Latest news with #DanKolbe
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Familiar face appointed to State College's school board. Here's what comes next
The State College Area School District's board of directors will fill a vacant seat by appointing a new member who's no stranger to local government. Jesse Barlow, a former Penn State professor and State College borough council member, will temporarily fill a vacant seat on the school board following the mid-June resignation of Dan Kolbe, who plans to move to Chicago with his family. The board's remaining eight members voted Tuesday to appoint Barlow to fill the vacancy after hearing presentations from 14 candidates and receiving applications from a few more who did not interview for the role. Barlow, who taught computer science and engineering courses at Penn State for more than 40 years, raised two children who graduated from the State College district's schools. In his presentation, he cited previous interactions with the district in an official capacity as a member and one-term president of State College's borough council, through which he spent eight years helping to advance the long-sought Solar Power Purchase Agreement and advocating for more developed human relations within the borough. While presenting prepared remarks before the board, Barlow said he would strongly support increased investments in the district's infrastructure. He specifically cited support for building a new Park Forest Middle School — a project that has plans already in the works and could have construction start as soon as next January. 'We need to build a new Park Forest Middle School,' Barlow told the board. 'We have needed it for a long time. I am supportive of the necessary upgrades to our other schools as well. We have the best school district for miles, but it won't stay that way if we neglect our buildings.' Barlow said he hopes to develop the State College district's interactions with Pennsylvania officials and lawmakers to help secure more funding for public schools while specifically citing a 2023 state court ruling that found the commonwealth's public education funding system was inequitable to the point that it violated some students' constitutional rights. He also said he supports increased regulations for charter schools and new cyber charter programs. As a board member, Barlow said he would work to help the district continue promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts in its schools and offices and advance efforts to overhaul suicide prevention and response protocols. He cited previous experience advancing human relations goals within the State College borough by backing efforts to create a borough DEIB officer and launch an oversight board for its police department. Barlow also noted his work developing State College's human relations ordinance — which strengthens protections against gender identity and sexual orientation-based discrimination — and expanding it to Ferguson and Patton townships and the Millheim borough in Penns Valley. 'I know I'm preaching to the choir here when I say it's essential that SCASD continue its commitment to equity, inclusion and belonging, especially at a time when the federal government is abandoning it and even thwarting these efforts,' Barlow said. 'I've seen the world before school districts cared about human relations. The exclusion and isolation of marginalized groups from that time is something no one should wish to return to.' Barlow said he greatly benefited from his public education in Kansas and hopes to support greater investments in public education by serving on State College's board. 'The mission of SCASD is to ensure every student has opportunities to grow, thrive and fulfill their potential through caring, responsive education,' he said. 'That's my motivation — to work for a school system where all, whatever their social backgrounds and skills, can thrive.' Barlow was one of five candidates who received a nomination to advance to the board's vote, joining Robb Lauzon, Cybele Pacheco, Benjy Romig and Carmen Vanderhoof. Barlow secured the necessary five-vote majority during the second round of voting. Board members seemed to support Barlow for his past experience serving in municipal roles and advocating for State College residents. He expressed excitement to serve on the nine-member school board, which he said should provide for more perspectives and discussions than the seven-member State College borough council. 'I welcome listening to other people's insights, other people's questions, because almost everybody will think of things that I don't,' Barlow said. After he's sworn in at July 21's meeting, Barlow will fill the school board's vacant seat until Nov. 4's general election. Because Kolbe, who received election to a four-year term in 2023, served less than half of his elected term, Centre County will host a special election to find a candidate who will fill a two-year interim term starting in December. The county's Democratic and Republican parties can both nominate an additional candidate to appear on the ballot for that special election, which should coincide with the general election. Barlow was one of six cross-filed candidates who earned party nominations for full, four-year board positions following May's primary election. He received the second-most votes from registered Democrats (4,838) and the fourth-most votes from registered Republicans (996). Before voting, board member Jackie Huff advocated for Barlow's appointment because he would get his feet wet as a board member before almost certainly earning election to a full term in November. 'In my responsibility to the board, I'm highly concerned with consistency within the board,' Huff said. 'So, I am going to be voting for Dr. Barlow because he already is on the ballot in November and he garnered a large number of votes in the primary. The chance of him winning in November is so large that it makes sense for him to start his term now.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State College school board member to resign. How will SCASD fill the vacancy?
A State College Area School District board member will resign later this month before moving across the country with his family. Dan Kolbe will step down from his post as a board member on June 18 as he and his family prepare to move to Chicago for work, he said. Speaking briefly before the board at Monday's meeting, the Patton Township resident said he's proud of the board's work since he received election to a four-year term in 2023. 'This decision is not an easy one, as the work we do is deeply meaningful, and it has been incredibly rewarding to work alongside such a dedicated team,' Kolbe wrote in his resignation note to the board. 'Serving on the school board has been a privilege, allowing me to engage with our talented teachers and staff, and see firsthand the positive impact they have on our community and students. As I move forward in my journey, I will continue to advocate for every child to have access to an education where they feel safe, valued and seen.' Under Pennsylvania's school code, State College's board must appoint an interim member to fill Kolbe's seat within 30 days of his resignation. The board is expected to begin accepting applications from registered voters who live in the district over a two-week period later in June, the district said. Interviews and the appointment of an interim board member would follow in early July. The interim board member who ultimately fills the vacancy will serve in that capacity until Nov. 5's general election because Kolbe served less than half of his elected term. State College's district said Centre County's Democratic and Republican parties can both nominate an additional candidate who, if elected, would fill a two-year interim term on the board that would start in December. Following Kolbe's resignation, five board seats are now up for grabs in November's election. Four candidates who cross-filed earned party nominations for full-term board positions following May's primary election.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SCASD Board of Directors Approves 2025-2026 budget with tax hike, staff additions
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Property taxes are going up for State College Area School District residents after the school board approved its 2025-2026 budget on Monday night, aiming to meet rising cost and add key staff positions. The $211.5 million final budget includes a 4% property tax increase, raising the district's millage rate by 2.0369 mills to 52.9597. For a home with the median assessed value of $74,208, that's an average increase of $147 per year. The tax hike is expected to generate most of the district's $6.6 million increase in local revenue, with 79% of total funding coming from local sources. Total revenue is projected at $207.5 million, while expenses are up 3% from last year. The district's biggest spending areas remain salaries and benefits, which make up about 74% of the budget. Mandatory contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System are up $2.1 million from the previous year, while charter school costs now account for $7.1 million, 3% of the overall budget. The board approved several key personnel additions to address growing needs. These include a special education teacher, business education teacher for a new personal finance course, school psychologist, athletics department manager, special education clerk, and a physical plant custodian. New recurring costs are also impacting the budget, including higher rates for substitutes, utilities, extracurricular security, and transportation. Cost-saving benefits from the district's Power Purchase Agreement will not impact the current budget cycle. The board also accepted the resignation of member Dan Kolbe, who is relocating to Chicago. Applications for his seat will open later this month, and a new board member will be selected in early July to serve until the November municipal election. Other board approvals included new textbooks, several employee handbooks, a suicide prevention plan, and a partnership with UPMC for an intensive outpatient program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
