Seven in the running for East Penn School Board
Seven candidates are seeking four seats on the East Penn School Board in the May 20 primary. That’s a contrast to spring 2023 when 11 candidates vied for party nominations.
The 2025 candidates are Democrats Bill Whitney, an incumbent, and newcomers Christine Price, Rita Perez and Melissa Stiavelli. The Republicans are incumbent Michael Felegy; Paul Barbehenn, who ran unsuccessfully in 2023 as a Your Voice on the Board candidate; and newcomer Alicia Du Plooy.
All have cross-filed, meaning their names will appear on the Democratic and Republican ballots. Only Democrats and Republicans can vote for their respective party ballots in primaries.
So far the tenor of the race is markedly different from 2023, when cultural issues took center stage. That year, a group called Defend East Penn claimed the Your Voice slate was powered by Moms for Liberty-Lehigh County, whose national group had been challenging school library books; and Restoring Excellence in East Penn Education (REEPE), a group that held a forum on critical race theory in June 2022.
The Your Voice candidates denied a connection to Moms for Liberty, which has since disbanded, and REEPE. They said they were concerned parents who stood for leadership, accountability and transparency.
The dueling slates drew more than $30,000 in campaign contributions, with $5,000 donated to the Your Voice slate by Bucks County venture capitalist Paul Martino.
This time around, candidates are touting real-world experience and commitment to balancing the needs of students with budget realities.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association’s political action committee PACE has endorsed Felegy, Barbehenn, Stiavelli and Perez, according to a mailer sent to district residents.
The race comes as the district is in the midst of a K-8 grade realignment plan, which the board adopted in November 2023 to ease overcrowding.
Under the plan, Eyer Middle School would serve fifth and sixth graders and see a classroom addition and renovations to the building and site. Lower Macungie Middle School would house seventh and eighth graders. Renovations at the school would include a classroom addition, cafeteria expansion and gymnasium addition.
The project is slated to be finished by 2028. The district also is working on changes to curriculum, activities and athletics for the two schools.
The school board is working on a 2025-26 budget that shows a 4% tax hike, the maximum allowed under the state’s Act 1 limit. East Penn’s 2024-25 budget of $196.6 million raised property taxes by 4.57% to 21 mills. Felegy and Whitney were part of the unanimous vote of approval.
Following is a look at the candidates. Information was obtained through interviews, campaign websites, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, news media and the district’s website.
Paul Barbehenn – Republican, cross-filed
Barbehenn is senior wealth adviser at Mercer Global Advisors. He is a married father of two district students. He graduated from Freedom High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Penn State. He is board chair of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown and a member of the organization’s foundation. He joined the board of directors for Wildlands Conservancy in 2023.
Barbehenn sought to be appointed to the school board in January 2022 to fill a vacancy but was not selected.
He said he is running independently this time around. As a Your Voice candidate in 2023, he said he was “listening to voices that I probably shouldn't have listened to and got myself wrapped up in something that was not what I had intended to get myself involved in.”
In running again, he said, “I'd like to give back and I like to give back by jumping in and pitching in.”
He said he is concerned about the budget, given the district is set to begin the middle school upgrades and could be facing the loss of federal funding.
“This does not mean cutting important programs, not investing in our teachers, or otherwise shortchanging our kids,” he said on his website. “Rather, it requires finding a balance – supporting our schools while keeping tax rates fair for families and homeowners in our community.”
Alicia Du Plooy – Republican, cross-filed
Du Plooy, who could not be reached for comment, is a project manager at BlueTriton Brands, according to her LinkedIn account. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and auditing from University of South Africa. She is a volunteer at Family Promise of Lehigh Valley.
She told The Morning Call that she is concerned about academic standards and test scores. In an August 2024 Facebook post on elections, she said, “We need to vote for candidates, not the parties we are associated with. Both sides have good and bad. Vote for candidates that are open to God and not ashamed of God and that make God part of their campaign.”
