In Parkland, 11 running for 6 seats in race that could swing school board direction
In the Parkland School District, six seats are up for election on Nov. 7 on the nine-member board, a number that, depending on the outcome, could swing the board’s direction on issues.
Five of the seats are for four-year terms while the sixth is for the two years that will be left on a seat that was held by Republican Jarrett Coleman, who was elected to the state Senate in the 16th District in November 2022.
The race attracted 14 candidates for the May 16 primary but, due to crossfiling, only resulted in the defeat of three candidates, one of whom was incumbent Republican Patrick Foose, who in July began working for Coleman as a constituent relations specialist.
Seeking four-year terms are incumbent Republicans Carol Facchiano and Lisa Roth, incumbent Democrats Jay Rohatgi and Marisa Ziegler and newcomer Democrat Christopher Pirrotta. They were the May 16 Democratic ballot winners
Also running for four-year terms are Republicans Michael Deering, Beth Finch, Natalie Janotka, Bobby Lanyon and George Rivera, none of whom have served in elected office. They were the May 16 Republican ballot winners.
Rohatgi also received the Democratic nomination for a two-year term and will face Republican Mike Millo.
Facchiano, Pirrotta, Rohatgi, Roth and Ziegler and running under the slogan Proud of Parkland. A campaign graphic says the group stands for demonstrated, accountable tax stewardship; proven unbiased leadership; upholding excellence in education; empowering all students, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
The slate also has worked to dispel allegations that Parkland is falling academically, posting a graphic on Facebook showing that 77% of students were proficient or above in language arts, 70% in math and 88% in science in 2022 – percentages that were at least 20 points higher than the state average.
The group also points out that Parkand has the lowest property tax rate in Lehigh County.
Proud of Parkland is supported by Concerned Parents of Parkland, which said it “opposes candidates who promote chaos via policies that are not in the best interest of ALL of today’s Parkland students and believe these candidates are trying to undermine the quality of a Parkland education.”
Deering, Finch, Janotka, Lanyon, Rivera and Millo are running under the motto Education First for Parkland. During the primary, it used the slogan Elevating Excellence in Parkland. The Republican slate’s website says it wants to elevate education, not taxes; increase transparency in curriculum and policy, and increase parent involvement.
The group is among three school board slates that have the backing of the Lehigh County Republican Committee. The others are the East Penn Your Voice on the Board and Southern Lehigh Putting Families First slates.
Parkland Republican slate members have spoken at school board meetings on coronavirus mask policies, board appointments, tax hikes and a perceived lack of transparency on issues.
In one such example, Janotka, Finch and Lanyon asked why a contract with St. Luke’s University Health Network for sports medicine services wasn’t made public before the vote on June 20. They also wondered why St. Luke’s would enter into a contract in which it would provide free services. Coleman also raised questions about the contract, claiming the contract was worth $3 million.
According to a press release, the board approved a seven-year contract with St. Luke’s to be the official provider of sports medicine and school health needs and agreed to pay for the district’s new natatorium scoreboard. In exchange, Parkland will offer marketing exposure with signs on all athletic facilities and in the district’s digital and print media.
A district spokesperson said the district could not assign a value to the contract. The most recent contract with St. Luke’s provided free athletic services plus an annual payment of $115,000 to the district, according to a 2018 article in The Morning Call.
In the past, St. Luke’s has said that such contracts are designed to build relationships in the community.
Superintendent Mark Madson said the district doesn’t include details of any service contracts on agendas but said the board could discuss doing so in the future. A district spokesperson said the district will still be able to sell advertising on the natatorium sign.
With control of the board at stake, the race attracted more than $20,000 from four political action committees in the campaign finance reporting period that covers Jan. 1 to June 5.
The Common Sense Solutions PAC acted as a clearinghouse for the Republican slate donations, raising and spending the most money – $16,850, including $3,000 from venture capitalist Paul Martino of Doylestown, the founder of what is now Back to School PAC. Common Sense Solutions had a cash balance of $60.51 after the primary, according to its campaign finnace report.
