Seven candidates will duke it out for four seats on the ballot for Moniteau School District in the May 20 primary election.

Moniteau School District covers the boroughs of Cherry Valley, Eau Claire and West Sunbury; as well as Cherry, Marion, Venango, Washington, Concord and Clay townships.

Seven candidates are on the ballot for Moniteau school board, six of whom have cross-filed. One candidate, Michael Baptiste, is running solely as a Republican. Additionally, Baptiste and board president Michael Panza are competing for one two-year term.

Michael Panza has served on Moniteau’s school board for over 17 years and is currently the board’s president. A resident of Cherry Township, Panza has a 36-year background in public education, previously working as a music education teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent. He is also a part-time faculty member at Slippery Rock University.

Panza serves on the Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 board of directors. He is a sectional adviser for the Pennsylvania School Board Association and a member of the governing board. Accomplishments he is proud of include installing solar panel systems at Moniteau schools, boosting technology within school curriculums and acquiring a grant for purchase of new band instruments.

Janeen Beatty has served on the school board since 2023. A resident of Venango Township, she is originally from Eau Claire and graduated from Moniteau in 2001. She is a program manager for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency in Boyers, Pennsylvania.

“Over the last decade, I have participated in several community organizations and I recognize the importance of the relationship between the school district, students, parents and the community members. I genuinely care about the success of all Moniteau students,” Beatty said.

Linda Dillaman has been on Moniteau’s school board for 11 years. A resident of Cherry Township, Dillaman has lived down the road from Moniteau High School for 46 years. She is retired from teaching elsewhere in Butler County.

“I cannot take credit for any one accomplishment on the school board but rather I would say that I worked with eight other board members to provide the students in the district with the best education, and to represent and utilize the taxpayer’s funding in the best possible manner,” Dillaman said.

Kelly Rugg is a resident of Cherry Valley. Currently working at the Beer Garden in Petrolia, she has served as vice president of Dassa McKinney PTO for the past several years. She has also been on multiple booster groups for sports and has coached cheerleading at the youth and varsity levels for over 10 years.

Celina Karnes is a resident of Washington Township with over 20 years of experience as an accountant and auditor.

“Overall, I’ve been very pleased with our school board over the past several years. We have wonderful teachers who care about the students and schools that provide a safe environment for our children. I hope to join the team and offer my help in the areas needed,” Karnes said.

Nicole Rosetti-Sadler is a Clay Township resident who works as a senior legal administrative specialist at the Office of Personnel Management. She said her overall qualifications include over a decade of experience in federal service, specializing in retirement and survivor benefits, and leading modernization projects to improve access to resources and streamline operations.

“I am not currently a school board member. However, I believe the board could benefit from stronger transparency, more consistent communication with families, and a greater focus on supporting both students and educators,” Rosetti-Sadler said.

Michael Baptiste is a previous member of Moniteau’s school board. A resident of Cherry Township, he is currently a college professor and program coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he leads the sports management program.

“The last time I was on the board, I voted NO for three years on all financial issues because of the lack of transparency,” Baptiste said. “Look for furloughs this spring when the budget is released. For 20 years, the board took pride in being the lowest taxed district in Butler County. Today, the teachers, staff and kids suffer because of it.”

Baptiste: The district is facing a looming financial crisis that could lead to dozens of teacher furloughs and increased burdens on taxpayers. I am running to help stop this collapse and protect the educational quality our children deserve.

Beatty: I am running for this position because I want to continue to have an active voice in the education and safety of our students. It is important to be a part of the solution. I am very invested in representing all of our Moniteau students and ensuring that they have the tools that they need for a successful career after Moniteau — whether that be college, military, trade-school or joining the workforce.

Dillaman: I ran for the school board without an agenda. Too often people run for elected office with a particular purpose in mind. I wanted to continue my work in education by serving the school district and its students.

Karnes: I heard there were open positions and when there is a need, I try my best to help where I can.

Panza: I want to ensure every student has the opportunity to experience academic success. Also, I have two granddaughters that attend the district schools. This is a wonderful community and I want the schools to remain strong. Strong schools build strong communities.

