Five people are running for four open positions on Weatherly School Board. They are Barbara Sipler, Kenneth Jacoby III, Shay Mcgee, Suzanne Wentzler and Nancy Mulvaney. The Times News sent questionnaires to all candidates. Suzanne Wentzler responded.

Suzanne Hines Wentzler

Background: Licensed Practical Nurse for 25 years; on elected council in Beaver Meadows, for two 4-year terms, second term voluntarily vacated due to relocation out of the area; I co-run a meeting in town weekly for people dealing with issues of addiction as well as family members having a member with addiction. I have grown children of my own as well as two grandchildren who will attend WASD in the future.

Q: What are your three main goals if elected?

A: Promoting a more fiscally responsible atmosphere where parents/taxpayers have an understanding of where their tax dollars are being allocated with more transparency for the overall goal of the district’s sustainability in the future; both in person meeting attendance and Zoom in to accommodate all residents; bringing commonsense academic structure back to school from qualified staff which I believe has grossly been manipulated from state and federal overreach into the school system.

Q: How do you ensure financial stability without eliminating critical services for students?

A: Commonsense spending on the overall education of children instead of extreme expenditure of nonessential structural projects. Application and proper allocation of state and federal funding acquired in order for staff/students/parents alike to be used accordingly to fit the needs of all students both typical and special needs. Eliminating senseless spending where more practical, effective, less expensive means can be utilized that would promote, if not be more beneficial to educational needs of students.

Q: How can Weatherly actively rebuild its music and arts programs?

A: Music therapy is an important part of any educational environment for both typical and nontypical students. Just as important as having a physical library in school in conjunction with media centers. I would hope a united effort on the part of parents, staff and student involvement would lead to a culmination of financial resources from as many state and federally funded programs available in order to promote as minimal expense to parents and educators.