On Sept. 12, Martino’s Back to School PAC gave $5,000 to the Elevate Parkland slate via the Common Sense Solutions PAC, according to Dean Browning, founder of the Common Sense PAC.
The other PACs were Concerned Parents of Parkland, which is supporting the Parkland Proud slate, the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s PACE and Education First for Parkland, which was created for Republican candidates Michael Deering and Bobby Lanyon, who are also supported by Common Sense Solutions.
The Parkland School District, whose boundaries include South Whitehall, North Whitehall, Upper Macungie and a small part of western Allentown (17th Ward/4th District and 18th Ward/2nd District), serves about 9,500 students in 11 schools.
In June, the school board passed a budget that raised property taxes by 0.4 mills to 16.30 mills. Facchiano, Rohatgi, Roth and Ziegler joined the 7-1 majority in voting yes. Foose was the no vote.
The school board also is facing a decision on handling projections that show that Parkland High School could exceed capacity by 2025 and Orefield Middle School by 2028. Springhouse Middle School’s enrollment will exceed capacity by 2028 but then is projected to fall.
On Sept. 26, the school board heard a recommendation for what is known as Pathway A, which involves maintaining one high school and two middle schools, and includes upgrades and additions to the schools.
Also on Sept. 26, the board authorized the purchase of 3599 Broadway in South Whitehall Township, the site of a proposed drug and alcohol recovery house, for $735,000. The site is next to Cetronia Elementary School and the proposed facility drew widespread community opposition.
Here is a look at the candidates. Information on the candidates was found on their campaign websites, Facebook pages, Linkedin sites, newspaper articles, League of Women Voter guides and from Parkland School Board meeting minutes and videos.
Michael Deering - R - Four-year term
Deering, who is part of the Education First for Parkland slate, is a married father of three who served in the Army and works as a real estate investor. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Francisco State University. He is a volunteer youth baseball coach. He wants to improve communications between the district and taxpayers. On the Education First for Parkland website, he expressed concern about Parkland’s curriculum. “I am a concerned parent who sees the curriculum blurring the lines between education and child rearing. Parkland parents are capable of instilling values and morals in their children, and we should trust that when we send our children to school our values and morals are not challenged in the academic environment,” he said.
As one of the few Hispanic candidates, he said, he is upset to see Hispanic students so far behind their peer groups. “When on the board I will reach out to the Hispanic community to find a solution and allocate funds that focus on academics not social opinions,” he said.
He wants to show fiscal responsibility by comparing cost estimates with market rates. “I am very comfortable challenging cost estimates to ensure taxpayer money is spent efficiently,” he said.
Carol Facchiano - R - Incumbent - Four-year term
Facchiano, who is part of the Proud of Parkland slate, is currently board president. She received a business administration degree from Bloomsburg University in 1986 and is an office administrator at the Parkland Aquatic Club. Active in the PTO and other school-related groups, she was first elected to the school board in 2015 and reelected in 2019. On Jan. 3, she defended the appointment of Robert Bold, a former, longtime board member, to replace Coleman without opening the post up to the public. She said appointing a member this way is the preferred option when the term is short and the person doesn’t intend to run for office. Bold is serving until December when the new board will be seated.
She said when the terms are more than a year, it’s best to open the post to the public and hold interviews, which happened when Rohatgi was appointed in January 2022. Facchiano said she is running to “ensure that all students succeed through the education and opportunities available at Parkland. My own three children, now Parkland graduates, benefited immensely from their time here. It's my mission to ensure that current and future students experience the same high-quality education and opportunities.”
Beth Finch - R - Four-year term
Finch, who is part of the Education First for Parkland slate, is a married mother of three. Frequently speaking at board meetings, she said, “... it’s a true passion of mine, as well as a privilege, to be a voice for children, parents, taxpayers, educators, staff, and our community as a whole.” She founded Freedom for Choice PA, a grassroots group that advocates for those who feel that their rights are in jeopardy, including educating teachers about their rights to opt out of unions. She raised money to support a successful lawsuit backed by Freedom for Choice of the Lehigh Valley over mask mandates.
