Weighed and measured

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LEWISTOWN - Questions about Mifflin County School District Superintendent David Runk, the economy and PSSA scores brought heated comments at times from the five candidates vying for four open school board seats during the Measure the Candidates forum Wednesday.

The candidates gave opening and closing remarks, and answered questions from the public during the event, which was held at Indian Valley High School and sponsored by the Mifflin County Farm Bureau. The candidates were randomly selected to speak in the order that follows:

During opening comments, Kristen Sharp said she is a stay-at-home mom from Belleville. She has two children.

"I want to make a difference in the community ... and I think it's time for a change," Sharp said.

Following Sharp, incumbent Travis Parkes introduced himself as being born and raised in Mifflin County. He said he has a wife and young son.

During her opening remarks, Mary Lou Sigler said she wants what is best for the students of Mifflin County and its taxpayers.

Incumbent Walter Harpster followed, saying that he has been part of the school district for a long time.

"I've tried to make decisions for the good of Mifflin County and its students."

James Hurlburt finished the opening remarks, saying that he was born and raised in Mifflin County. He said he lives in Reedsville with his wife and children.

"I have an invested interest in the school district because of my children," Hurlburt said. "I decided to take the opportunity to make a difference."

The first two questions from the public were combined by the Farm Bureau panel into one: Can you shed light in the current situation regarding David Runk? Why do you or do you not agree with the board's decision? Will you look outside the district for a new superintendent? What qualities will you look for?

Sharp answered first, saying, "I agree with the decision they made."

She said that while Runk has done many things in his 45 years of service to the district, she thinks it is time to move on to new leadership.

"There are people in house who could step up," Sharp said, adding that she hopes to see fresh ideas in a new superintendent.

Parkes, who voted against a new contract for Runk, said he stands by the board's decision.

"We don't always vote the way an individual feels, but as a board decision," he said.

While the school district has good administrators, Parkes said the school board also should look outside the district for a new superintendent.

Sigler answered that she retired from the school district less than two years ago, and she still feels close to the situation.

"My concern is that the decision was made without reason, without any facts

given. The five didn't even give him (Runk) any reasons." Sigler said.

"As taxpayers, you deserve ... to know why someone who has served the board and did exactly what they asked ... why they didn't renew his contract," she said.

Sigler also said she feels that the in-house administrators do a good job because Runk put them there and taught them.

Harpster, who was among the five board members who voted against Runk's new contract, answered, "We've been criticized by people for not speaking up. The reason is that we don't discuss personnel (matters) in public. You wouldn't want to have a boss come out and tell the public and tell the press."

Harpster said the "proper" reasons were given to Runk during the board's executive sessions. He added that the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit will be involved in finding candidates for the superintendent position. Harpster also said he wants to find "someone who could lead the school district in a better path than what it's going."

Hurlburt said that he agreed with the board's decision.

"We need new leadership," Hurlburt said, noting that as a reason for his candidacy.

Hurlburt said he thinks the school board should look both inside and outside the district for a new superintendent.

"To not look at all the available people would be a disservice to the public," he said.

The second question the candidates were asked was how many children each had in the school district and what grades they were in.

Parkes said he only has one son who is not old enough to attend school yet.

"I am rooted in the community," Parkes said. "My son will be attending Mifflin County School District."

Sigler said she had one son who graduated from Indian Valley High School.

"In my heart, all the children of Mifflin County School District are mine," she said, referring to her time as a teacher and administrator. "The children in the county deserve what is best, and deserve to read - at the latest - by the end of third grade. I've implemented programs that do that."

Harpster answered that he has three children who graduated from schools in the Mifflin County School District and a grandchild who will soon begin attending.

"I taught in the school district ... and had a good time here," Harpster said.

Hurlburt said he has three children, one in sixth, one in fourth and one in third grade in Mifflin County schools.

"I'm very invested in the school district," Hurlburt said.

Sharp answered that she has two children, ages 3 and 7. Her 7-year-old currently does not go to school in the district, because the child had problems in kindergarten, she said. However, Sharp said her family plans to send the child back to public school next year and to also send the 3-year-old to public school when the child is old enough.

"When I was young, I loved public school," Sharp said. "I want to make sure we provide the best education for our children. I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't believe that it was the best."

The third question the candidates were asked was if they would support reinstating a zero-tolerance policy on knives after two recent incidents at schools within the district.

Sigler said that zero-tolerance policies can cause problems because there always are extenuating circumstances.

"Kristen (Sharp) decided to homeschool her child. There were certain needs that made her decide to do that," Sigler said.

Like homeschooling, the school district should look at the individual circumstances for each student, she said.

Harpster answered that he sits in on student hearings for cases involving weapons and drugs.

"Some cases tug at my heart," Harpster said. "... Yet you have to look at the overall safety of the school."

He added that he has zero-tolerance on drug cases, because two of his relatives died as a result of drugs.

Hurlburt said he had no specific knowledge of the two cases referred to in the question. He said as a farm boy, he used to carry a pocket knife to school; but times are different now.

"There needs to be some understanding of the motives" behind carrying a weapon to school, Hurlburt said.

Sharp said she agreed that situations should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Parkes answered, "As a board, we are there to create and follow policy. We have to look at the best welfare of the community. Sometimes you can't separate the individual."

