8 running for 4 seats on board

Eight candidates are seeking four seats on the Phoenixville Area School Board on Nov. 7. Two of them are incumbents.

Appearing on the Democratic ballot line will be Lori Broker, Christopher Caltagirone, Blake Emmanuel and Jeesely Soto.

Renee Pfender and Daniel Cushing, both incumbents, are on

the Republican line, along with Michael Eggleston and Ellen Marie Bahnsen.

Only three of the candidates responded to Digital First Media’s candidate questionnaire.

In her candidate response, Broker wrote she decided to run because “I have kids in the system and I recognize the opportunities this district has to join the ranks of the best. Our socio-economic diversity, our ethnic diversity, is our strength. We can become a shining model of what can be achieved, by children of all backgrounds and circumstances, by quality public education,” wrote Broker. “Our public schools bond our community and lay the groundwork for children to develop

civic virtues as well. As Jefferson recognized 250 years ago, public education is indispensable to a robust and thriving democracy.”

Broker, 46, is a “federal attorney of 20-plus years with wide-ranging knowledge that will help insure our costs stay low and performance high,” she wrote.

“For example, insuring vendor/builder contracts are competitively bid and free of cronyism that inflates costs, and written to allocate risk of cost overruns to contractor not taxpayer; insuring we are compliant with state and federal law reducing our exposure and costly lawsuits; reviewing the Pa. Education Code to identify state monies to which we are entitled, or grants for which we are eligible, but that we have not pursued -- to defray expense of state unfunded mandates; take advantage of new flexibility

in E.S.S.A. to update our curriculum to integrate S.T.E.M. from earliest grades.

If elected, Broker wrote her top priorities are “tapping grant money, cutting costs, improving quality. I want PASD on the vanguard of the S.T.E.A.M. movement. I want all our kids, whatever challenges they confront, to receive the individualized instruction necessary to nurture their innate talents and passions, and to be armed for success in the 21st Century economy.”

In his candidate response, Emmanuel, 35, wrote that he decided to run because of “concern for the direction of public education and the desire to ensure that all students have access to a meaningful education that will lead them to a path of success.”

Emmanuel is “currently serving on two board of directors, and currently working as a special education advocate in public education.

If elected, he wrote that his top priority is “to ensure that all students have a meaningful path towards whatever future is appropriate for them. Whether it is through college, tech/ trade school, or vocational training our students need to be provided an education that will ensure their success no matter what they chose to do.”

In her candidate response, Soto, 38, wrote “I have attended school board meetings the last few years as a parent and member of the community. I decided to run because I want to ensure

that our public education is protected. I am inspired by my son who has been a voice for students over the last two years by advocating for environmental causes as well as transportation concerns. As parents we teach our children to be passionate and vocal about the issues that matter the most to them. I will be that voice for our students, our teachers, and our community.”

An “accounting professional,” for a local property management company, Soto is also a board member and director of fundraising for the Peace Advocacy Network as well as a volunteer at several local non-profits in the area including Alianzas de Phoenixville and the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation.

Soto wrote that “our students are relying more on computers to complete

their school work. We need to assess that all children have access to technology. Not all children have equipment or broadband in their home. In school if a child needs transportation or lunch, it’s provided. If access to technology is required by the curriculum, we must find solutions to help those students without. PASD is one of the fastest growing school districts in our area. Even with the addition of the Phoenixville Area Early Learning Center and Manavon Elementary schools, overcrowding is still a concern. We need to ensure decisions being made are fiscally responsible. The needs of our students need to be put first by providing the tools necessary for our teachers to be successful.”

None of the other candidates submitted a response to the questionnaire.

Election Day is Nov. 7.