In 2021, Finch started a petition on change.org to show support for keeping masks optional in the Parkland School District. Finch spoke on that issue at a Feb. 15, 2022, school board meeting. Finch unsuccessfully sought to be appointed to an open seat on the school board in January 2022. She won a write-in campaign in the May 2022 primary to run as a Republican in the 132nd House District race. She lost in the November election to incumbent Democrat Mike Schlossberg.
An advocate for transparency, Finch criticized Bold’s appointment, saying the board “had a solid idea” of who it wanted on the board and pointing out that Coleman is a Republican while Bold is a Democrat. On June 20, she said the public is being kept from “making meaningful comments” on the St. Luke’s contract because it was not made public earlier. Finch said she will work tirelessly to elevate excellence in Parkland and bring the district back to common sense education.
Natalie Janotka - R - Four-year term
Janotka, who is part of the Education First for Parkland slate, is a married mother of two who is a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She is listed among the moderators and administrators for the Moms for Liberty Lehigh County Facebook page. She said she understands the importance of protecting children with emotional and mental health issues. She wants parents to have the right to voice their concerns. Janotka sought to be appointed to the board in January 2022. She frequently speaks at school board meetings.
On Aug. 16, 2022, she questioned the board’s motive behind social distancing in the elementary schools – suggesting it could be because the district “wants to make students think they are going to school to become sick and die.” In questioning the financing for the pool scoreboard, she asked “if there is a kickback?” She said the St. Luke’s agreement to pay for the natatorium scoreboard is “suspicious,” saying she was under the impression that the district was using pandemic-related funding to buy it “There’s just a little bit of inconsistency there,” she said. A district spokesperson told Armchair Lehigh Valley that the money was originally to have come from the general budget and that the district still planned to accept advertising on the scoreboard as a way to generate funds.
Commenting on Bold’s appointment on Jan. 3, she told the board, “I appreciate the opportunity for you to pretend that you care.” At the same meeting, Foose tried to nominate Janotka for the position, but failed to get a second on his motion.
Bobby Lanyon - R – Four-year term
Lanyon, an Education First for Parkland candidate, is a married father of three school-age sons who is from Australia. He is CEO of AIG Safety, which manufactures and distributes safety equipment for mobile machinery, according to the Education First for Parkland website. He is the former president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center and founding member of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Council.
He believes all children, including his son with Down Syndrome, should receive the best education possible. According to his Facebook page, Lanyon said he thinks parents need to take a lead in the education of their kids. “I think we’ve gone soft a little bit,” he said. “I think we need to take the reins back a little bit.” He said children should go to school to learn, saying it’s not a “social engineering platform … They are there for reading, writing and arithmetic. Let’s not complicate it.”
A small business operator, he said he doesn’t think there is any good reason to raise taxes. On June 20, Lanyon urged the district to create a parent advocacy committee for the feasibility study. Masdon responded that the district has been holding meetings to keep the public up to date on the study. He said the district’s Parkland Community Advisory Council meets monthly and is a forum for residents to provide feedback.
Mike Millo - R – Two-year term
Millo, an Education First for Parkland candidate, is a married father of two sons. He is a former high school teacher and college instructor. Millo said he is running to invest in the future and believes that quality leadership, transparency and communication, among other things, will help train students for the future. He also believes children will reach their maximum potential by outfitting teachers with appropriate resources and technology and providing a rigorous and applicable curriculum. Millo has spoken at meetings against the district’s mask policies. He sought to be appointed to the board in January 2022 when Rohatgi was appointed. Millo later said Rohatgi “seemed to have been pre-selected.”
He opposed Bold’s appointment, telling the board it was “nothing more than a placeholder to protect your precious 8-1 vote.” Millo won a spot on the Republican ballot in 2021 but said on Facebook that he dropped out of the general election because of the birth of one of his sons Before the 2021 primary, Millo and Coleman were visited by conservative activist Scott Presler, who posted a video supporting their school board campaigns and parental choice. Presler also paid a visit in April, according to Millo’s Facebook page.
