Editor’s note: The Advance Leader is publishing primary election previews with candidate interviews for contested races only. Oakmont, Plum and Verona have no contests for elected municipal positions, according to Allegheny County Election Bureau information.

In the race for Riverview School Board, 10 candidates are running for spots on the November ballot for five open seats, all four-year terms. Five are cross-filed, running as both Democrat and Republican. Four are on the ballot only as Democrats, and one only as Republican.

The following are responses provided by the candidates, in alphabetical order.

Melissa Botta-Havran

Party affiliation: Cross-filed; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? In the words of John F. Kennedy, “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” I look at my son Michael and all the other students in this district, and I see our future. A great future begins with a great education. As a practicing educator, I understand the doors that open for our youth when resources and robust curriculum are in place. I want to be a part of this process. My place will always be in the trenches, fighting for the children in this district, making sure they receive the highest quality of education in the least restrictive environment.

• What is the biggest issue to address? Fiscal responsibility. As board members, we are responsible to the taxpayers in our district. After ensuring a balanced budget, I would like to see any excess funds used to offset further tax increases, as our taxes have been raised roughly four times in the last decade. Riverview has a reputation of being inclusive to community members from varied economic backgrounds. Thus, continuing this balance is essential for maintaining our diverse and thriving district. The key ingredient to success in a community of our size is open transparency with these issues, which is certainly something that can be improved upon.

• Why should people vote for you? I’m honest. I’m a community member, a highly qualified educator and mother of a Tenth Street Student. I’m invested in this community. Most notably, I am NOT a politician. I don’t engage in nasty political rhetoric, nor do I support folks who do. Making a non-partisan position a political issue is not what I promote. Rather, I promote unity and peace within the community.

Jennifer K. Chaparro

Party affiliation: Democrat; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I am running for re-election to continue the positive, effective work I have been doing in my first term. My priority is providing the highest quality education and extracurricular activities to children K -12. I will continue to promote all that we have to offer at Riverview. I am an active current parent on the board and make the best decisions possible for our students, teachers, staff and community.

• What is the biggest issue to address? Funding is the biggest challenge in PA. Unfortunately this is not a problem to be solved by us alone. We need stronger support and funding from state and federal levels and reasonable reform to address charter schools. Our costs are always increasing, and our funding is never enough to meet the needs or add anything.

• Why should people vote for you? I have contributed to and accomplished many initiatives, including hiring a new superintendent, navigating covid-19, and hiring new quality teachers, paraprofessionals, coaches and administrators, including an assistant principal and athletic director. I have enhanced our communications channels and created consistency in our academic and athletic brands. I bring a logical, thoughtful approach to the work and want to continue our positive momentum.

Leanne Jacobs-Rohan

Party affiliation: Democrat; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I decided to run to contribute my time and energy to something very worthwhile. We need to embrace books and the arts, not ban them. I want to contribute my background in social work and mental health to keep our schools as safe as possible.

• What is the biggest issue to address? The biggest issue that needs to be addressed in every school is safety. When we do our best at that, everyone can have a positive learning experience.

• Why should people vote for you? People should vote for me to ensure that another caring, dedicated parent joins the board.

Isabelle McDade

Party affiliation: Republican; municipality: Verona

• Why did you decide to run? I wanted to serve and give back to the community that gave so much to me.

• What is the biggest issue to address? I would like to implement and work on a strategy to recover the education lost during the pandemic. This plan would focus on academics and recovery through social engagement techniques. I would also like to address bullying online and in the classroom.

• Why should people vote for you? I am a native of Verona, born and raised. I have three children in the district. I also have four nieces in the district. My vision is to champion the right of ALL students to have the opportunity to grow and develop.

Nick Paradise

Party affiliation: Cross-filed; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I am running to be an advocate for Riverview’s most precious resource: our children. Having closely followed district operations over the past three years, I believe families desperately need board leadership that will put them first when it comes to education and finances, and positioning our kids to prosper.

• What is the biggest issue to address?

