PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — Chad Horner of Oliveburg announced his candidacy for the Punxsutawney Area School Board.
Horner was recently appointed to the board in September and is running to finish a two-year term following the resignation of board member Lisa Menetti.
Horner is a lifelong resident of the Punxsutawney Area School District and a 2001 graduate.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Human Resources from Clarion University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
He is employed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Regional Coordinator in Western and Central Pennsylvania and currently serves as Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party.
“I believe that recent events and difficult policy issues in school districts across the country necessitate finding candidates for school board who are experienced and have the highest standards of professionalism and temperament to work with our administration, parents and teachers,” Horner said.
He and his wife Jessica are parents to three children currently enrolled at the Punxsutawney Elementary School.
“As a father, I know that a person’s success in life is highly dependent on the experiences, skills and education they receive as students in our school system,” he said.
In his professional career, Horner has had the opportunity to work with federal, state, and local government agencies, and employers and non-profits. He is also a small business owner and understands the importance of balancing budgets, meeting deadlines, and finding solutions to difficult problems.
He believes in “transparency and fiscal responsibility and will be an advocate for parents, taxpayers, and our children.”
“With COVID money running out this coming year, our district will need to make some tough decisions on future budgets,” Horner said. We must find a balance that responsibly meets the needs of our district but is also sustainable to our taxpayers.”
Some of the things Horner plans to concentrate his efforts on as a member of the school board include “finding more ways to give students real-world and technical experiences and exploring new ideas for students to give back and be involved in their community. He will fight to preserve local control over state mandates and regulations and will push for greater academic opportunities and educational excellence for all students in the district.”
“Being a school board member can be a difficult job, but it can also be very rewarding,” Horner noted. “I am excited about the challenge and promise to do my best to make our taxpayers and community proud of our students, employees and administration.”
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7.
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