Rosetti-Sadler: I decided to run because I care deeply about the quality of education and the well-being of every student in our district. As a foster mom, I’ve witnessed the vital role schools play in shaping a child’s life. I want to ensure that every child — regardless of background — has a voice and a fair opportunity to thrive.

Rugg: I love this district and the staff and children I’ve gotten to know over the years. I’d like to help make it the best school district possible by getting involved and helping make the best decisions for the school in a reasonable and affordable manner with the best interest of the children at heart.

Baptiste: My goals are to stabilize the budget, implement a sustainable long-term financial plan, and improve student outcomes, while maintaining transparency and community trust. I also aim to reduce wasteful spending and prioritize classroom needs.

Beatty: The mission of the Moniteau School District is to prepare Moniteau students to achieve their fullest potential as they face the challenges of life. To achieve that mission and if elected, I would continue to ensure that trade and vocational classes are offered to Moniteau students. In addition, where possible, I would like to see more of our students that are currently attending PA (Cyber) Charter School return to in person classes at Moniteau.

Dillaman: I have served on the district’s educational planning committee, policy committee and the finance committee. Moniteau is not a rich district. One mill of taxes generates about $64,000.00. I learned very quickly that every expenditure must be given careful consideration.

Karnes: I want to ensure that the students graduating from Moniteau High School have an education they can be proud of, be equipped with the knowledge, experience and opportunities that will help them be successful in their next phase of life, whether that be college, technical school, military or starting into the workforce. I also want to make sure Moniteau is staying current with what we offer to students — whether that be new classes, clubs, sports, activities — things that interest them and get them excited to learn. I would love to hear from the students, teachers, families and community about their ideas, and build that sense of community and pride in our district.

Panza: If elected I want to be certain that we continue to provide the finest education and opportunities for our students in a fiscally responsible manner for the benefit of our taxpayers.

Rosetti-Sadler: If elected, I would focus on enhancing academic performance, expanding career and technical education opportunities, supporting teacher development and improving engagement between the district and our families.

Rugg: One of the biggest issues I see Moniteau facing is the overwhelming amount of children being cyber schooled and the financial burden it lays on Moniteau. I would like to see more attention drawn to what is causing the influx of cyber schooled students and what can be done to prevent it. Things such as mental health professionals, and attention to bullying, and making the school a safe and encouraging place is important in my opinion.

Baptiste: Financial instability — I would lead efforts to adopt a 5-year budget plan with smart tax strategies and cost controls.

Declining academic performance — I’d push for data-driven instruction and teacher support systems.

Community distrust — I will work to rebuild transparency, communication and accountability.

Beatty: In my opinion, the top 3 issues in the Moniteau School District are: enrollment, funding and math scores.

The number of students enrolled in the Moniteau School District has been steadily decreasing. Since the beginning of this school year alone, student enrollments have decreased by almost 40 students. Due to the lower enrollment numbers and the financial challenges that most families are experiencing, the district will need to closely review every single expense and determine what is necessary and what can be cut.

Unfortunately, the Moniteau School District does not have many large businesses that are able to help support the community. In reality, the school district is one of the largest employers in the area. It is important for the district to continue to offer students the classes and extra curricular activities that are available to them today. To continue those offerings, the school district may need to continue to combine positions/duties and decrease personnel through attrition.

Finally, since COVID-19, the Moniteau student math scores have continued to decline. The administration and teachers are aware of this issue and with the school board’s support have recently approved a comprehensive plan that further aligns the elementary and high school curriculums to target problem areas and create remediation actions.

Dillaman: The issues concerning our district are absenteeism, cyber program tuition expenses and transportation

Research indicates that students need to be physically present in school. Convincing parents and getting students to attend school is not always easily accomplished.

Cyber program tuition can cost a school district anywhere from $14,000 to $25,000 per year per student. Twenty-five students in cyber programs within a school district will cost over $350,000 dollars.

Moniteau has a large footprint in terms of transportation. Many of the roads are township roads. Every effort is made to keep student ride times as short as possible.

