Two Former Members Among Applicants for North Allegheny School Board Vacancy

(Editor's note: 14 residents submitted applications, but one candidate chose to withdraw his name.)

On Wednesday, the North Allegheny School Board will choose among 13 applicants to fill the vacancy left on the board by Beth Ludwig's resignation last month.

Two are former members; Karen Boujoukos and Alan Shuckrow. Another, Tracy McDonough, is a trustee of the North Allegheny Foundation. 

Several of the other candidates have addressed the school board over the years, over a variety of issues. 

Elliot Frank: Resident
What he told the NA School Board on April 20, 2011: his family chose to live in NA because of its reputation. He has no musical talent, but his children all participated in the NA music program. He wants the board to feel free to raise taxes because he is willing to pay for what his children get at NA.

Brigitte Savchik, resident.
What she told the NA School Board on Oct. 24, 2012: She is upset with legislators and the need for pension reform. She has called a number of legislators to let them know that this has to be fixed. She said when she spoke to someone from Gov. Tom Corbett’s office, the woman did not know the meaning of the acronym for the Public School Employees' Retirement System. It is a complicated issue, and she said she wanted to know if NA has a reserve fund to take care of this problem. Did NA know that paying at an artificially low rate was going to cause problems down the road? She said other districts prepared much better than NA.

Bill Dougherty, parent.
What he wrote to North Allegheny Patch: "I would appreciate the opportunity to serve on the NA Board. My background as both an educator and corporate manager provides the base to both understand and evaluate educational programs, plans and priorities. I appreciate the education NA had provided to my children and am looking for another way to contribute."

Dougherty also added an endorsement for another applicant, Patricia Bolster:
"Wisdom is common among retired executives, but few are blessed with energy and passion. It is these rare individuals we choose to lead our corporations and country. Pat Bolster is such an individual. Her experience as a financial executive will contribute during trying times ahead and her passion and energy are second to none. I hope you'll join me in supporting Pat for this position."

Christopher Disque, member of Save NA Schools
: “Let’s work to find lasting solutions and not Band-Aids to our budgetary problems.”

The remaining candidates are:

• R. Kevin Brown
• Robert Weiland
• Keith Miller
• Suzanne Bridges
• Timothy Herald

Beth Ludwig, a member of the board since 2001, resigned last month.

Ludwig said the discourse over the proposed closing of Peebles Elementary School had become too intense.

The individual who is selected will serve on the board until the first Monday of December, following the next municipal election.

The new board member will be selected by a public vote of the board following interviews at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in the board room of the district's central administration offices. The oath of office will be administered immediately following the vote of the board and acceptance of the candidate.  The new board member will assume his/her duties immediately.

Are you one of the candidates? Tell us why you are running either in the comments box below, or by emailing editor Richard.Cook@patch.com.

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