the D and R parties)
(Vote for not more than Five - 4 Year Term)
Lisa A. Adams (D and R-Incumbent)
Customer support specialist with Air Products
Age: 52
Personal:
-Lived in the dist for 22 years
-3 sons attended K-12 here
Experience:
-6 years on Parkland school board, during which time she has worked to educate herself in all aspects of public education
-Started on PTO in at elm level
-In middle school was a committee/in school volunteer, devoted alot of time to the Accelerated Reading Program Reading acution
-In HS she was a parent forum facilitator
-10 years Community Advisory Council member-currently school board liaison to CAC
-Has attended tons of training for her position on the board-see full list here: http://www.adamsonboard.com/#!experience/component_71401
Issues:
-Likes to listen to community feedback
-Spoke of a feasibility study that is being conducted in order to set goals for the next decade. She will use that study to help decide budgeting, and decisions on full day kindergarten and what to do with the Troxell Building
-Will try to weigh what’s best for students as well as the community at large
-In 2012 and 2013, voted against funding LCCC (believes post-secondary education isn’t the responsibility of public schools)
-“I do not have a personal agenda, political aspirations or a need to pad a resumé – plain and simple, public education is critical to the success of any community”
-Believes education is for everyone: students, community, staff, administrators
-Likes when there is communication in the district
-Says the board does policy and budget along with the administration
Committees:
-Parkland School District Strategic Planning Committee parent member (2008)
-Parkland Comprehensive Planning Committee, board representative (2014)
-Parkland High School Festival of the Arts planning committee (4 years)
-Parkland High School Boys Soccer Booster Club member (2011)
-South Parkland Youth Association (aka SPYA) board member (4 years), and I have coached soccer, baseball, and basketball for the organization
-Boy Scouts of America – committee member for St. Joseph’s Orefield and Jordan UCC Troops
-Parkland Library – helped coordinate and volunteered at the Used Book Sale (3 years)
Volunteer Work:
-PTO
-Sports Leagues
-Boy Scounts
***Please note that this is the only candidate that has a website for this election”””
Carol L. Facchiano (D and R)
Office Admin at Parkland Aquatic Club
Age: 51
Personal:
-Has 3 children in the district
Experience:
-BS in business admin-accounting
-5 years community advisory council
-Middle school report card committee
-Fogelsville Elm. PTO president
-Springhouse MS PTO president and treasurer
-Parkland Post Prom Volunteer Coordinator
Issues:
-Wants to offer comprehensive education with many opportunities for students and community members alike
-Will take a financially sustainable approach
-Believes the following are important for anyone running for school board: clear vision, communication (with the community), teamwork, advocate for students at the state level
David M. Kennedy (D and R-Incumbent)
Retired substitute teacher, Chairman-Platinum Group of Companies
Age: 64
Personal:
-Had 2 kids educated at parkland
Experience:
-Parkland school board vice president
-Chair of personnel and salary committee
-18 years Lehigh Career and Tech Institute joint operating committee (chair 8 years)
-22 years South Whitehall Public Safety Committee
-Has chaired all 3 boards (personnel and finance, education and athletics, and buildings and grounds)
-Has been a substitute teacher in 3 districts
Issues:
-Will question spending
-Will work on behalf of parents and students to ensure the best education possible as well as opportunities to participate in the arts and athletics
-Voted against funding the 2013 LCCC budget
-Sees unfunded mandates form the state and federal level as the biggest prob in the district
Bob Bold (D and R-Incumbent)
Retired
Age: 80
Experience:
-30 years classroom experience
-16 years Parkland board member
-48 years in public education
-4 years president of Parkland board
-Currently president of Carbon Lehigh intermediate unit-5 years
-16 years Lehigh Technical School board member
-Past board representative to Parkland Library
-Received a PSBA award for demonstrating exceptional accomplishments in attaining effective governance and meeting the needs of students in the 21st century
Issues:
-Believes educating youth is the finest thing society can do
-Believes Parkland is doing a good job in all areas
-Wants to continue this success at reasonable cost
-Believes that with the cooperation of all involved-academics, the arts, and athletics can prosper
***Did not attend the candidates meeting for the primary
Rochell Figueroa (D)
Bus Operator
Age: 55
Experience:
-Elected official democratic committee
- Award of Proclamation by Mike Schlossberg, House of Representatives
-Award Initiated LANTA’s Rosa Parks Honorary Plaques by Rising Sun Initiative
-Awarded Woman of the Year 2014 by N.A.A.C.P.
-Awarded Phenomenal Woman Award 2014 by Xtreme Family Life
-Paraprofessional A.S.D. 1989-1990
-Awarded Seal of the Senate of PA sponsored by Senator Patrick Brown
Issues:
-Taxes: Keep them as minimal as possible
-Safety: Add security officers, seat belts on every bus
-Alliance: Between PSB, teachers and students
-Diversity: Have a diverse PSB to reflect a diverse community
-Believes knowledge is power
-Failed to answer the question of what the school board does
Jef Reyburn (R-incumbent)
Account exec Myriad Genetics
Age: 46
Personal:
-Has 3 kids in the district
Experience:
-PSB director
-B&G Committee
-Served on all three committies for the school board: education and athletics, personnel and finance, buildings and grounds.
