On Tuesday, the voters in Chestnuthill, Eldred, Polk and Ross townships will go to the polls and vote for five school board members. Three current members are running for re-election, current school board President Russell Gould, treasurer Charles Hoffman and board member Susan Kresge. Recently retired high school guidance counselor Donna Yozwiak and Polk Township resident Delbert Zacharias are also in the running.

Of the six candidates running for the five positions, all won the primary on both party tickets with the exceptions of Hoffman, who is running as a Republican and Yozwiak who is running as a Democrat.The candidates were asked to answer two questions regarding their experience and what they see as the most important issues facing the district.Candidates Steve Borger and Delbert Zacharias did not respond to our requests for information.What are you bringing to the office?Hoffman: I bring 22 years of on the job experience. I know the ropes and I know the procedures. Even after all these years I know we have done well, but we never get everything done we would like to. I have worked with five different superintendents and I think we have done a pretty good job.Kresge: Serving as a PV school board member for 18 years allows me to have a complete understanding of all aspects of our district. Attend the PA School Board Association's Annual Convention to learn from experts and other school board members. A desire to provide our students with a strong educational foundation that will carry them into the future. I care about the residents in our community and my desire to volunteer.Gould: Current school board president, 12 years as an elected school board member. Lifelong resident of the Pleasant Valley School District. Work as a farmer for Gould's Produce in Brodheadsville; this allows me to be available to listen to concerns from the community. Also a lifetime member of the West End Fire Company with 22 years of active volunteering.Yozwiak: I bring 38 years of educational experience to the office as I have taught AP English and journalism and yearbook for 20 years at Pleasant Valley. I next worked with Pleasant Valley students as their school counselor for 18 years, specializing in career and technical and special education areas. I hold M.Ed. in secondary counseling (Marywood University), M.S. in secondary education and communications (ESU), B.A. English and history (Wilkes University).What is your primary concern for the district?Hoffman: I am concerned about the high taxes in this area, I don't believe that the average family can stand them anymore. They keep promising they are going to do something about them but nothing is happening. We will keep pressuring the Legislature. It is our job to keep the level of education high while lowering the taxes.Kresge: Our continuous decline in student enrollment and the uncertainty of state funding we will receive. Constantly monitor our enrollment numbers so adjustments can be made when necessary; negotiate responsible employee contracts and continue to seek ways to decrease expenses. Our legislators need to approve a fair funding formula and bring the states level of funding up which will help alleviate some of the burden on our taxpaying residents.Gould: To keep our school district headed in the right, responsible and accountable direction by delivering a quality education to our students and keeping taxes stable.Yozwiak: Pleasant Valley School District must prepare its students for future careers. My continued support for career and technical and higher academic schooling remain key as my primary concerns. Eliminating unneeded toxic testing, which has dismantled creativity in the classroom, must occur. The business model, where teachers and students mutually look forward to coming into school daily to meet these challenges, also must develop as costs are balanced. An investment in education ALWAYS pays the best interest.About the candidates:Charles H. Hoffman, 81 years old and has lived in Monroe County his whole life. His parents were teachers in Chestnuthill. Hoffman graduated from Chestnuthill High School in 1952. Hoffman raised two children in the district, Mark Hoffman and Donna Swanger. He served his country in both Korea and Vietnam. Hoffman has held a number of jobs outside the military including driving a school bus for the Pleasant Valley School District. Hoffman has served on the school board for 22 years. He has held the position of president and vice president and currently serves as treasurer.Donna Yozwiak has been a resident of the Pleasant Valley School District since 1976. Residing in Saylorsburg, with her husband Larry, where they raised three children who are each PV alumni: Dr. Nathan Yozwiak, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Andrea Yozwiak, Saylorsburg; and Ali Yozwiak, Saylorsburg.Yozwiak volunteers at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Gilbert, and actively holds memberships on the Monroe County Career and Technical School Counseling Advisory Committee and the Diversified Occupations Operational Advisory Committee.Yozwiak enjoys traveling to national parks and beyond, gardening and hiking in her spare time.None of the other candidates provided bios with their responses.