Six candidates are running for five seats on Jim Thorpe Area School Board. They are:

T.J. Garritano

Background: 1997 Jim Thorpe graduate, United States Air Force retired noncommissioned officer with multiple campaign medals, B.A.S. in management, and M.B.A. Married for 19 years with four children and all attend JTASD. Currently a program manager for a multibillion dollar international Department of Defense program.

Q: What are your top priorities if elected?

A: (1) Reduce the student to teacher ratio with an emphasis on K-3. (2) Update curriculum to match tomorrow’s educational needs. (3) Make counseling more available for students who are in need of emotional or mental support. (4) Update aging school & athletic facilities through corporate sponsorship. (5) Balance the budget and develop a five year financial road map to fund requirements.

Q: In the 2018-19 school year, the district used $3 million in reserve funds to balance its budget, and this year’s budget calls to use about the same amount. How would you reduce the ongoing budget deficit?

A: After reviewing the 2019-20 budget, I found ways to reduce while meeting the students/teachers/coaches requirements. First, reduce the wasteful spending by focusing on the students first. Second, look at business practices and assure efficiencies. Third, look at school supplies and look to get on a national contract versus stand-alone purchases. Fourth, cut utility costs by using newer technologies. Fifth, a projected budget five years in advance to fund the known requirements versus a year-to-year budget.

Cindy Lesisko Henning

Background: I have lived in the Jim Thorpe Area School District for my entire life, currently in Albrightsville with my husband, Guy and my youngest son. I graduated from JTAHS in 1982 and acquired two certifications from LCCC. I have two sons, Tyler, 24; and Logan, 19. I have been employed for over 35 years in the financial field. I specialize in audit, fraud detection, cost cutting, grant writing, project management, contracts and communications.

Q: What are your top priorities if elected?

A: Student and faculty safety is top priority and I will work to ensure safety is considered in every decision that I make and process we undertake; transparency — every person deserves accessibility to all public information; fiscal accountability — the bid process must be followed to avoid wasteful spending, rubber-stamping. Basic accounting principles must be enforced and we must work together to hire the most qualified person for any position. Q: In the 2018-19 school year, the district used $3 million in reserve funds to balance its budget, and this year’s budget calls to use about the same amount. How would you reduce the ongoing budget deficit?

Q: In the 2018-19 school year, the district used $3 million in reserve funds to balance its budget, and this year’s budget calls to use about the same amount. How would you reduce the ongoing budget deficit?

A: Prior year’s budgets were not followed; I will make sure an accurate budget is created/followed. We need to stop frivolous unneeded spending. I will stop the practice of paying benefits to ineligible recipients. We will work to collect all of our outstanding receivables that were not collected from Youth Services Agency (2014-2018) and the State/Federal Reduced Lunch program; in turn, these actions would balance our 2019-2020 budget.

Paul Montemuro

Background: 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.

Scott R. Pompa

Background: Born, raised and graduate of the Jim Thorpe Area School District. 28 years of leadership experience gained through employment in adult corrections and juvenile treatment. Former Union Leader with Teamsters Local 773, First appointed supervisor in the Carbon Corrections System, former building supervisor and department manager with Kidspeace Residential Treatment Programs. Married to Lisa Kattner, JTHS Class of ’82 with two children, Kristin and Zak currently enrolled in the JTASD.

Q: What are your top priorities if elected?

A: Education — to work collaboratively to reach a common goal focusing on educational needs, improvement of state testing scores while providing equal opportunities for all district 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 our district community will be held accountable to the district mission statement allowing all to share in the success.

Q: In the 2018-19 school year, the district used $3 million in reserve funds to balance its budget, and this year’s budget calls to use about the same amount. How would you reduce the ongoing budget deficit?

A: I intend to curb the overspending through the necessary oversight toward budgetary issues which allowed this deficit to take hold. Proper oversight of expenditures, cutting unnecessary spending, pursuing revenues entitled to the district, researching and obtaining grants would all benefit the district and if done correctly will reduce this deficit. Our district will not continue to spend more than it receives! A fiscal responsibility to our tax base is a must.

Pearl A. Downs-Sheckler

Background: 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 priorities if elected?

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

Benjamin Walbert III is also on the ballot. He did not respond to the questionnaire.