Karnes: I think the first step is listening and understanding the issues that teachers, students, families and community members have, and help to make educated decisions to help wherever we can — whether it be discussing ways to improve problems with bullying, test scores, building improvements, parent communication/involvement, safety or sports/extracurricular activities.

I imagine that prioritizing where money is spent and allocation of funds is often where issues can arise, and hope to see how we prioritize those items in a short-term and long-term plan.

Panza: There are many issues facing schools today.

The first is the lack of adequate funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A lawsuit was filed by schools in the eastern part of the state claiming the state funding system was unequal and unfair. The courts found that Pennsylvania was not funding schools in a proper manner. The report demonstrated that Moniteau was being shorted $1.5 million each year from the state. This lawsuit is more than two years old and there has been no action to correct this deficit.

Secondly, Cyber charter schools are taking much needed money and resources from public schools. Cyber schools in Pennsylvania have a graduation rate of about 60%. Four out of 10 students that attend cyber schools never earn a high school diploma. Also, these schools traditionally score poorly on the state examinations. Yet, the state continues to allow them to operate. At present, Moniteau pays nearly one million dollars a year to cyber programs. This must change. I have met, and will continue to meet, with the elected officials to discuss these and other issues/needs facing our schools today.

Finally, the district has seen a significant decline in student enrollment. At present, less than 1,070 students in grades K-12 attend the Moniteau School District. Also, the state projects that the district will annually educate less than 1000 students by the year 2030. This will have implications on staffing, programs and other services.

Rosetti-Sadler: Academic achievement: Collaborate with educators to evaluate curriculum and strengthen student support systems.

Budget accountability: Promote responsible, transparent financial decision making that aligns with student needs and community values.

Community involvement: Increase accessibility to school board meetings and encourage more open communication between families and the district.

Rugg: Things such as mental health professionals, and attention to bullying, and making the school a safe and encouraging place is important in my opinion.

Baptiste: The removal of the Department of Education could affect funding, accountability and compliance measures. Moniteau would need strong local leadership and innovative solutions to adapt, while still protecting educational quality for all students.

Beatty: It is too early to precisely state how the district could be impacted by the elimination of the Department of Education.

Dillaman: I would hope that the federal government would provide some financial support to the state so that it might continue to finance the Ready to Learn Grants, school breakfast and lunch programs, special education programs, Title IX, etc. PA has not supported the smaller school districts with low tax bases very well.

Karnes: I imagine that it will impact our district and we will most likely have to make adjustments and figure out the best options for a path forward.

Panza: I do not believe the elimination of the Federal Department of Education will have an immediate impact on local school districts. Most of the district funding comes from the state. Also, current law ensures the rights of special needs learners and Title programs. I believe and will work to be certain that these services will remain strong.

Rosetti-Sadler: The removal of the Department of Education would represent a major change in how our schools are supported and held accountable. Federal funding and oversight could be lost or shifted, potentially affecting special education, nutrition programs and resources for underserved students. If this were to happen, I would work with district and state leaders to ensure we continue to provide stable, high-quality education. My focus would be on protecting vulnerable students and maintaining strong academic standards through local collaboration and strategic planning.

Rugg: did not answer.

Baptiste: The financial crisis we now face is the direct result of two decades of inaction — where previous boards failed to raise taxes incrementally by just 1.5 mills per year. It’s like waiting 20 years to invest and missing out on compounded interest; I estimate the district lost over $8 million during that period while still ending up at the same millage rate today. Poor planning and a lack of business-minded leadership have placed the district in a dangerous position. Now, we must act strategically and urgently to stabilize our future without overburdening taxpayers.

Beatty: The Moniteau School District should be held accountable for every dollar that is spent by the school district. As a member of the current school board finance committee, I have been reviewing the school budget and working with the entire school board and administration to identify where cuts can be made without impacting the education of students. Like many other districts and families in general, the district has seen an increase in the cost of employee health care and it will be important for the school board to continue to monitor these increases. Similar to managing a household income, it is never easy to make cuts and no cuts should be made without a thorough analysis of all possible impacts and mitigating factors.