Christopher Pirrotta - D - Four-year term
Pirrotta, a Proud of Parkland slate member, is a father of three who graduated from Penn State University and works as a marketing vice president at Sideshow Collectibles. He founded TheOneRing.net, described as the world's largest community for the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. “My extensive global business experience, commitment to reason, and ability to work with individuals of all convictions make me a passionate advocate for the students and staff,” he said. He has been chairman of the Cetronia Elementary Book Fair, is a member of Parents of Cetronia and is an involved “cookie” dad in the Girl Scouts.
Pirrotta said he is “committed to respecting individuals of all faiths and backgrounds and to creating a more equitable and just society where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, economic background, or any other characteristic.”
George Rivera - R – Four-year term
Rivera, an Education First for Parkland candidate, is a married father of three. He is a managing partner for Darden Restaurant Inc. He wants to use his experience to make sure Parkland is fiscally responsible and wants to improve transparency. “In order for our entire country that I love so dearly to come together, it is going to take a grassroots effort that starts with our school boards and local offices,” he said. “Join me in what doesn’t need to be a fight, but a shift in mindset that encourages folks to be different as individuals, but like minded as Americans.”
Jay Rohatgi – D – Incumbent – Two- and four-year term
Rohatgi, who is part of the Proud of Parkland slate, is a parent of two who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in India and is a principal at Pegasystems Inc. He was appointed to the board in January 2022 after David Kennedy resigned. Rohatgi ran for school board and lost in 2019 and 2021. His volunteerism includes the Parkland Education Foundation, Parkland Community Advisory Council and Pennsylvania Regional Science Olympiad tournament. He wants to continue Parkland’s excellence in academics, arts and athletics. “As a parent and a current board member it’s important for me that we keep cultural wars, division and politics to gain higher office out of our board. Let’s focus on providing the best education for our kids,” he said. Other priorities include: starting a virtual alumni mentorship program for high school students, investing in public safety and mental health professionals to improve safety and educating children about personal finance and online privacy issues.
Lisa Roth - R - Incumbent - Four-year term
Roth, who is part of the Proud of Parkland slate, graduated from Allentown Central Catholic and has an associate’s degree from the former Allentown Business School. She has worked at Air Products for 38 years, most recently in capital projects. She has been on the board for 14 years. “I feel that I have consistently done my due diligence researching and understanding every single item that has required my vote, and continue to take pride in representing students, families, staff and all taxpayers in this district,” she said on the slate’s website. Roth said the biggest issue facing the district is the projected enrollment increase.
“Potentially having a need to enlarge and/or plan for new buildings will require a hard look at projected enrollment, our current budget, tax rates and how these projects could affect our debt service. Keeping all this in mind along with an understanding of our taxpayers’ financial situations is key to this fiscal responsibility,” she said. In 2021, she defended the district’s votes on the teachers contract, saying the district could not put the terms of the contract on the agenda 24 hours in advance (as required) because of the timing of the teachers’ vote, which was happening on the same day.
Marisa Ziegler - D – Incumbent - Four-year term
Ziegler, who is part of the Proud of Parkland slate, is the board’s vice president. The public school teacher has a bachelor's degree from Temple University and master’s degree from Kutztown University. She was first elected to the board in 2019 and was the top vote-getter. She also was the top vote-getter on the May 16 Democratic ballot. A mother of twins, she is Parkland's first openly LGBTQ+ board director. “During my time on the board, I have voted to maintain and enhance the options, opportunities, and resources available to our students,” she said. Among her issues, Ziegler wants to “prioritize the mental health of students, pass fiscally responsible budgets that maintain strengths in academics, arts, and athletics programs, build community relationships that ensure multiple perspectives and plan for future capital projects that adapt to enrollment growth.”
Ziegler defended a unanimous August 2021 vote that mandated mask wearing, telling WFMZ at the time that it was based on data. On the slate’s website, she said, “The most important issue in Parkland right now is planning for the future, focusing on growth, enrollment, and our facilities. We have amazing teachers, schools, and administrators, and because of that, so many people want to move to our district. The challenge then is how to address that increased enrollment so our facilities can handle the growth. We are currently doing a feasibility study to help find the most efficient way to plan for this growth while also being fiscally responsible.”