7 vie for 4 seats in Mars
Seven candidates are running for four seats on Mars Area School Board, six of them having cross-filed. One candidate is running for reelection and one running as a Republican.
Nicole L. Thurner, 33, of Adams Township, is an attorney practicing primarily in Butler County. Most of her practice involves family, domestic and juvenile matters.In her free time, Thurner said she also serves on the boards of several organizations.Thurner said she decided to run for the school board because her experience with child advocacy lets her “appreciate the current challenges that students face.”She said she has extensive board experience with organizations across the county.Thurner believes her legal background, her work with juveniles and her experiences with different organizations contribute to her school board qualifications.“It is important to be able to know, understand and analyze the issues and concerns associated with the school district,” Thurner said, “and what steps the board can take to address those issues and concerns.”School boards are responsible for seeing the big picture, according to Thurner.She said this means listening to concerns while acting in accordance with the law.If elected, Thurner hopes to address three areas of district operations: financials, board transparency and student mental health services.Eventually, Thurner said she'd like to see the district collaborate with the courts to address delinquency and truancy issues, helping students become “productive and positive” members of society.
Jennifer DiCuccio, 44, and her husband, William, of Mars, have one child in the district.As a U.S. Air Force veteran, wife and mother, DiCuccio said her background provides her with experiences in the area of business management and health.“While serving on active duty, I received my bachelor's degree in business administration,” DiCuccio said.Over her 10-year military career, DiCuccio said she worked in health care information technology on a career path that took her around the country as a technical support engineer lead.In Butler County, DiCuccio served on the board of directors for the Butler County Humane Society, where she also was executive director for three years.She recently stepped down to spend more time with family.DiCuccio said thinking strategically is one of her best abilities.She also said boards exist to establish a district's mission, make policies, hire and support the superintendent, adopt budgets, and make sure schools have proper resources.“There is no better example of commitment to public service than that of a volunteer Mars Area school director,” DiCuccio said. “I feel inspired when I work for the good of the public.”DiCuccio hopes to champion three issues, if elected: taxpayer and parent advocacy, financial competency and transparency.“I will always remember that every dollar spent by the Mars Area School District is a dollar given to us by the hardworking and generous taxpayers,” DiCuccio said.
Lee Ann Riner, 46, and her husband, Craig, of Adams Township, have two children in the district.Though Riner, running as a Republican, spent most of her career working in an intensive care unit at Shadyside Hospital, she now is a stay-at-home mom involved in several school and community programs.Her work includes being on the Mars PTO board for five years. She's been vice president for the last two years.“The interactions I've had between the students, parents, teachers and administrators have given me great insight to the district's strengths and opportunities,” Riner said.Riner said among the things that qualify her to hold a school board seat are strong leadership and communication skills.Riner also cited her ability to understand local needs.“I have a personal interest in building on and improving the quality of our school district,” Riner said.School boards need to have clear vision, establish and follow strong and ethical policies, set goals and hold administrators accountable, according to Riner.Specifically, Riner said school boards need to keep all children in mind.There are three causes Riner wants to address, if elected: preparing for future growth, fiscal responsibility and quality education.To prepare for the future, Riner believes in establishing a three- to five-year strategic plan and budget.She also would be interested in developing and monitoring service-level agreements for all vendor contracts while enhancing areas such as district cyber abilities.
Vicki Esswein, 49, and her husband, Steve, of Adams Township, have three children in the district.With a degree in civil engineering, Esswein said she's worked in construction for more than 25 years. Her experience includes 10 years of owning her own construction estimating business.Esswein said she possesses conservative Republican values and the ability to make hard decisions.“In the past, I have been applauded for being a detail-oriented person who is not afraid to tackle tough questions,” Esswein said.School boards are responsible for overseeing superintendents and the running of districts, according to Esswein. She said this means making student-focused decisions while being mindful of the taxpayer's investment.“The world is changing, but I am not sure it is improving,” Esswein said. “I feel my kids need me to get involved to ensure they have a quality education that will prepare them for life.”Mars Area has room to improve, according to Esswein.If elected, Esswein specifically wants to look at balancing fiscal and education responsibilities, promoting school safety and improving student options for alternative forms of instruction.
Jennifer Stuber, 40, and her husband, Bryan, of Adams Township, have two children in the district.Stuber teaches at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh.She's certified in elementary education and educational leadership, two things she believes contribute to her qualifications as a school board candidate.“I have spent my career in settings from private preschool to public high school resource teacher,” Stuber said.As a teacher, Stuber said her management of individualized education programs (IEPs) has provided her with important communication and customer service skills.While her school underwent its most recent strategic plan update, Stuber said she was “fortunate enough” to be part of the committee.Combined with her volunteer work, Stuber believes she's a well-rounded candidate for helping the district raise future citizens.“I found myself thinking about the words of Clint Eastwood,” Stuber said: “'Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.'”If elected, Stuber hopes to focus on making the district fiscally responsible through meticulous budget decisions, transparent communication and placing students first.“The role of the school board is to be a voice and action of its community,” Stuber said. “The decisions should be about what is best for the students and the community as a whole.”
Justin Miller, 43, and his wife, Melissa, of Middlesex Township, have two children in the district.As the owner and operator of an excavating business since 2006, Miller said one of his most applicable abilities is being able to work within a budget and be decisive.“I have proven project management skills and successfully work with others to deliver a quality work product,” Miller said.Miller indicated he wants to be a “strong voice for conservative values in fiscal, policy, and curriculum decisions.”Schools are responsible for preparing children for college, trades or the military, according to Miller.Miller believes school boards aren't responsible for running schools.“The district administration runs the day-to-day operations of the schools within the policies and budget established by the school board,” Miller said. “I do not intend to micromanage.”If elected, Miller said he plans to be a district “watchdog” to protect “our schools from the progressive ideology that is creeping into our nation's policies.“The teachers are represented by (their) union,” Miller said. “My job is to represent the taxpayers and deliver educational value for every dollar.”If elected, Miller has three priorities: managing district growth through fiscally sustainable decisions, managing student needs as a result of the pandemic and establishing working relationships with district administration.“It would be an honor to be a part of the new leadership team that sets the future vision for the Mars Area School District,” Miller said.
Incumbent candidate Christine Valenta and her husband, Paul, have two children.Valenta, who has been on the school board since 2012, said graduating with a chemistry degree from Allegheny College taught her the importance of secondary education.“I spent over 30 years in marketing in sales in the chemical industry,” Valenta said. “At college, I came to understand the benefits of a strong high school education.”Valenta said her career path has required her to rely on analytical skills. These are important for understanding data on student achievement, according to Valenta.“I always seek data in making decisions, and I work hard to see all viewpoints,” Valenta said. “I have invested my own time to analyze other districts' curriculum offerings and build relationships with educators outside of the MASD.”Valenta believes her board experience is an asset as she runs for reelection.In Valenta's view, a school board is responsible for strategic planning, establishing policies and making big decisions.If reelected, Valenta hopes to elevate the quality of education Mars Area offers students, advance technology and curriculum within the budget and balance fiscal responsibilities with long-term planning.Specifically, Valenta hopes to explore opportunities for establishing a track for “career clusters” and technology education programming at the middle and high school levels.<em><b>Editor's note:</b>Original documents from the Butler County Bureau of Elections incorrectly stated Lee Ann Riner cross-filed. Riner is filed as a Republican. The county has posted an updated listing of primary candidates.</em>