As a taxpayer in the Moniteau School District, I would prefer to never raise taxes; however, if a tax increase is required, it must be done responsibly and with consideration of the impact to taxpayers. Tax increases should not be done unnecessarily. I recognize that taxes were raised last year and it is the school board’s responsibility to do everything possible to maintain the current tax rate without increase.

Dillaman: I serve on the school finance committee and our budget talks are centered around doing our best for the school district and our taxpayers. The Moniteau School District have always been wise stewards of the tax dollars provided to us by the taxpayers.

Karnes: With my background in accounting and auditing, I can help ensure that the money we have in the budget is being spent responsibly and in the areas that will be most beneficial to the students. I also will help to ensure we are following policy and regulations.

Panza: I serve on the district finance committee. We maintain a close watch on expenditures to ensure we are receiving the best services at the best price. The Moniteau School District has the second lowest tax rate in Butler County. Still, one mil of taxes in the Moniteau School District generates less than $70,000. One mil in the larger districts in Butler County can generate 5 to 10 times this amount. It should also be noted that in the past 15 years there was no tax increase in five of those years and with good planning there should be no tax increase in the upcoming school year.

Rosetti-Sadler: Fiscal responsibility is a core value of mine. I would support smart, strategic budgeting that prioritizes student success, safety and educator support — while avoiding unnecessary expenditures. I believe in regular budget reviews, seeking grant opportunities and transparent communication with the community. Our current tax rate must be managed in a way that balances the need for quality education with the financial realities of our residents. Any future tax decisions should be approached with transparency and input from taxpayers.

Rugg: There are a lot of financial challenges facing Moniteau at the current time and I would like to help be a part of the solution, coming in with an open mind and willingness to think outside the normal box to accommodate what is best for Moniteau.

Baptiste: I’m running on a platform of common sense leadership and fiscal responsibility. While I align with conservative financial values, my focus is on doing what’s right for kids, teachers and taxpayers — regardless of party.

Beatty: I am a registered Republican; however, I am running on both the Republican and Democratic ticket because a school board director is a non-partisan position that is elected to support the entire community and the children in it.

Dillaman: I have cross-filed and am running on both party ballots.

Karnes: Nonpartisan.

Panza: I am a registered Republican, endorsed by the Butler County Republican Committee. Still, school directors, similar to district justices, are permitted to cross file as both a Republican and a Democrat. We are to serve the needs of our students, our taxpayers and the district at-large in a non-partisan manner.

Rosetti-Sadler: I am running on both the Republican and Democratic lines because I believe a school board member should reflect the needs of all students — regardless of political affiliation. Education is a nonpartisan issue, and my focus is on putting children and families first.

Rugg: Cross-filed.

Baptiste: Our facilities need updates but capital improvements must be carefully timed and budgeted. I support improvements that directly enhance student safety, learning and long-term efficiency, without jeopardizing staffing or instructional resources.

Beatty: The Moniteau School District administration takes excellent care of the Moniteau School District buildings and facilities through regular maintenance and I believe that should continue. The district has already budgeted for and set aside funds to replace the football field stadium stairs — which are in dire need of repair. Outside of that large-scale improvement, I believe that the school should continue to maintain the facilities through regular maintenance.

Dillaman: I take pride in the fact that the school board members, the school administrators and staff have historically supported efforts to provide the students with a safe, clean and modern educational environment.

Karnes: There’s a few projects that I believe the district needs to make some improvements on, which I believe are already being discussed.

Panza: The Moniteau School District recently installed solar at no cost to the district or the taxpayer. The state has ended reimbursements for the building of schools and for extensive renovations. Fortunately, the district recently upgraded both buildings. As such, with regular maintenance and attention, the district should be in excellent shape for the foreseeable future. Also, our administrative team, maintenance/support staff and teachers are doing an excellent job to watch over the building operations to keep the buildings clean and functional in order to provide a welcoming environment that will endure for your children’s children.

Rosetti-Sadler: Our buildings should be safe, modern and conducive to learning. I support necessary improvements, but they should be well-researched, cost-effective and aligned with long-term goals. Every investment in infrastructure should be transparent, fiscally sound and supported by input from the community.

Rugg: did not answer.

More election coverage can be found here.