With elections for everything from prothonotary to sheriff being tomorrow (November 5) the ECHO hoped to get to know the candidates running to represent the district on the school board.

Potential voters like senior Andy Votilla believed that a survey would be a good step in voters getting to know their choices.

"I don’t really know anything about the candidates, so this might be able to influence my choice," he said.

Now, while the ECHO has neither the time nor resources to interview each candidate at length, we did the next best thing: shared a Google Form on the issues that matter to students and parents.

Out of nine candidates, the ECHO received responses from Tracy Longo, Frank Bovalino, Mark Deitrick, Robyn Johnson, and Merilu Hill. Luke Beradelli, Denise Yates, Bruce Woodske, and Jarrod Thomas did not respond to the survey in time for publication.

We started with an open-ended question about what each candidate's number-one priority for their term as a board member would be.

Some candidates, like Bovalino, Johnson, and Longo, had specific visions for the district wanting to offer more vocational classes, expand current class offerings, and provide more educational opportunities for students going into college or the workforce.

"I want to provide the best educational opportunities for our students and prepare them for college or the workforce," Longo wrote.

Continuing, we questioned candidates on whether or not they believed the district's funds were being spent appropriately. Most candidates believed funds were being spent efficiently, with some, like Hill, believing that there could be more transparency in where the funds are being allocated. Only Johnson believed that funds were not allocated properly.

"I do not [think funds are being properly allocated]. There have been cost-saving measures proposed to the current board that were not given what I consider appropriate consideration," Johnson said.

After events like the Parkland school shooting, school safety was again thrust into the spotlight, and we wanted to get the candidates on record about where they stood.

Candidates like Longo and Bovalino believed that school safety was a constantly evolving issue, and that they simply wanted to offer the best possible security for all students and staff. Deitrick made the point that the school already had adequate security before Parkland and even improved it after.

Contrasting with that, Hill believed that security was nowhere near adequate, with her providing a recent personal example when a recently graduated student entered the school seeking her son. She then proposed using the iPads to provide a digital ID to all students and staff.

Finally, candidates were asked what they considered the district’s greatest strengths and challenges were. Most candidates gave credit to teachers and students in making our district as strong as it is while also saying that the greatest challenge the district faces is maintaining our position as a good place to go to school.

"Our greatest strengths are our students, teachers, administrators, coaches, all other staff, community members,and our current School Board! Our greatest challenge is maintaining the exemplary work that is being done on a daily basis in our district," Deitrick said.

No matter which candidates you support, make sure to get out there and vote tomorrow!