Measure the Candidates Night highlights few contested seats
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Editor's Note: This is the second of two stories focusing on the Mifflin County Farm Bureau's Measure the Candidates Night on Tuesday.
LEWISTOWN -- Much like the students he served in public education for nearly half a century, current Mifflin County School Board member E. Terry Styers does his homework when making a decision that affects the voters.
"I don't have all the answers, I never have," Styers said during the Mifflin County Farm Bureau's Measure the Candidates Night at Mifflin County High School Tuesday. "I listed, ask questions and try to make an informed decision that I believe in the long run is in the best interest of children.
"The future of Mifflin County sits in these classrooms every day," added Styers, who has been a resident of Mifflin County for the past 35 years and has four grandchildren in the Mifflin County School District. "As a board member, we need to keep the child at the forefront of our decision-making, not preparing our children for their next challenge. We, as a community, have an obligation to promote and develop citizenship and support that as a common goal."
That was Styers speaking from the heart, as an administrator, educator, father and neighbor. He didn't point fingers, speak in circles or was confident in his beliefs and answers.
The school board race is the only truly contested race in the upcoming election as eight candidates are vying for five seats on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Styers, who is seeking a third term, was the only one of the five incumbents to appear at the event, as Fredrick D. Nickel, Mary Lou M. Sigler and Noah D. Wise were absent. Current school board member Michael D. Mowery is not seeking re-election.
The election will take place within two weeks of the current board voting to approve the Husky Multi-Sports Complex by a 6-3 margin on Thursday night.
Many of the audience questions to Styers and candidate Paula R. Dickson focused on the stadium vote.
They were asked how the school board would incur the price tag of an $18 million stadium complex with the rising costs of teacher salaries and bus transportation - with new contracts coming up - as well as an expansion project at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology in Lewistown, especially with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funding ending. The school district used those funds to pay teacher salaries, according to the moderator's question.
Styers said, "I have a lot of confidence in our superintendent, our administration team as well as in our chief financial officer ... They have assured me that there is no better time than the present to pursue this athletic project."
He also called the facilities "long overdue" as he was shown blueprints for a new fieldhouse and practice facility for Lewistown football in 1988 when he was hired as coach.
Styers reminded voters that there have been exactly seven tax increases over the past 24 years. He blamed a lack of state funding as the source of districts' financial struggles.
"There's nobody likes taxes, but the reality of it is this our legislators in Harrisburg for many years failed to fund public education according to the Pennsylvania Constitution ... now they've got to fix that."
He added legislators have also ignored cyber-charter school funding.
Dickson also doesn't see how others can make the numbers work, "That's a very good question. And one that when I've been attending (school board) meetings, I've tried to focus on paying attention and figure out how they're going to do it.
Dickson added, "I will admit I'm not very good with the numbers and following it. When they talk about the budget, I try to pay attention to that, and I go home I try to get back on and go over the numbers. I'm trying to figure it out myself. I feel like they talk in circles, so I don't really understand it because it's very confusing."
Dickson said the school board must be fiscally responsible.
Dickson, the mother of three athletes, doesn't support the stadium because of the cost. "The idea of it is great. I think it's a beautiful facility. I think that it would be great. I would love to see it here. I would love my children to be able to play on it. I cannot get on board with the cost of it, if down the road we would have to pay the cost of it. I will never be on board with a tax increase," she explained.
Although school district administrators have said the stadium project won't mean increased taxes, Dickson wasn't so certain. "We don't know two years down the road if we will," she said. "We have no idea of what's to come. I think it's just a little bit irresponsible right now because there are so many unknowns."
Styers again expressed having the utmost confidence in the abilities of the current administration, led by Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner and Chief Financial Officer Melinda Kenepp. "I'm going to follow their lead," he explained.
Dickson never had an intention of running for school board, but she felt like students, teachers and parents weren't being heard. "I might not be the most qualified person," she explained.
"I want to be a voice for students, parents and teachers that feel they don't have a voice. I want a better education for our children. We should not be seeing low test scores year after year. We should not have fifth-graders reading at a third-grade level."
When Styers and Dickson were asked if they believed the identities of all donors for the stadium project should be made public, neither had strong feelings.
"I'm comfortable either way," Styers said. Dickson called it a "personal choice" for each donor and added, "It doesn't matter. I don't really think it's necessary for them to be made known."
With the stadium project plans being finalized with male, female and family restrooms, the candidates were asked if they supported accommodations - restrooms and locker rooms - for male, female and transgendered individuals.
Styers said, "There will be accommodations that will be provided for that facility within the law as to what we are required to do."
Dickson answered, "If it were up to me, there would be male and female. There's only two genders."
When asked about their support if mask and vaccine mandates returned in the future, Styers referred to the Health and Safety Plan that was passed last year that made wearing masks optional and would also seek advice from legal and medical experts. Dickson said, "absolutely not."
Styers believes it's permissible for board members to attend meetings remotely "as long as they're participating and providing input whether they're there in person or in Zoom, it doesn't matter to me. They're making a contribution." He added it would also depend on individual circumstances.
Dickson felt members should be required to attend in-person, stating, with executive sessions "there could be compromise" because it would be difficult to know who was in the room if someone was attending remotely.
Candidates Zeb Harshbarger, Danica A. Laub and Dianne Shearer are also on the ballot, but did not attend the event.
COMMISSIONERS
With current Commissioner Mark Sunderland not seeking re-election, the three candidates on the ballot -- Democrat Kevin P. Kodish and Republicans Robert P. Postal and Noah D. Wise - are expected to be elected to four-year terms.
If Wise is elected to both commissioners and school board, he would have to choose between the two. He did not attend the event.
Born and raised in Mifflin County, Kodish is finishing his third term as commissioner. He talked about the county bridge project, which has assisted municipalities with 90 percent of the repair costs; and restructuring county departments, reducing operating costs and better operational efficiencies.
"Today our county is in a very solid financial position," Kodish said. "We have paid down a majority of the existing debt service and the future looks bright.
"We must build on what we have recently accomplished and position ourselves to take advantage of any new opportunities for improvement," he added.
Kodish also credited the commitment of large and small businesses alike as the source of Mifflin County's economic growth. From major employers like Geisinger whose new nursing school will continue to revitalize the downtown to the Mifflin County School District which produces graduates who become doctors and nurses, teachers and lawyers.
"We have quality elements of life here that are worth preserving and enhancing," he added. "We must protect the farmlands, parks, trees and open spaces while also being a key part of creating new employment and workforce development opportunities for our citizens."
Postal agreed the county is financially stable and touted the commissioners' efforts in saving almost $1 million. "Most importantly, that's not savings for one year. Those savings are going to go on year after year," he explained.
He added there's more work to be done.
Postal added, "I personally believe that government is like a business with assets and liabilities. I think we use our assets wisely. I think we limit our short- and long-term liabilities because after all the executives - the commissioners - spend your money. Every day, the commissioners focus their attention on how to more efficiently and effectively manage the county for your benefit, and all those that live in Mifflin County."