Election 2025: Roy Bant Jr. For Abington School Board

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Roy Bant Jr. is running for a seat on the Abington School Board in the Nov. 4 general election.

Bant is among the candidates seeking school director seats.

The candidates are Democrats Adrienne Fletcher, Yaasiyn Muhammed, and Angelique Frazier, and Republicans Roy Bant Jr., Joseph O'Brien, and Joseph J. Rooney. Brian Allen is running as a Democrat/Republican.

Biographical Information

• Name: Roy Bant Jr.
• Age: NA
• Town of Residence: Abington Township resident in current home for 21 years. Formerly lived in Rydal (formerly part of Abington School District, now Jenkintown) for most of child and teenage years.
• Position sought: Abington School Board Director
• Are you an incumbent? No
• What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Abington Township / Rockledge Borough
• Party Affiliation: I will not wave any party flags. I represent all taxpayers of Abington Township and Rockledge Borough.
• Family: NA
• Education: BA in Mechanical Engineering, Master's in Business (MDA) in International Business with a minor in Finance.
• Occupation: NA

Candidate Questions

1. How will the middle school approval impact the district?

We have a risky road ahead with limited funding for the new middle school. It was voted on, and the voters spoke. The project is a go. I accept this. $285 million may sound like enough, but it leaves little room for error. My taxes alone went up $87 per month with the present calculation, plus the other former increases. I am very concerned that mistakes will inevitably happen as they always do with these types of projects.

Proper management will need to be in place. I do not see this experience on the present Abington School Board, and their management to date of this project. In addition, their answers to my questions at school board meetings are not being answered.

I do not feel confident that there is enough experienced construction management, and
engineering management on the present school board, and the current township administration. I have been to board meetings and my questions on this project are not being answered to my satisfaction as a taxpayer, and as a taxpayer with no children going to school in the district. Answers are needed as we move forward, and the school board and township will be called to answer more difficult questions as the project progresses.

It is only going to get worse as a result of the lack of answers, and lack of proper management currently in place. I am asking questions that taxpayers are asking me, as I introduce myself to residents. Right now, as I see it, my questions (and other Abington tax payers) questions are not being answered. Maybe the wrong people answering, and more township employees need to be present at school board meetings. I want to be on the board to make sure taxpayers are represented properly, no more tax increases as a result of errors on this project.

The Abington School Board needs to be more in front of this project, and more in front as we move forward to breaking ground and the project itself. Taxpayers need to have more confidence in the board, and school administration.

2. What educational background will you bring to the position?

I have over 30 years of experience building large plants, and building/construction within the United States and internationally. My background is a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master's in Business (MDA) in International Business with a minor in Finance. I also spent 11 years pouring concrete for the family business. I have been a project manager for many years for similar projects. I’d like to help the Abington taxpayers with my experience.

3. What are the biggest challenges for the school district in the future?

Problems and delays happen, and students need to be in their classrooms. I am not convinced that the Abington School district has a Plan B in place if the school construction is late. Where will the students wind up?

In addition, my son is 23 years old and was faced with violence while attending the middle school. We as parents removed him and sent him to LaSalle High School to keep him safe when starting high school. The violence seems to be getting worse, especially in the high school. I will support all the necessary steps to stop the violence and keep our children safe. I am proud of our Abington Police Department and want to work more closely with them and the School District to come up with more creative ways to get violence out of schools. My son lived through it.