Meet Easton School Board Candidate Matt Monahon

Editor's note: In the weeks leading up to the May 21 primary, we asked Easton area candidates to fill out questionnaires about themselves. This is how district judge hopeful responded.

Matt Monahon

Age: 34

Family:  Married with two children, one in first grade, the other in second grade

Political party affiliation: Democrat

Tell us about your educational background:  
B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina
Master of Business Administration from Wesleyan College

Tell us about your professional/business background:  
I have worked for the same company during my career.  My previous roles have included engineering, manufacturing, quality management, sales, and marketing.  My roles have typically been designed to allow me to find opportunities for improvement, implement them, and ensure long term success of those improvements.  I currently manage a portfolio of products for my employer with responsibility for market growth and profitability.  

Why are you running for the Easton Area School Board?
My oldest child has 10 more years, and my youngest 11 more years, in the school district.  I have a vested interest in their education, and in improving the School District which provides a large part of that education.

What qualifies you to serve on the board?  
My vested interest in providing a solid educating for my children, my background in business management, and my history of implementing efficiencies that providing lasting improvements.  

What do you see as the board's/ primary role and responsibilities?  

The board’s primary role is to provide an education for the children in the district, to work with the teachers, administrators, parents and others to ensure the best possible education is provided.  

Tell us about three major challenges facing the district and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):
- The budget: With the majority of the budget currently under contract, the board is in a tough spot.  The District needs all parties to come to the table to find the best solution, keeping the education of our children at the forefront of those discussions.  

- Educational programs: The District has done a good job of focusing on programs at the High School level to prepare our children for future opportunities like college, tech school, etc.  The District needs to focus more on programs at the Elementary and Middle School level so the children have the fundamentals necessary to be able to take advantage of the programs once they reach High School. 

- Planning for the future: Underlying the budget issues is the lack of a plan for the future of the district.  The board projected a few years ago that the District would be in the situation it is in now, but did not put a plan in place to address it. The key stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) need to develop a plan for what they want the District to look like 5 or even 10 years from now, and it should include short term and long term goals.  With a joint effort, and with a plan to get there, we can make this a better School District.   

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

So far I have spent $454.93.  I am funding my campaign.  

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

I have not sought, or been approached about, endorsements.

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Monahon-for-Easton-Area-School-Board-District-3/282360478561643?ref=hl#