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3 vie for 2 seats on school board
Three candidates for two seats on the board of education all want to ensure the quality education they say the district already provides.
Poland candidates want to ensure quality education
By kalea hall
poland
Although the Poland School District is financially stable, changes may be needed in the future to adjust to a decline in state funding and students.
Three candidates — incumbents Richard Beau Weaver and Larry Dinopoulos, 50, and one challenger, Maureen Rothrauff, 35 — running for two seats on the board of education all want to ensure the quality education they say the district already provides.
“If you are not a good district, then you are in trouble,” Weaver said.
Poland does not have many young families moving in, Weaver said. This has caused the district to lose some students.
Weaver was elected to the board of education four years ago, just like Dinopoulos.
This year, the board hired a new schools superintendent, David Janofa.
Both also rallied the community last year to pass a 5.9-mill, five-year additional emergency levy that generates more than $2 million annually, keeping the school district financial stable. The district lost about $2 million a year in funding from the state.
“We’re financially stable through 2017,” Dinopoulos said.
To remain financially stable the district will have to consider closing one if not more of its three elementary schools to consolidate. If the district closed North Elementary School it would save $400,000 a year, Dinopoulos said.
“Something’s going to happen with the elementary schools, but what, we have to find that out,” Dinopoulos said.
The buildings all need technology and security updates, which is costly when it comes to old buildings, Weaver said.
Weaver wants to avoid open enrollment because he knows the community is against it — and so is he.
“I think you are just passing the problem on at the expense of Lowellville and Struthers schools,” Weaver said.
Weaver said he would not have a problem with building a campus instead of having multiple schools located throughout the community.
“It would eliminate a ton of headaches,” Weaver said.
Additionally, Weaver would like to see the expansion of curriculum and hopefully the hiring of a director of curriculum.
Dinopoulos would like to upgrade and place security in all of the schools, review board policies, transportation and implement technology into the curriculum.
The challenger in this race wants to see a demand for more state funding.
“I think we really need to petition the state,” Rothrauff said.
Rothrauff, who is new to the Poland community and running for office, said she is not campaigning against anyone; she simply wants to be involved.
She would like to see the pay-to-play policy eliminated, music and art teachers for elementary students brought back and technology advancements in all of the schools. Rothrauff would consider closing an elementary school if it was in the best interest of the students and the district.
“I think it’s a matter of pride and a matter of jobs,” Rothrauff said. Overall, all of the candidates realize the district is performing well. The district has a high academic rating with the state.
“I think Poland is in pretty good shape,” Dinopoulos said.