Leechburg Area School Board candidates weigh in on biggest issues facing the district

Voters in the Leechburg Area School District will select from seven candidates in the Nov. 7 election to fill five seats on the Leechburg Area School Board.

An eighth name on the ballot, former school board member Karen Freilino, resigned Sept. 20. Although her name remains on the ballot, Freilino is not seeking reelection, according to school board President Anthony Shea.

The Tribune-Review asked candidates the same two questions to provide voters some insight.

Here are the candidates’ responses to questions posed by the Trib:

Why are you running for school board?

Neill Brady: “To maintain the educational and safety standards under our current superintendent at LASD. Under the current administration, we’ve been selected as a National Blue Ribbon School. We’re one of only 13 schools nominated in Pennsylvania and only 363 schools in the nation named.”

Jim Dunmire: “To uphold fair conservative, family values.”

Melanie Knight: “One of the many reasons I’m running is to continue my advocacy to keep Leechburg Area School District money in our district. I’m not sure if the taxpayers in our community are aware of how much of there money is being outsourced.”

Joseph Lepish: “I’m running to be more involved with the LASD. I have three children currently in the school, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade.”

Dannielle Logan: “I’m running to provide the children in LASD a safer and more protected environment. A place where they can express themselves and grow into more productive members of society.”

Andrew Pallus: “I’m running for LASD school board to promote transparency between the district and its taxpayers, to promote accountability and, above all, to promote the growth and development of our students and our community.”

Anthony Townsend: “I’m running to help the school maintain a solid footing in the Leechburg community. Many public schools are in a battle post-covid to maintain students that are leaving for home schooling and private schools. Transparency for students and parents, as well as assuring that our children are receiving a high-quality education to prepare them to be successful adults.”

What is the biggest issue facing the school district, and what can you do to solve it?

Brady: “Our tax dollars need to be used to further our district’s education and resources rather than going to private and charter schools. There’s over $850,000 (from LASD) going to charter and private schools for their education and transportation. To resolve, we need to push our PA Legislature to return the funding to the local school districts and have the budgets of charter and private schools open to the public, as public schools are required.”

Dunmire: “To uphold fair and conservative family values.”

Knight: “Funding being sent to outside entities rather than being kept in this school district.

“When I was on the school board recently, I advocated as the Pennsylvania School Board Association liaison against the voucher program which takes funding away from public schools and costs taxpayers more money in our public school budget.”

Lepish: “Honest, open dialogue. I want to ensure that the communication between the LASD, the community and district families is as transparent as possible. I believe that the parent should be able to see and know what their children are doing at school, at all times.”

Logan: “The district has several issues, such as finances and sustainability, but the main issue which must be addressed in the short term, because of its impact on children, is bullying. Leechburg is a very small school district where bullying is a substantial problem. We need to reevaluate how bullying is handled by those in charge of children’s safety. A more comprehensive plan would assist in reducing instances of bullying and provide a safe environment for everyone who enters LASD doors.”

Pallus: “The biggest issue facing any school district, including Leechburg, is school safety, and bullying is a major concern. Recently, parents have come to meetings expressing concerns over instances of bullying in our schools. This can be fixed by adhering to board policy and holding the administration accountable for the welfare of our students and staff.”

Townsend: “The biggest issue today, I believe, is the ability for our small community to keep our school and as it is currently and keep our taxes from becoming unaffordable.”