Political newcomer challenges 2 incumbents in Kiski Area School Board race
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A Vandergrift business owner is looking to unseat one of two incumbent Kiski Area School District board members in Region I.
Candidates on the May 18 primary ballot are Todd Sterlitz, Kathleen Snyder and Mark Flemm Jr. Two Region I seats are up for reelection. Board members are elected to four-year terms.
All three candidates are cross-filed, meaning they all will appear on both the Democratic and Republican party ballots.
Todd Sterlitz, 54, a registered Republican, said he’s running on a platform focused specifically on the well-being of students.
A graduate of Allegheny College, Sterlitz is new to the political scene but previously served on the boards of former nonprofits Cardinal Maida Academy in Vandergrift and Allegheny Mountain Swimming.
He owns Pugliese Flowers in Vandergrift.
Sterlitz praised the educators in the district for doing an “exemplary” job of shifting to an online and then hybrid model of teaching.
“Never before has something like the covid-19 pandemic caused this level of upheaval in our school system,” Sterlitz said. “I am running for school board to help ensure that these outcomes are positive for all kids, regardless of their education model and their access to technology.”
He said he’s concerned about the effect the pandemic is having on students. If elected, he plans to encourage in-person schooling and social interactions through clubs, sports, music and more.
“The electronic age has brought many land mines with it, most notably the lack of in-person socialization due to the rise of gaming and cellphone use,” Sterlitz said.
Incumbent Democrat Mark Flemm Jr. has served two-years on the board. He’s lived in the district his entire professional life.
Flemm, 42, works as a public relations specialist. He is a graduate of Edinboro University.
He said it’s been an honor to serve the people of the area. He is chairperson of the student activities committee and joint operating committee for the Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center.
“I enjoy working with people, especially children and young adults,” Flemm said. “And I want to help make a positive impact for the students, the faculty and the constituents of our district.”
Flemm said if reelected he plans to focus on athletic programs, upcoming building projects and the search for a new superintendent.
“I think we have a great opportunity to build unity in many different areas,” he said. “We have a lot of positive things going on within our district, and I hope to continue to be a part of the journey.”
Incumbent Kathleen “Kathy” Snyder works as an accounting manager and is a registered Republican.
Snyder, 47, is a graduate of the district and has a master’s degree in business administration from Gannon University.
If reelected, she’ll focus on two ongoing issues, she said.
“Hiring the best superintendent to suit the needs of our district and finalizing the teacher’s contract are priority issues,” Snyder said.
Snyder hails from a manufacturing background. She wants to make sure the concepts of continuous improvement and lean practices are utilized in running the district’s schools while maintaining the children’s best interests.
“Improving efficiency and effectiveness by eliminating waste will help the school district become more agile and allow for greater educational opportunities for our children,” Snyder said.
Kiski Area School District Superintendent Tim Scott announced his retirement in March.
Scott did not give a timetable for his exit from the district of about 3,500 students.
The board voted 7-1 in April to pay Templeton Advantage $13,500 to conduct the search for a replacement.
This story was update May 9, 2021 to include Snyder’s educational information.