The next question the candidates were asked was what would he or she give as the highest priority for spending in difficult economic times.

Harpster answered that resources in the classroom should be the highest priority.

"Some students share books ..." and cannot take them home, Harpster said. "I think this is completely wrong. Every student should have a book."

Hurlburt said that while he is not aware of supply shortages in his children's classrooms, he has heard complaints from other parents about the situation.

"This is not about facilities, it's about education," Hurlburt said. "How can you learn when you can't take a book home? We need to get back to the basics."

Sharp answered that the school district should run its budget the way a family runs a household.

"We have to make cuts, ... and some will be painful," Sharp said, promising that she would examine what would be best for the students' education.

Parkes said he, too, supports the need for supplies and resources in classes. He said some teachers are spending their own money to buy supplies for their classes.

"Money shouldn't be the most important thing, but that's what it boils down to," Parkes said. "When we have to, some of the easiest places to make cuts are materials."

Sigler answered that the teachers are the most important resource in the classroom. She noted that several years ago, a group of science teachers in the school district created a curriculum without the use of textbooks.

"In some cases they're needed, and some they're not," she said of the books.

Sigler suggested that teachers at every grade and subject level should talk with administrators about their specific needs for textbooks and supplies.

"Textbooks and materials won't teach children," Sigler said. "Teachers teach children."

As a teacher and administrator in the school district, Sigler said she took part in handling millions of dollars for the school district and eliminated a lot of wasteful spending.

The final question the candidates were asked was how the school board should respond to a possible decrease in funding from the state if PSSA scores are not raised.

Hurlburt said the scores are a cause for concern, especially as schools fail to meet the adequate yearly progress mark.

"It goes back to making education No. 1 and getting the classes back to where they need to be," Hurlburt said.

Sharp said the school district needs to buckle its belts a little tighter and look for other funding streams, such as grants.

Parkes said that while PSSA scores have improved as a whole across the district, a "heavy focus" needs to be put on further improvement.

He said the county is diverse economically, and the scores often align with the economic background of a student.

"We have a huge debt service for facilities and structures rather than putting that (money) back into education," Parkes said. "I will try to keep taxes as low as possible."

Sigler said PSSA scores at the elementary level have risen recently, and they all have made AYP, or adequate yearly progress, in 2008-2009.

The increase in scores has come from programs Sigler said she, in part, began through grants that she secured for elementary education.

Reading is a special focus of the programs, Sigler said, because if a student does not learn to read by third grade, they will find the upper grades very difficult.

Harpster disagreed with Sigler's statements, saying "I guess we'd better have some truth here."

He said five schools did not make AYP in 2007-2008, and three did not this year. The three schools that fell short represent 40 percent of all the students in the Mifflin County School District, he said.

"That's why we'd like to make some changes - the four of us here running together," Harpster said, referring to fellow candidates Parkes, Sigler and Hurlburt.

The candidates each received three minutes for closing remarks.

Hurlburt said he did not originally plan to run for school board, but after attending school board meetings and noticing concerns, he decided to run.

When his family lived in State College for a short time, the schools encouraged parent involvement, he said. After moving back to Mifflin County, Hurlburt said he and his wife were surprised that the school district did not encourage parents to participate.

"We're going to have difficult times," Hurlburt said. "I want to focus on education, not facilities."

Harpster closed by encouraging people to vote on Nov. 3.

"I'd like to make Mifflin County the best that we can," Harpster said. "I think we finally have a team that can do it."

He said he would like to keep schools small, because they tend to do better in state testing.

Sigler followed, saying, "First of all, since I was accused of lying, I'd like to reiterate that all elementary schools made AYP. I didn't say the other ones did."

Sigler said that the school district does have problems meeting AYP; but as children read better in the elementary schools, they will move up into middle and high school.

"We will get there," she said. "I have a lot of faith in the parents and students in this district, and the teachers are willing to work hard and willing to learn new strategies."

Sigler also thanked Barbara Frankhouser, a former school board member, for the support for her candidacy. Sigler noted that retired Assistant Superintendent John Czerniakowski also complemented her for the reading and staff development programs that she initiated to contribute to the success of the students.

"Teachers have said to me, 'You will get my vote, because you know what we need and can get it without spending too much,'" Sigler said. "I am a fiscal conservative ... and the only candidate who fully understands the office of school director."

Parkes said he has no hidden agendas; he just wants "the best education for the children of Mifflin County."

"I think we need to continue to move forward with positive change," Parkes said. "We all five bring something different to the board."

He said different backgrounds come together on the school board to make the best decisions for the students.

Sharp concluded the comments, saying the matters close to her heart were to speak for the people who do not have a voice.

"Change is not something without pain or challenges," Sharp said. "But I am optimistic for the future. I don't take this position lightly."

She said as a school board member, she will encourage people to approach her with their concerns for the school district.

"Then I will know what direction to go at the table," Sharp said. "The first way to voice your opinion is to vote."

Three of the candidates - incumbents Harpster and Parkes, along with Sharp - secured nominations for seats on the board from both parties during the May primary election.

Sigler received the Democratic nomination and Hurlburt received the Republican nomination for the fourth open seat on the board.