Nine people are running for five four-year nominations for seats on the Jim Thorpe Area School District Board of Education. All of them are cross-filed, meaning they appear as candidates on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Richard Flacco

Background: Early days were spent in Southeastern PA, moved to the Jim Thorpe School District in 1973 to teach industrial arts. My college years were spent at PSU undergrad and graduate school. I also went to Marywood and Wilkes for graduate school. I coached seven years of wrestling at Jim Thorpe High School. During the time at Jim Thorpe, the industrial arts programed transformed into the technology program, with STEM and STEAM components built into the program.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: Top of the list would be books to read, paper to write and safety for all. Every program should be looked for needs.

Thomas “TJ” Garritano

Background: 1997 Jim Thorpe Grad, entered the United States Air Force in 1998 and retired from the Air National Guard in 2019. Served two tours in Afghanistan, one tour in Iraq, and one tour in Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch. Achieved an associate of science in aircraft armament systems, Bachelor of Science in management, and Master of Business Administration. Currently, Program Director for an international business development program for the Department of Defense.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: 1. Balance the school budget by conducting a bottoms up approach. This will allow for mandatory requirements funded first versus setting a budget number and exceeding it. Eliminate the unnecessary spending.

2. Classroom size needs to shrink in the K-3 grades resulting in greater educational success as the child moves on.

3. Curriculum needs to be updated to match tomorrow’s needs versus yesterday’s needs.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: All Jim Thorpe Schools have a robust enter and exit process. To ensure safety in the beginning and end of school a police presence could be used as a show of force and deterrent; doing this also promotes community building with local law enforcement.

Offering students assistance when struggling with vast issues through a mental health specialist can also prevent incidents from escalating.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: Bottoms-up approach budgeting to review every requirement and how each requirement can be funded. Some requirements will slip into the out fiscal years. A 5-year road map must be created to allow the district to understand out year requirements instead of scrambling year to year.

A plan will allow every department to plan for the next 5 years, updating every year. This allows teachers to plan for curriculum and projects, ultimately benefiting the students.

Cindy Lesisko Henning

Background/bio: Lived in the Jim Thorpe School District my entire life, currently residing in Albrightsville with my fiance, Guy. 1982 graduate of JTHS, and acquired two certificates from LCCC. Mother of two: Tyler, 24, graduated from CCTI, and Logan, 19, graduate of JTHS. Employed for 35 years in general ledger accounting in municipal, medical, corporate and nonprofit settings; specializing in auditing, cost-cutting, grant writing, A/P, A/R, project management, contracts and communication.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: Student and faculty safety is number one. Other priorities:

1. 5-10 Year Plan to focus short term and long term on the needs of our students, teachers, and district in order to control and align with our budget.

2. Transparency: User-friendly website, livestream meetings and provide community outreach, such as a Citizens Advisory Committee.

3. Fiscal Accountability: Review each invoice and contract, following the bid process, avoiding wasteful spending, rubber-stamping and enforcing basic accounting principles.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: Ensuring the safety and security of our students and teachers is the utmost responsibility of our district. We need to continually evaluate our security policy and procedures, and remove any red tape to change what is needed immediately. I would request that we have experts come in on a regular basis to perform inspections and evaluations of our buildings and grounds to ensure we are being as safe as possible and not second-guess them.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: Approximately 70-75% of the district’s revenue comes from the local taxpayer. Our spending per student is the highest in the area; however, our test scores are not.

With proactive cutting of wasteful spending, following bid and contract guidelines and holding to standard accounting principles the district will be fiscally solvent and will be able to provide quality education.

Being proactive cost less than being reactive, that is why a 5-10 year plan is so important.

Paul Montemuro

Background/bio: I have 15 years of experience managing my own businesses and six years of experience as an elected Penn Forest Township supervisor, roadmaster, transfer station supervisor and chairman of the board. During that time I was able to change the financial status of the township from $650,000 deficit to an $8 million surplus. This was accomplished through careful research and economical choices to avoid wasteful spending of tax payers money.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: My first priority is to help the kids get higher test scores, my second would be identifying all wasteful spending on the district expenditures and giving the teachers the proper tools to help educate our kids. The third would be listening to the public to see what their concerns are and trying to correct multiple problems.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: I think we should have metal detectors installed along with random locker checks to make sure that the kids see that we are policing the school.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: The final question would be to the board because they think they are entitled to certain things that are not either ethical or legal to do: for example upgrading their airline tickets to first class, taking limo rides, using the credit card for meals. Balancing the budget will be so much easier once we get rid of all this wasteful spending and entitlements, then we can figure out where we stand to balance the budget. Once we figure out how much money we actually have, then we can figure out how to help the teachers to educate our students to achieve higher test scores instead of lowering the bar.