-23 years youth sports coach
Issues:
-In 2012 and 2013, voted against funding LCCC (believes post-secondary education isn’t the responsibility of public schools)
-Believes that increasing population will be a major problem for the current infrastructure-wishes to address it comprehensively taking into acct the needs of students and the financial limits of the community
-Believes changing demographics is the biggest problem in the district
(Vote for not more than Five - 4 Year Term)
Lisa A. Adams (D and R-Incumbent)
Customer support specialist with Air Products
Age: 52
Personal:
-Lived in the dist for 22 years
-3 sons attended K-12 here
Experience:
-6 years on Parkland school board, during which time she has worked to educate herself in all aspects of public education
-Started on PTO in at elm level
-In middle school was a committee/in school volunteer, devoted alot of time to the Accelerated Reading Program Reading acution
-In HS she was a parent forum facilitator
-10 years Community Advisory Council member-currently school board liaison to CAC
-Has attended tons of training for her position on the board-see full list here: http://www.adamsonboard.com/#!experience/component_71401
Issues:
-Likes to listen to community feedback
-Spoke of a feasibility study that is being conducted in order to set goals for the next decade. She will use that study to help decide budgeting, and decisions on full day kindergarten and what to do with the Troxell Building
-Will try to weigh what’s best for students as well as the community at large
-In 2012 and 2013, voted against funding LCCC (believes post-secondary education isn’t the responsibility of public schools)
-“I do not have a personal agenda, political aspirations or a need to pad a resumé – plain and simple, public education is critical to the success of any community”
-Believes education is for everyone: students, community, staff, administrators
-Likes when there is communication in the district
-Says the board does policy and budget along with the administration
Committees:
-Parkland School District Strategic Planning Committee parent member (2008)
-Parkland Comprehensive Planning Committee, board representative (2014)
-Parkland High School Festival of the Arts planning committee (4 years)
-Parkland High School Boys Soccer Booster Club member (2011)
-South Parkland Youth Association (aka SPYA) board member (4 years), and I have coached soccer, baseball, and basketball for the organization
-Boy Scouts of America – committee member for St. Joseph’s Orefield and Jordan UCC Troops
-Parkland Library – helped coordinate and volunteered at the Used Book Sale (3 years)
Volunteer Work:
-PTO
-Sports Leagues
-Boy Scounts
***Please note that this is the only candidate that has a website for this election”””
Carol L. Facchiano (D and R)
Office Admin at Parkland Aquatic Club
Age: 51
Personal:
-Has 3 children in the district
Experience:
-BS in business admin-accounting
-5 years community advisory council
-Middle school report card committee
-Fogelsville Elm. PTO president
-Springhouse MS PTO president and treasurer
-Parkland Post Prom Volunteer Coordinator
Issues:
-Wants to offer comprehensive education with many opportunities for students and community members alike
-Will take a financially sustainable approach
-Believes the following are important for anyone running for school board: clear vision, communication (with the community), teamwork, advocate for students at the state level
David M. Kennedy (D and R-Incumbent)
Retired substitute teacher, Chairman-Platinum Group of Companies
Age: 64
Personal:
-Had 2 kids educated at parkland
Experience:
-Parkland school board vice president
-Chair of personnel and salary committee
-18 years Lehigh Career and Tech Institute joint operating committee (chair 8 years)
-22 years South Whitehall Public Safety Committee
-Has chaired all 3 boards (personnel and finance, education and athletics, and buildings and grounds)
-Has been a substitute teacher in 3 districts
Issues:
-Will question spending
-Will work on behalf of parents and students to ensure the best education possible as well as opportunities to participate in the arts and athletics
-Voted against funding the 2013 LCCC budget
-Sees unfunded mandates form the state and federal level as the biggest prob in the district
Bob Bold (D and R-Incumbent)
Retired
Age: 80
Experience:
-30 years classroom experience
-16 years Parkland board member
-48 years in public education
-4 years president of Parkland board
-Currently president of Carbon Lehigh intermediate unit-5 years
-16 years Lehigh Technical School board member
-Past board representative to Parkland Library
-Received a PSBA award for demonstrating exceptional accomplishments in attaining effective governance and meeting the needs of students in the 21st century
Issues:
-Believes educating youth is the finest thing society can do
-Believes Parkland is doing a good job in all areas
-Wants to continue this success at reasonable cost
-Believes that with the cooperation of all involved-academics, the arts, and athletics can prosper
***Did not attend the candidates meeting for the primary
Rochell Figueroa (D)
Bus Operator
Age: 55
Experience:
-Elected official democratic committee
- Award of Proclamation by Mike Schlossberg, House of Representatives
-Award Initiated LANTA’s Rosa Parks Honorary Plaques by Rising Sun Initiative
-Awarded Woman of the Year 2014 by N.A.A.C.P.
-Awarded Phenomenal Woman Award 2014 by Xtreme Family Life
-Paraprofessional A.S.D. 1989-1990
-Awarded Seal of the Senate of PA sponsored by Senator Patrick Brown
Issues:
-Taxes: Keep them as minimal as possible
-Safety: Add security officers, seat belts on every bus
-Alliance: Between PSB, teachers and students
-Diversity: Have a diverse PSB to reflect a diverse community
-Believes knowledge is power
-Failed to answer the question of what the school board does
Jef Reyburn (R-incumbent)
Account exec Myriad Genetics
Age: 46
Personal:
-Has 3 kids in the district
Experience:
-PSB director
-B&G Committee
-Served on all three committies for the school board: education and athletics, personnel and finance, buildings and grounds.
-23 years youth sports coach
Issues:
-In 2012 and 2013, voted against funding LCCC (believes post-secondary education isn’t the responsibility of public schools)
-Believes that increasing population will be a major problem for the current infrastructure-wishes to address it comprehensively taking into acct the needs of students and the financial limits of the community
-Believes changing demographics is the biggest problem in the district