Pro-consolidation school board candidates sought in Fayette County
I’m looking for five school board candidates in each of Fayette County’ six public school districts who are willing to run as a team in the May 21 primary election, pledging that if elected as a majority, they’ll vote to create a countywide school system.
If they’re willing to sign that pledge and work together, we’ll help those 30 agents of change get on the ballot and promote their candidacies as an alternative to the current system, which has failed students and taxpayers.聽
Seniors and working people who struggle to make ends meet deserve a real choice: Do they want to keep seeing their property taxes go up and up, which is guaranteed by the current education system? Or do they want to save $56 million a year by eliminating duplication, as was projected by the countywide model I promoted during my tenure as a state representative?
Students and parents also deserve a choice: Do they favor the status quo, under which Fayette County public schools shamefully remain near the bottom of the barrel in terms of overall measures of academic performance? Or do they want to try a different approach, with a single administration to set the standards and the create more accountability?
We all know that one of the big reasons people traditionally run for school board in Fayette County is to get their relatives or friends hired or promoted within the school system. That’s pretty much been an open secret for decades — and it’s still going on. The mere mention of banning nepotism in hiring is likely to generate much mumbling among the vast majority of current school board members — and perhaps cause a fainting spell or two.
That’s because they know the system as currently configured creates fiefdoms under their direct control. And the more jobs and contracts that can be created and maintained in that fiefdom, the more relatives, friends and businesses that can be rewarded. Forever locked in that mindset, they see no need to change the system or run it most efficiently and effectively.
We’ve seen precipitous drops in student enrollment over the past few decades — some falling close to 50 percent — but not even one school district has seriously considered consolidating with a neighboring district as an idea worth exploring. Instead of Giving up control, they’d rather keep raising taxes and providing an inferior education product.
This is why we need to present the public with a clear alternative on May 21. The people who complained to me about high school taxes a decade ago are still complaining about them. Weak overall academic performance still plagues most of our school districts, our employers say they can’t find quality workers, yet everyone in charge keeps embracing the same old education model.
We need one school superintendent, not six. We need one school board comprised of seven members — one elected from each district, plus one elected at large — not six boards with 54 members. We need one transportation office, one business manager’s office, one athletic director — and one of everything else.
It’s time for a real change. If you want to be a candidate in this crusade and live in the Albert Gallatin Area, Brownsville Area, Connellsville Area, Frazier, Laurel Highlands or Uniontown Area school districts, call me at 724-425-2225 and let’s get started.
Timothy S. Mahoney is a resident of South Union Township and former state representative for the聽51st Legislative District.