Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Fourteen candidates are seeking five seats on the New Castle Area school board. The terms are four years. The school district consists of the city of New Castle and Taylor Township. An * denotes and incumbent. Candidates Mickey Cook, Albert Padula, Charlotte Sheffield, Rose Lynn Padice*, Richard Panella, Kathleen Ross, William Morgan, Mark Kirkwood and Steve Plyer did not respond to Vindicator requests for r & eacute;sum & eacute;s. Cook, Sheffield and Ronald Phillips Jr. filed as Democrats only. All other candidates cross-filed on both ballots.
RONALD PHILLIPS JR.
Age: 36
Home: 209 E. Winter Ave., New Castle
Employment: UPMC telecommunications superintendent since 2000.
Education: Bachelor's degree in computer information systems, Robert Morris. University; Brownsville Area High School graduate.
Family: Wife, Renee; one child.
Priority: Make smart decisions to balance the budget and complete the new high school construction on schedule and without a lot of additional costs.
KAREN M. HUMPHREY*
Age: 42
Home: 710 Mabel St., New Castle
Employment: None
Education: Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh; New Castle High School graduate.
Family: Husband, Bill; three children.
Priority: To continue to be aware and knowledgeable about how my district prepares our students and is responding to the challenges for education set by the state and federal governments; to continue the Pride and Promise campaign to recognize district staff and students for their accomplishments.
THOMAS DIMUCCIO*
Age: 69
Home: 425 Norwood Ave., New Castle
Employment: None
Education: Bachelor's degree in education, Youngstown State University; New Castle High School graduate.
Family: Wife, Barbara.
Priority: My main priority is to continue the advancement we have made over the past seven years. I believe in the new attendance policy, zero violence policy and requiring more accountability at all levels of the system.
MICHELE PERRETT
Age: 47
Home: 115 Park Ave., New Castle
Employment: None
Education: Presently a student at Penn State University in the business management program; bachelor's degree in English and art history, University of Pittsburgh; New Castle High School graduate.
Family: Husband, James Jr.
Priority: We must set and reach goals of proficiency in reading, math and writing. We need to redirect the competitive spirit that exists in New Castle to academic areas and demand accountability by administrators and teachers for improvements in test scores.
FRED MOZZOCIO
Age: 37
Home: 1222 Huron Ave., New Castle.
Employment: Leasing consultant, Sky Bank since 2000.
Education: New Castle High School graduate.
Family: Wife, Dawn; three children.
Priority: I have been walking the streets of New Castle over the past month, and the biggest issue that comes up is that people feel their requests aren't being heard, and many of their questions, when asked, aren't answered. If elected, I will make sure their voice is heard.