John Partenio is declaring his candidacy for Jim Thorpe School director.

He and his wife Josephine, of 47 years, are residents of Albrightsville, Penn Forest Township, for the past 20 years. They have three children, Christina, John and Janine; four grandchildren, Joseph, Jason, Tyler and Larissa.A concern for youth, Partenio has been a youth leader and Sunday School teacher and presently Senior Commander of the Royal Rangers at his church.Living in a township, Penn Forest, which has had a population explosion of 76.2 percent (2000 - 5439; 2010 - 9581), alongside Kidder township, which had a population increase of 63.3 percent (2000 - 1185; 2010 - 1935), while Jim Thorpe had 0.5 decrease decrease (2000 - 4804; 2010 - 4701), he states, "Yet while having the highest population we have no representation on our school board".Some issues of concern are taxes, budgeting to meet the needs of our children first, improvement in academic performance, curriculum transparency, health and safety, transportation, extra-curricular activities.