Four positions are open on Palmerton Area School Board. Five candidates appear on that Republican ballot: Michael George and incumbents Earl Paules, Danielle Paules, Erin Snyder and Stacey Connell. George is the lone candidate to have crossfiled petitions and appears as the only Democratic candidate.

The Times News asked candidates several questions. Here are their replies:

Candidates’ background

Stacey Connell: I am a proud mother of three children, a doctoral prepared nurse practitioner focusing on family practice, currently employed by St. Luke’s Palmerton Primary Care and am the vice president of the Palmerton Concourse Club. My husband and I are married 23 years and Palmerton has been my home since we married. I take great pride in my community and enjoy volunteering in various roles.

Michael George: A Palmerton Area School District graduate, I lived in and around Philadelphia for many years before returning to my childhood home in Towamensing Township to be near my family and enjoy my nieces and nephews (all PASD students) as they grow. I’m familiar with serving community as my parents, Rodney and Dolores, served as township supervisor and school board member for many years. I enjoy community events, recently joining the board of Raising the House.

Danielle Paules: I’m running for my second term on the Palmerton Area School Board. Both of my daughters grew up in Palmerton and graduated from the district. I’ve seen firsthand the impact our schools have on students and families. Serving on the board has been a rewarding experience, what I enjoy most is supporting our students at events. Being present and involved in their achievements, both inside and outside the classroom, is an honor and a privilege.

Earl Paules: I have been a Palmerton resident for 59 years. I was born and raised in Kunkletown and I graduated from Palmerton Area High School. My mother, MaryLou Ritter, is also an alumni of Palmerton. For the last 27 years, I started and ran my own business, Paules Metal Works in Palmerton. My wife, Danielle Paules, is also running for her second term. I also have two stepdaughters that were raised in and graduated from Palmerton.

Erin Snyder: I’m a proud mom of two Palmerton graduates, a wife, and a longtime community member. I help my husband run a successful local business and understand the importance of hard work, responsibility, and family values. I’m committed to supporting our schools, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and putting students first

What should the board’s approach be to maintaining a healthy fund balance versus using those funds to reduce the need for tax increases?

Connell: As a school board, we must always be looking towards the future. There must be a measure of balance as to the necessary updates, maintenance and projects that improve education for our students and the degree of tax increases that are applied to the community. I feel the current board, of which I am a member, works well with our administration team to have all information during decision making processes.

George: As with our own checkbooks, balancing spending with saving is never easy. School boards need to justify spending taxpayer’s money by insuring we get the greatest impact for our dollars spent. Maintaining a healthy reserve is important should we have something unexpected arise. Spending that reserve needs to be justified because raising taxes is hard on all of our residents.

Danielle Paules: The board should proactively save enough money to keep the district financially healthy and prepared for emergencies, while also being careful about when and how to use that money to avoid raising taxes. We typically have enough money in our fund balance for three months’ worth of bills. It’s also extremely important to plan for the future to avoid creating problems down the road. Palmerton is extremely fortunate to have a really upstanding business manager.

Earl Paules: The board should maintain a minimum fund balance equal to three months of operating expenses, it’s just like a personal emergency fund. This proved vital during the state budget impasses, when reserves helped us avoid costly loans that burdened other districts. However, excess reserves beyond 3-4 months should have a clear, publicly discussed purpose. As stewards of taxpayers money, the board must ensure funds are used responsibly-not stockpiled without justification.

Snyder: The board should keep a healthy fund balance to make sure the district can handle emergencies and stay financially stable. At the same time, it’s OK to use some of those funds to help avoid or reduce tax increases — but only for short-term needs or onetime costs, not for everyday expenses. The goal is to find a smart balance that protects the district’s future while being fair to taxpayers.

How will you support continued student growth, particularly as measured by state assessment tests?

Connell: In order to support student growth, we must continue to support our teachers and their needs within the classroom. As school board directors, we rely on the administration team to communicate with us the important information regarding testing and curriculum. We work together as a team to best serve the students and teachers of our district.