Undoing the harm done to children by pandemic policies. Riverview’s board and administration ignored the risks posed by virtual schooling and mandatory masking from 2020-22, and our kids paid the price in learning loss and mental health challenges. A close second: fiscal responsibility to avoid growth-limiting tax increases.

• Why should people vote for you? I will be a leader the whole community can count on. I commit to be accountable to voters and demand transparent, responsible fiscal practices. I will advocate for greater focus on the fundamentals in our classrooms: reading, math and critical thinking.

Antonio Paris

Party: Democrat; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I was a 2012 graduate of Riverview and overly involved. However, I never saw a school board member who wasn’t a parent taking a special interest in all of the activities, clubs and sports. My goal in this role is to be accessible to our student leaders and their organizations, to make sure they have the voice I never could, by making myself as accessible as possible for them.

• What is the biggest issue to address? As a current school board member, I’ve seen firsthand the impact we can have on the district. In my opinion, the school board needs to be more involved and present for our students. This means meeting with students, talking with their parents and their teachers and other staff to ask what things they need out of our district. We work for them!

• Why should people vote for you? I’m not in this race to help my own children or benefit some of the students. I’m running to help everyone, with an unbiased viewpoint. I want what’s best for everyone in this district, and as a recently graduated former leader within the district, I bring a fresh and non-outdated perspective that none of the other candidates can.

Roger Pogoda

Party affiliation: Democrat; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I’m running because I believe that the parents and guardians in Oakmont and Verona deserve honest, empathetic school directors who are not interested in pushing their personal agenda, but rather in providing an education that sets our children up for success in the future. I am that candidate.

• What is the biggest issue to address? Money. The board needs to work together to ensure that every single child in the district is receiving the same standard of education, regardless of how they best learn, without overburdening our taxpayers. We have defined constraints; I am capable of working within them.

• Why should people vote for you? Because I’m a listener. Because I won’t let my judgment be clouded by my own interests. What’s important to me will most certainly not be important to everyone in the district. I will not let politics or divisiveness get in the way of our children’s experiences in our schools.

Colette Saxon-Kmetz

Party affiliation: Cross-filed; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I love RSD and have four children who are coming through the district. The decisions that rest on the board impact our children directly. Who better to know what is best for our children than a mother who is on the front lines day in and day out?

• What is the biggest issue to address? The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is the mental health of our children after the trauma of these last couple of years. Every family has been impacted. It is time to sit down and get serious about how we are going to go about repairing what was broken.

• Why should people vote for you? I am an imperfect mother who loves her children and the children in RSD. I will fight for their futures and do everything I can to ensure they are sent out with confidence, tools to pursue their dreams, and will choose to raise their families in our district.

Erin Schuetz

Party affiliation: Cross-filed; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? Since moving into Riverview District in 2017, we’ve experienced the positive impact of our district’s curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities on our child’s educational growth. I am running to ensure our district moves forward with equity, efficiency and engagement, where our students can all thrive.

• What is the biggest issue to address? Each child who enters Riverview District’s hallways and classrooms experiences learning in their own, unique way. I will work for our students, teachers, staff, administrators and community to keep these environments as places where students’ needs are met.

• Why should people vote for you? Bringing 15-plus years of experience in higher education and a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education, I understand educational operations, budgeting, assessment, and program and policy creation. In my service on the Riverview School Board, I will provide collaborative, rational, ethical and responsible oversight for our district and community.

Seth Wermager

Party affiliation: Cross-filed; municipality: Oakmont

• Why did you decide to run? I want a seat at the table for the decisions being made for the children in our community. I’m passionate about seeing young people prosper; I’ve given my whole life to that end as a teacher. Serving on the school board is simply another way I can invest in kids.

• What is the biggest issue to address? Concerns about school safety and unnecessary tax increases are two topics that I’ve repeatedly heard about throughout my time campaigning door to door. Parents want to feel reassured that their kids will be safe. Taxpayers want to know that their money is well-managed.

• Why should people vote for you? As a parent, a taxpayer and an experienced public school teacher, I offer a well-informed viewpoint that is representative of various stakeholders within the district’s community. I will provide an experienced and balanced leadership perspective on the decisions that impact students, district employees and taxpayers.

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