Scott R. Pompa

Background/bio: Scott R. Pompa is a lifelong resident of the Jim Thorpe Area School District who has 28 years of leadership experience in adult corrections and juvenile treatment. Previously a supervisor in the Carbon Prison System and later a department manager with a juvenile treatment facility. Pompa has extensive experience in problem solving, contract negotiations, developing policy, interviewing and working in team environments that have enhanced overall operations with positive outcomes.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: Education: I will work collaboratively with the district community to reach a common goal focusing on educational needs, improvement of state testing scores and equal opportunities for all students.

Oversight: I commit to be a watchdog for improvements that enhance our district community through proper oversight of all district business.

Accountability: Administrators, educators, students and community members will be held accountable to the district mission statement while enjoying the opportunity to share the success.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: I will COMMIT to student security which will ensure and prioritize safety of our pupils through constant review of current practice and performance while seeking improvements from the security team. Continuously communicating with the district community for feedback, suggestions and understanding of all roles in crisis situations. Constantly looking for the cutting-edge development and implementation of procedures which have been utilized and prioritized with successful outcomes for the safety and security of students worldwide.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: My commitment to balance quality education while maintaining a responsible tax base would be through the strengthened oversight of fiscal responsibility within the district. We need to provide the best education available for our students while remaining committed to our investors. Frugal spending prioritized, travel, transportation costs, wasteful spending, and capital improvements will be reviewed. Seeking of grants and communication with legislation in Harrisburg could enhance revenue. Oversight is paramount to achieving this goal.

Wilmer P. Redline Jr.

Background: Graduate of Jim Thorpe Area School District. Married with two children, both graduates of Jim Thorpe.

Retired welder with 50-plus years of experience, worked at Bethlehem Steel and Air Products & Chemicals. Completing 2-year term as JTASD board member, serving on Carbon County Career & Technical Authority and Lehigh Carbon Community College boards. Involved with the Jim Thorpe Area Sports Hall of Fame for over 20 years and serve as vice president.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: 1. Improve student education, keep our curriculum a top priority; 2. hire best candidates; 3. stop wasteful spending while maintaining accountability. We must ensure that the best financial decisions are being made and shared with the board. This cannot be a once a year review but a continuous review. We are here first for the children but must remember the taxpayers who have elected and entrusted us.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: I chair the Transportation & Security Committee. We cannot put a price on keeping our students, and staff as well, safe. We are continuously on the cutting edge of security. I give all the credit to our administration, staff, Jim Thorpe Police Department, and Carbon County Emergency Management Agency for their diligence in training for all crisis situations. The new state mandated “Safe to Say” provides “hotline” notification well in advance of any impending crisis.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: First and foremost, I am not in agreement of cutting any educational programs for our students. We are here for the students! We must be sure that all of their educational needs are being met. We need to make the best possible financial decisions and be accountable for each and every one while always keeping the taxpayers in mind.

Robert Schaninger

Background/bio: Married with two children and three great granddaughters. I am a PIAA official, IAABO official, a member of the JT Lions, JT Rotary, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, JT Legion, Catholic War Veterans and the VFW. I am a previous school board director. I negotiated four-day workweek during the summer, saving the district $60,000 a year, helped change medical insurance, saving considerable more. Negotiated contracts for Act 93s, teachers, custodians, cooks, aids and secretaries.

Q: What are your top three priorities if elected?

A: Preparing lifelong learning with modern technology such as computers. Budget planning for the future. Support academics and improve test scores and implement a more diverse curriculum.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: We have a top-notch security system in place now. However, we should maintain what we have and keep at it, while searching for new ideas that develop.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: I would balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education for the students by reviewing the programs for the student which provides the best needs for that student, and in doing so through the budgetary process.

Pearl A. Downs Sheckler

Background/bio: I am a lifetime resident where I live with my husband along with two children and two grandchildren. I am a branch manager of Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

Q: What are you top three priorities if elected?

A: To give the students the best education possible, without making a tax burden to the district people.

Q: What still needs to be done to ensure student security?

A: Currently, JTSD will have police in the buildings. We are looking at door-locking devices.

Q: How would you balance the need for fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer with providing a quality education to the students?

A: You need to make quality decisions.

John P. Ciavarella Jr., currently a member of the school board, did not respond to the questionnaire.