Michael Felegy – Incumbent Republican, cross-filed
Felegy, who could not be reached for comment, is a production supervisor at Fresh Pet. He is seeking his second term. The Emmaus High School graduate earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Millersville University in 1997. In 2021, Felegy finished fourth out of five candidates for four seats. In 2023, he posted his support of the Your Voice on the Board slate on Facebook. In seeking reelection, Felegy said on Facebook, “I will always use common sense to do what is in the best interest for our students, parents, teachers and tax payers.”
Felegy was among four board members who voted in February against approving a tax abatement for Westrum Development Co. to build a 144-unit apartment complex at 300 Furnace St., a blighted former fuel distribution site. He helped negotiate a four-year teachers’ contract adopted in August, according to Lehigh Valley News. The contract included a starting salary of $62,500 for starting teachers with a bachelor’s degree and $67,000 for those with a master’s degree
Rita Perez – Democrat, cross-filed
Perez is project director for the Statewide Family Engagement Center in Pennsylvania and Maryland and senior education equity specialist for the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cedar Crest College and doctor of education degrees from Lehigh University and Immaculata University.
Perez is married and is a stepparent. Her priorities are strengthening opportunities, inclusive and supportive environments, and accountability. “We need to stay focused on creating a safe and welcoming environment where every student can succeed,” she said in an email. “At the same time, it’s important to use taxpayer funds responsibly and wisely.”
Perez said she has 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, administrator and serving with the state Department of Education. “These opportunities allowed me to examine how school districts solve issues and demonstrate excellence,” she said. “I understand the importance of collaboration, innovation, and clear communication in ensuring our schools thrive.”
Christine Price – Democrat, cross-filed
Price is director for the Women’s Center and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center at Kutztown University. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s of education in counseling from Millersville University. She is married and has two grown children.
Price said her priorities are advocating for student success at all levels, promoting safe, inclusive, and healthy school environments, and supporting teachers and staff. “I want to help make smart, responsible budgetary decisions in an uncertain climate for public schools,” she said in an email.
Price said education is a core pillar of her personal values. “I care passionately about uplifting others through education and advocating for students to have the opportunities that help them learn and grow so they can thrive as individuals, citizens, and productive, happy humans,” she said on her campaign website.
“It is also my privilege to serve and support students in need – whether by advocating for survivors of sexual assault, offering a listening ear to those seeking support, or connecting students with valuable community resources.”
Melissa Stiavelli – Democrat, cross-filed
Stiavelli is managing director and vice president at duagon North America. She has a bachelor’s degree from University of Pittsburgh and a master of business administration degree from Temple University. Before working in the business sector, Stiavelli earned a teaching certificate and taught social studies and English. She is married and has two children in high school.
Stiavelli’s priorities are student success, equity and access, cost-effective operations and a safe, inclusive environment. “The biggest issue that I see the district facing right now is maintaining and improving student performance across all student populations,” she said in an email.
Starting at the elementary level, she said, struggling students need intervention programs that include smaller groups and progress monitoring. She said teachers need professional development that includes strategies for diverse learners. “Issues as large as this typically don't have an easy fix,” she said.
Bill Whitney – Incumbent Democrat, cross-filed
Whitney is seeking his second term on the board. He is assistant vice provost for Experiential Learning Programs at Lehigh University and an adjunct theater professor. Whitney has a bachelor’s degree in theater arts from Nebraska Wesleyan University, a master’s degree in drama from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Ph.D. in drama and theater from University of Wisconsin-Madison. He represents the board on the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit. He is married and has a daughter in high school.
He said his priorities are building a culture of trust, collaboration and empathy in schools; maximizing taxpayer investments to keep schools properly staffed; arts education/exposure for all students and creating “22nd-century” education for real-world problem solving.
“In East Penn, our biggest issue is quite simply, finances,” Whitney said in an email. He said the increase in education funding from Harrisburg is a “drop in the bucket” compared to rising costs for salaries and other expenses. He said there is no magic solution, but said the district must continue to provide the world-class education that students have come to expect.