George: Our students need and deserve to have the best education we can provide. They need to have the same opportunities as students in other communities. We need to continue partnering with local community colleges, etc., to be sure every student gets exposed to opportunity and can realize their potential. Simply because we’ve never done it is no reason to not try it. Teaching to a standardized test isn’t a perfect measure; all students learn differently.

Danielle Paules: I think that student growth is so important. It’s vital to look at test scores to identify where students may be struggling and what areas possibly need improvement. We’re in the process of making sure all teachers have the same tools and training, as well as, making sure the curriculum is aligned with the state standards. My goal is to make sure every student has a fair chance to grow and succeed at Palmerton.

Earl Paules: I am committed to supporting continued student growth, especially by looking at how students perform on state tests. I believe in using the data to make smart decisions that help improve the outcome for all students. We need to focus on early help for struggling students, and get them extra help they need. My main focus will be on responsibility, fairness, and giving teachers and students the tools they need to be successful.

Snyder: I will support student growth by focusing on strong teaching, using test data to find where students need help, and making sure we stick to high academic standards. I’ll support teachers with good training and tools, push for proven programs that improve learning, and encourage parents to be involved. It’s about making sure every student gets what they need to succeed.

How will you balance the increasing costs of facility maintenance with the financial impact on taxpayers?

Connell: Palmerton has a large proportion of individuals on a fixed income that can be negatively impacted with even a small increase in taxes. Being mindful of this, during decision making processes is paramount.

George: Our facilities are a large part of our budget. Maintaining them is important to the safety of our students, faculty/staff and community, Spending to maintain facilities is never a cheap endeavor, however, ignoring our buildings/grounds would be ignoring our investment. As with most budget items, we need to make smart decisions and justify our spending with the result we get. A small leak repaired now is less costly than replacing a flooded room.

Danielle Paules: As maintenance costs continue to rise, our current board has been committed to making smart and responsible decisions that protect our taxpayers and facilities. It’s essential that we’re always looking for cost-saving measures to improve efficiency and reduce waste. We’re currently in the process of making sure our schools are safe for our students. We made S.S. Palmer safer, and our next plan is making the Senior High School and Parkside safer.

Earl Paules: I’m on the building and grounds committee, this is one of the places we can save money. I’m always looking for ways to save the taxpayers money with projects. I would start by prioritizing maintenance that ensures safety and prevents costly repairs later, while seeking grants and energy-efficient upgrades to reduce long term expenses. Open communication with the community is key — balancing the needs with transparency to ensure we’re responsible with all the taxpayers dollars.

Snyder: To balance growing maintenance costs with the impact on taxpayers, I’d focus on planning ahead and spending money wisely. We should fix things before they break and cost more, look for outside funding to help pay for projects, and choose repairs that give the most benefit for the cost. Most importantly, I’d keep the community informed so people know where their tax dollars are going and why.

If elected, what will your top priorities be?

Connell: My top priority is to continue to foster a positive working environment within the board itself. Effective communication, by listening to various points of view and considering all options and opinions allows for best outcomes for the district.

George: More families than ever are using alternative school options; taking their children out of the district to learn. This causes declining enrollment, leaving the district with less funds to cover the remaining students as a larger portion is being paid to other areas to cover those departing students. I’d like to understand why parents are choosing to take their students out of the district. I’d like to continue strengthening the relationship with CCTI and LCCC.

Danielle Paules: My top priorities will include helping students succeed by making sure they have the support and resources they need. I will work to make sure our budget is used effectively to support student learning and that spending decisions are made with transparency and community involvement. I believe that it is important to listen to the voices of parents, students and community members to ensure our schools reflect the values and needs of our town

Earl Paules: In my third term as a Palmerton School Board director, my top priority will be finding effective ways to bring our students back to our schools and strengthen our community. Equally important is addressing bullying, every student deserves to feel safe at school. When students feel secure and safe, they can truly focus on learning, personal growth and achieving success.

Snyder: If elected, my top priorities will be improving student achievement, supporting teachers and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. I’ll focus on keeping high academic standards, making sure our schools are safe and well-maintained, and ensuring budgets are used wisely. I’ll also work to strengthen communication with parents and the community so everyone feels informed and involved.