Letters: SCASD candidates have right priorities; Rater’s substantial experience in local courts
Editor’s note: The CDT welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the May 16 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 11. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates.
SCASD candidates have right priorities
I am a proud graduate of Park Forest Elementary, State College Junior High and State College High School. I’ve always been grateful for the excellent educational experiences I had here and for the incredible teachers who helped me grow. My husband and I chose to raise our children here because of the confidence we had in SCASD. We currently have three children enrolled in SCASD schools.
After observing significant changes in SCASD over the past several years, some positive but some concerning, I’ve decided to endorse Michelle Young, Nathan Bish, Laurel Zydney, John Krajcovic and Barry Fenchak for school board in the upcoming election. Many of us have seen firsthand how consequential school board elections are. The decisions made by the people we elect shape our children’s education and developmental years in deeply significant ways.
In light of declining academic performance among SCASD students, I feel that supporting teachers and developing foundational academic skills should be the top priority. Every student should be encouraged to see herself or himself and every other person as unique and precious. Families should be embraced as partners and kept informed about their students’ experiences in school. I want all families in our community to feel good about entrusting their children’s education to SCASD.
Do you want this as well? Please consider voting for the candidates listed above for SCASD school board. You can learn more about four of them at www.united4scasd.org. Or reach out — they’d love to hear about what matters to you.
Erika Reutzel-Bechtel, State College
Rater’s substantial experience in local courts
Fortunately, I do not have any personal experience appearing in the Centre County Court of Common Pleas. But if I did, I would want a judge hearing my case who has substantial experience in our local court system, who can add a lens of Centre County values and sense of fairness to 27 years successfully practicing law here, and who has lived and raised a family among us. Reassuringly, there is one candidate for judge in the coming primary who exclusively meets what I believe matters. Please join me in voting for, and trusting, Julia Rater.
Randy Iles, State College
Herndon focused on quality of life
I am a local leader of the group Strong Towns Happy Valley. This group is part of a nationwide grassroots movement to improve the places we live. Making cities inviting with walkable, bikeable, transit development intertwined with nature and creating zoning that works with these ideas are our main goals. This movement is growing and we welcome all to get involved!
By changing the way that we organize our land, we can bring better economic and environmental policy right here to State College and Centre County to improve the wallets, health and environment for people who live here. Giving people a choice of how they want to live, having good and healthy options for their day to day life.
Matt Herndon is a candidate who I believe is working the most to better the lives of every single person who lives in State College and who enters from the broader Centre County community. Walkable, affordable, healthy and vibrant cities are really what bring life and viability to a community. There is so much potential in State College and as someone who has seen what the wrong direction can do to not only a city but to the people who live in it, I am excited by these new ideas.
As the local leader of Strong Towns Happy Valley I wholeheartedly hope that Matt is elected by the people and is able to bring forward the policies that he has promised in his campaign.
Ethan Dean, State College
Paterno can no longer be honored
Is it “time to truly honor” Joe Paterno?
No. JoePa can no longer be “honored.” It wouldn’t be right, given what we know. Mourn, grieve, move on. Enjoy the football program. Give to the school.
But honor the victims and students by showing that adults can survive horrible things with dignity by not honoring Joe Paterno ever again.
Don’t put the statue back up. Ever. Don’t let time dilute our memories.
Honor Penn State by showing the strength and integrity to overcome a horrible time for us all. But don’t deny it and disrespect the students, alumni, and all victims.
Phil Boyds, Drexel Hill
