Mary Lou Sigler

LEWISTOWN — Mary Lou M. Sigler, a lifelong educator with instructional, supervisory and administrative experience, K-University, and 12 years’ experience as a school director, has announced her candidacy for the Mifflin County School District Board of Directors.

During her previous 12 years as an elected school director, Sigler says she has focused on ensuring the district would offer the best quality education possible in a safe environment, considering the taxpayers and our local tax base.

In a news release, she stated she understands the need for state and federal resources to help cover the costs of effective, essential and excellent educational opportunities for students. Additionally, she said she understands the need to pursue grant opportunities and other funding sources and the need to recruit the best staff possible.

“Financing the school district has as much to do with common sense as it has to do with tax dollars. As my voting record proves, I have never supported wasting tax dollars; I have always been fiscally responsible,” she said.

“If fortunate enough to be elected to the Board of Directors, I pledge continued support for the Academy students to have access to the same opportunities available to traditional high school students; continued emphasis on safe schools with ample numbers of dedicated and professional school resource officers, who also help to gain students’ respect for the police; continued emphasis on curriculum opportunities to address the needs of all students; continued support for excellence in education; continued fairness to all students, parents, staff and taxpayers, while listening to all ideas and studying all available facts before making decisions; and continued common sense solutions.”

“One of the last important decisions that I made before exiting the Board in November 2023, was to ensure that the Mifflin County School District Athletic Complex moved forward. Had the votes been there to support the motion that was made to table the project decision until December 2023, the district faced losing millions of dollars in grants and pledges, as well as the respect of those businesses and individuals who had pledged significant sums of money for the project. The effect on the district, the students, and the community would have been devastating for years to come.”

“When the Complex was first suggested, several years ago, I was skeptical. Knowing the fiscal realities of Mifflin County, I feared that both academic and academy education could be adversely affected. As time went on and I continued to learn more and more about the abilities of those who so kindly and generously gave of their time to raise millions of dollars for the Complex, I knew that this was the time to rectify the conditions that our students, both in sports and in the band, and our coaches and band director had had to endure for many years. The decision to go ahead with the Sports Complex was a common sense decision, the best decision for the students and, due to the fundraising results and grants, for the taxpayers as well. Also, given the opportunities for the economy of Mifflin County to improve due to the Complex, it was the best decision for the entire Mifflin County community, the community in which I grew up, where I had received an excellent education, and where I have always attempted to improve educational opportunities for all students while maintaining a safe school environment.”

“I appreciate your support and humbly ask voters to cast your vote for me in the May 20 Primary. Please vote for me for both the 4-year term and the 2-year term. Many Republicans, as well as Democrats, have urged me to run. My name will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots because I believe that students’ needs are above politics. Common sense decision-making requires listening to all sides, understanding all available facts and fiscal realities, and making the best decisions for all students to be successful in life.”