Forest Hills Councilman Running for School Board

Mike Belmonte is running for Woodland Hills School Board in the upcoming primary in an effort to help others see the positive side of the district while at the same time, driving that change forward.

A Forest Hills councilman for the last 10 years, Belmonte, who has lived there since 1986, said he has the municipal skills and know-how when it comes to getting real work done. With a daughter at Woodland Hills Junior High and three other children who have graduated from the school district, Belmonte also says he has a vested interest in the future of his community’s schools.

“I think educating children is the most important thing we do and the future of our Woodland Hills’ communities depends on how well we do this,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte has worked as a sales representative for Pittsburgh Paper Products Company, Inc. for 21 years. He received his degree from Westminster College in New Wilmington in 1979.

In terms of the issues facing the school district today, Belmonte said the first is changing the public perception of Woodland Hills.

“I think we have the curriculum and programs in place, but people don’t see the good in the district,” Belmonte said. “The focus tends to be on what has been negative and we need to change that perception.”

Belmonte said he would take action on that issue by finding new ways to increase involvement at all levels.

“I think a key part of that is to increase involvement on the part of not only the parents, but empty nesters, 20-somethings and people of all walks of life, getting them involved in tutoring, mentoring and programs like that,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte is interested in staring a “Plus One” program in the district as well, which would require students to be involved in at least one school activity, whether it is a sports team or academic club.

While the school district is currently facing a financial crisis in the midst of the recent proposed state budget cuts by Gov. Tom Corbett, Belmonte said the school board must do everything in its power to prevent the impact of the cuts on education in the classroom.

“The criteria would have to be we have to do certain measures and alleviating the impact on the educational process as much as possible and saving as many jobs as possible,” Belmonte said.

The candidate said his experience and community involvement in the school district prepares him for a seat on the school board. Belmonte helped to start Woodland Hills Little League, was on a community committee to help re-district the regions in the school district, which is changing the way directors are elected, and also has had a hand in connecting the Woodland Hills community municipal councils to get together to collaborate on issues. He also volunteers with the Woodland Hills Foundation.

“A big challenge is you have 12 communities in the district and the tendency there is to have ‘silo thinking’ – everyone wants what is best for their community, but Woodland Hills is a community. A lot of our councils and leaders understand that and want to see that improvement as much as anybody. I see a lot of hard working going on in all the councils.”

Belmonte said it is important for the school board to work as a positive force across all 12 of those councils.

‘What I would really like to see on school board is a cohesion,” Belmonte said. “I would like to see that group of nine to send a message to the communities that we are going to turn this around and good things are happening.”