Huberman, DeMarco earn Boardman voters' support

By the standard that counts the most, the state proficiency test, Boardman schools are in an exclusive class: Excellent. Only seven of the 45 school districts in the Mahoning Valley received that rating on the most recent Ohio Department of Education Report Cards. It's a rating that board of education members Mark A. Huberman and Robert DeMarco are hoping will persuade the voters to preserve the status quo.
Huberman, a lawyer, is seeking re-election to a sixth four-year term; DeMarco, a physician, was appointed to the board in August 2000 after the resignation of Nancy Hull and is running for a full four-year term. They are being challenged by Richard S. Scarsella, a teacher at East Middle School in Youngstown; Russell W. Gillam III, a title abstractor, and Darleen Moulin, who did not provide The Vindicator with biographical information.
In considering this race, we looked to the challengers to tell why the incumbents should not continue serving on the board. They didn't.
Indeed, we were struck by Scarsella's honesty when, in response to a question, he said, "I think the current board has done a good job." For his part, Gillam acknowledged that his children had received or were receiving "an excellent education," and he had high praise for the board for such initiatives as Channel 19, the district's educational TV outlet.
If even the challengers can't argue with success, it's difficult to argue against Huberman's re-election and DeMarco's election. These two board members exude an optimism and an enthusiasm that are refreshing and reassuring.
Demographic changes
After almost 20 years, one would think that Huberman would have become stale. He hasn't. His knowledge of the inner workings of the school system, his understanding of the community and his recognition of the demographic changes occurring in Boardman make him a a vaulable board member.
DeMarco has shown himself to be a quick study and his knowledge of the intricacies of public education funding in Ohio was impressive.
Both incumbents not only reveled in Boardman's academic success, but were eager to talk about the new three-year contract entered into with the teachers, not only because of the long-term financial implications, but because of its uniqueness.
The teachers, member of the Boardman Education Association, agreed to a wage freeze in the first year, a 2.5 percent increase in the second and a 2.9 percent increase in the third. The teachers agreed to switch to a PPO health plan in the first year, with premium copayments in the second and third years.
"We're the first system in the area to develop such a contract," Huberman contended.
Scarsella and Gillam are both well intentioned and want what's best for the children of Boardman. But with things working as well as they are in the system today, we don't believe change is needed.
The Vindicator endorses the re-election of Huberman and the election to a full term of DeMarco.