3 newcomers elected to Burrell School Board, along with 2 incumbents

Tuesday’s election brought change to the Burrell School Board, with three newcomers joining the two incumbents who were reelected.

Four at-large seats were open this year. Timothy Vinkovich, a former Tarentum councilman, received 22.6% of votes, the highest share. Newcomer Nikki Watson brought in 21.5%, incumbent Rick Kaczor attracted 20.6% and newcomer Jean Schager took 19.5%. The at-large seats are four-year terms.

Incumbent LeeAnn Guido, the sole candidate for a two-year term in the district’s Region II, officially won her seat.

Vinkovich, 52, an auto mechanic, said, “I feel great about winning the election. The outpouring of support was overwhelming.”

Like the other newcomers to the board, he doesn’t have an agenda to start his tenure.

“I will do my best to take care of the children of Lower Burrell and listen to the parents,” he said. “I want to be fair to everyone.”

Kaczor said he was humbled and grateful to win and serve a second term. “I am looking forward to working with our newly elected board members, as they are going to be an important part of our team,” he said. “As always we need to remember the reason we are here — the kids are who matter most.”

Schager, 56, an office manager at Hillcrest Volkswagen in Lower Burrell, said it is difficult to pinpoint one issue she would like to start on. “I plan to keep an open mind and do what is right for the children and the district,” she said.

Watson, 36, who owns several businesses with her husband, including Sustain-Able Matters in New Kensington, said she was thankful to be a voice for the community. “I look forward to getting to know the other board members and learning quickly the process for this very important position and responsibility,” she said.

First-timer Nicole Corneils, the fifth candidate for an at-large seat, received 14.7% of the vote. She said she was disappointed to lose the election but liked the experience of the political process. “My supporters in the community have been so amazing, they really challenged me to question what more could be done to improve the district for our kids and the community as a whole,” she said.

Corneils said she would love to run for office again but isn’t sure if Burrell will be the right place.

She found the Burrell community polarized on political issues while campaigning.

“The vast majority of people that I spoke to while campaigning asked me zero questions about the schools or even the community itself,” said Corneils, a Democrat. “I was asked about my opinion on President Biden or abortion more than anything else.”