Only Region 2 in the Slippery Rock School District has a race, with four candidates

competing for two, 4-year seats on the school board. Two are cross-filed, and two others are listed only on the Republican ballot on the May 19 election.

<B>S. Diane Gieraltowski</B>2088 Prospect RoadFranklin Township<B>Occupation</B>: Social work<B>Family</B>: Married, with two sons<B>Government experience: </B>A year and a half on the Slippery Rock School Board<B>D. Kirby Lotz</B>122 N. Franklin St.Prospect<B>Occupation</B>: Project manager for fire sprinkler Installation and service company<B>Family</B>: Married, with a son and a daughter<B>Government experience</B>: Prospect Planning Commission<B>Thomas Reiber</B>1318 Perry HighwayPortersville<B>Family</B>: Married, with a son and a daughter<B>Government experience:</B> Two terms on school board<B>Polly P. Shaw</B>1251 Perry HighwayPortersville<B>Occupation</B>: Educator<B>Family</B>: Married, with three grown children<B>Government experience</B>: Served as a Slippery Rock School Director 1986-88

<B>QUESTION: Why did you decide to run for a seat?GIERALTOWSKI</B>: I hope to be able to continue to make a positive effect concerning the district.<B>LOTZ</B>: I believe it is the duty of all citizens to participate in the governmental process at some level. Many people can criticize but will not involve themselves in making the system better. In today's busy times it is even harder for people to take time away from their work and family to make a difference. With two children very involved in the school, I hope to help make school more enriching for all.<B>REIBER</B>: I find that service on the school board to be a rewarding way to give back to the community and participate in the education of the children of the district.<B>SHAW</B>: Public service and volunteer work have always been important to me. I served as a Slippery Rock School Director in 1986-88. I found the experience to be challenging and satisfying, and moved on to other areas of service, including church and union leadership positions. I am an 11-year McConnells Mill State Park volunteer. Now I am ready to return to the school board with years of additional school and service experience at my disposal.<B>QUESTION: What are the top three issues facing your school district?GIERALTOWSKI</B>: Air conditioning and heating issues at Slippery Rock Elementary and the high school. The use of stimulus funding in the most effective way. Athletics and the effect the coaches have on our student athletes.<B>LOTZ</B>: Providing the best education experience possible for each student based upon abilities and interests; obtaining adequate funding and managing the distribution of such in the most efficient way to provide the best educational experience for all students at the least cost to the taxpayers; with today's maintenance and energy costs, a very serious look has to be completed at all facilities to carry us into the future responsibly.<B>REIBER</B>: To provide a competitive, quality education to all children of the district; to seek alternative school funding sources for the district, thus avoiding the continuing burden of property taxes; to maintain the physical assets of the district to preserve the investment of the taxpayer.<B>SHAW</B>: Slippery Rock faces the need to examine its class sizes and classroom space use, which will allow better use of space and more efficient student distribution. There's also the issue of maximizing energy efficiency at Slippery Rock Elementary and making classrooms comfortable for learning. On a broader level, the district needs to vigorously maintain its independence against the governor's proposal for combining districts, so Slippery Rock can maintain its community identity.<B>QUESTION: Should details of an early bird contract with teachers be presented to the public far enough in advance of a vote to allow for public comment?GIERALTOWSKI</B>: As you know, we recently obtained an early bird contract with our teachers. I personally have not heard many complaints regarding the contract from the public or current teachers. I was on the negotiation team and was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism and willingness to give and take of all involved. The process was not easy; things changed from meeting to meeting as the contract issues were discussed. I would not have any problem listening to public opinion as I am their representative.<B>LOTZ</B>: Yes and no. Negotiations should not be in secret or in the newspaper. With the local climate in regards to teachers contracts, any public representation would have easily been fodder for an editorial outburst. I believe the majority of the residents of the Slippery Rock School District are very happy with the results of the contract negotiations. To my knowledge, other the Butler Eagle editorial staff, only two residents have chosen to speak out against the contract publicly. Many more have expressed thanks for obtaining a reasonable contract.<B>REIBER</B>: No. A public negotiation of contracts inevitably favors one side of the negotiations, or neither side. The details of labor contracts are not currently presented to the public for review and comment. Unless there is a mandate to have all labor contracts reviewed by the public before a vote, I do not see a reason to differentiate an early bird contract from any other contract.<B>SHAW</B>: The public's opinion should not be ignored, but it must also follow the procedures of the school board. Board members are elected to speak on behalf of the community. This includes contract negotiations, which are conducted behind closed doors. An early bird addresses only limited issues and is conducted in limited time. The format doesn't provide time for public comment. But that does not preclude the public from speaking during general comment periods at meetings.