MIFFLINTOWN — The Juniata County School District Board of Directors began interviewing candidates Wednesday to fill the Region 5 seat vacated by Director Ray Page earlier this month.

After interviewing three prospective candidates, the school board will appoint a new director to serve the remainder of Page’s term during its regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Page stepped down from serving Region 5, which represents Fermanagh Township, effective Jan. 2, 2026. The three candidates, each of whom would bring a unique perspective to the table, outlined their backgrounds and priorities during the workshop session.

Jennie Guilfoyle, who works in a neighboring school district, Dennis Peachey, who recently retired as the chief financial officer of Valley View Retirement Community in Belleville, and Mark Wagner, who also recently retired as an insurance manager, introduced themselves to the school board and answered a series of questions at the school board’s monthly workshop meeting at the administration building in Mifflintown.

All three graduated from Juniata High School and have children who are currently students or were educated there at some point.

When Guilfoyle heard the position was open, she decided to throw her name in the ring. “I really support public education, I work in public education and I believe in public education. I was looking for a way to get involved.”

When it comes to serving as a director, Guilfoyle understands that there can be difficult decisions that need to be made or decisions that the public might not agree with. “I think it’s important to listen,” she said. “(Controversy) is a huge component in everything I’ve done. Sometimes, it’s important just to collect information, listen and learn; it’s not always about getting the last word in.”

As far as working with the school budget, “student spending is important,” Guilfoyle said. “It’s why we are all here in the first place.”

She added that the aforementioned budget is one of the school board’s biggest challenges, along with having the support of the community. “My kids have received a great education so far, but it’s not the same opinion in the community.”

Peachey has spent his entire life in Juniata County and he and his siblings graduated from Juniata High School. His daughter is employed as a substitute teacher in the school district, and his two grandchildren also are students.

He decided to retire from Valley View about 18 months ago, and he believes that his financial background could be of service to the school board.

“I’ve seen over the last couple of years that it’s been hard to find individuals to serve in this capacity,” Peachey said. “Education is vitally important and it provides a good strong foundation whether they go to college or a trade school.”

When facing controversy, Peachey said it’s important “to be a person of honesty and integrity. The best spot to be is in the middle and find common ground. I deal well with controversy and conflict.”

As far as the budget is concerned, Peachey believes it’s important to continue to pay teachers well and be judicious of how to spend taxpayers’ money.

“It’s important to be fiscally sound,” he shared. “It’s difficult to hire competent, well-trained teachers.”

Peachey said he has served on a number of different boards previously, and he believes he can draw on those experiences.

Wagner is also a lifetime Juniata County resident and has two children who graduated from Juniata High School.

He also has previously served on the school board and was elected as president previously.

“It’s hard to get people to serve,” said Wagner, who resigned as board president regarding the closure of Lack-Tuscarora Elementary School in 2018. “I bring experience if you need that.”

In 2015, Wagner unseated Page, an incumbent at the time, for the same seat in the November general election that year.

As far as working with controversial issues, Wagner said it’s important to “go with policy or what’s written in the law first.” He understands that tax increases might be necessary because the district lacks sources of revenue. “There is no new income coming in,” Wagner cautioned.

All three candidates said they would use the remainder of the term to decide whether to seek a full four-year term in the next election, adding weight to the board’s Jan. 15 appointment.