Only one vacant seat on the Seneca Valley School Board will be competitive in the upcoming election on Nov. 4.

The Region 4 seat, which covers Cranberry Township West 4 and West 6 and is currently represented by Fred Peterson, will be filled by either Republican candidate Mark Ruston or Democratic candidate Travis Savitt-Kraft, both of whom are seeking their first four-year term on the board.

Mark Ruston

Originally from West Mifflin, Mark Ruston is a Cranberry Township resident and works as a national account operations manager.

Ruston said his commitment to public education stems from his own experiences, along with those of his wife and two children, all of whom attended public schools.

With a professional background in managing multimillion dollar budgets, he said his financial expertise will help ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly while maintaining strong schools.

Ruston said he hopes to bring a thoughtful, learning-first approach to the board as he works to address challenges such as funding, teacher shortages and student mental health.

Travis Savitt-Kraft

Travis Savitt-Kraft is a full-time mathematics teacher and department chair at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh.

Born in Washington, D.C., Savitt-Kraft has lived and worked in several states, bringing with him 17 years of teaching experience in both traditional classrooms and unique settings such as film and television sets.

In addition to his background in pedagogy and curriculum, he has managed teams of educators and taught business math and budgeting for a decade.

Savitt-Kraft said his professional experience has given him a collaborative approach to problem-solving and a strong attention to detail, qualities he hopes to bring to the board if elected.

What prompted you to run for this position?

Ruston: “I have always believed that everyone should give back to their community in some small way. I am already involved with the community in other areas and see this as an important extension of this effort.

“I will be an active school board member who will work with the others to come up with solutions to the problems that we face today as well as improve upon those areas where we are already excelling in.”

Savitt-Kraft: “After devoting decades of my life to students, teachers, parents and administrators, I felt that it is time to get involved on an even greater level. I believe that I can make a positive change and impact in my community, and I want to help my neighbors and friends be even more proud of our Seneca Valley education system. ”

If elected, what are some of your goals for the district?

Ruston: “I feel Cranberry is a top 5% community in the state and feel our students, parents and taxpayers deserve a school district in the top 5% of the state. Currently, according to a Google search, ‘in the 2026 rankings, Niche ranked Seneca Valley the 91st best school district out of nearly 500 in Pennsylvania, and second in Butler County.’ Obviously home values have a direct link to the local school system and is a large factor for younger families to want to enter our community.

“Seneca Valley is looking to make an investment of $165 million, but what does that investment buy us and will this help our efforts to provide a better education for our kids? Will this investment improve our 91 out of 500 ranking, and second best school in Butler County? This is an investment that will cost every taxpayer a lot of money. Is this an investment that will improve the quality of education?”

“I liked that Seneca Valley was a leader in drug testing decades ago which has been an effective system helping kids avoid drugs. Today, social media and the student’s mental health is a concerning issue and I would like to see Seneca Valley be progressive and bold in tackling these issues. I am also in favor of the new phone policy.”

Savitt-Kraft: “If elected, I would be interested in accomplishing the following:

Bolstering and shepherding our vocational-technical school programs, allowing our high school population to pursue more varied avenues to postgraduate success.

Consistently working toward a more balanced budget, working with vendors and our service sector to provide exemplary products at lower prices with less of a burden on our tax base.

Champion new school safety initiatives to keep our most vulnerable well-protected.

How will you assist this district in being fiscally responsible? What’s your take on the current tax rate and future taxes?

Ruston: “With decades of experience managing budgets along with profit and loss statements I feel I am in a great position to understand Seneca Valley’s $170 million budget and this possible $165 million renovation. But it is important to have the proper staff in place to effectively manage this large budget and the day-to-day operations.

“It’s not just fiscal responsibility but also realizing that we must meet strict state and federal mandates put on the system. I certainly understand the strain of current and increasing taxes on many in our community and the task of meeting the needs of the school district with being a good steward of our taxpayers funds.”

Savitt-Kraft: “I will continue to promulgate successful student programs while focusing on the things that do the most good for the largest number of students. I will work with my colleagues on the board to keep the tax rate in check, as well as looking at all of the angles when deciding on large new constructions in the district. Plans can be created that will accommodate a large student population without overspending and my capacity to build rapport with vendors will also help keep costs low.”

What’s your opinion on the proposed $165 million school renovation? Is it a responsible financial decision for the district?

Ruston: “The district has proposed a $165 million plan to renovate the intermediate high school and add a performing arts center, including 43 classrooms, 12 science labs, collaboration spaces and a 1,600-seat auditorium. That is a lot of money, especially considering the new Ehrman Crest Elementary School — with about 30 classrooms, a gym, cafeteria, utilities and site work — was built from the ground up for $63 million. The new project will cost nearly triple that. This adds roughly $11,000 in additional debt per household in the district, along with a proposed 11-mill tax increase — on top of the 5.5 mills we all recently received.

“My question is simple: Will this investment actually improve our state rankings? And further, does building a 1,600-seat auditorium truly enhance the quality of our children’s education? These are the types of difficult but necessary questions I will ask.”

Savitt-Kraft: “It is easy to look in from the outside on a decision that increases our taxes in Butler County and say that the decision is fiscally irresponsible and the only option is to scrap the whole plan and start over. It is my understanding that the school board has made a decision like this over the course of hours of deliberation and debate.

“I promise that as a representative of my own district, I will help be transparent and keep my constituency informed about new spending and the reasons behind it. Our district is growing, but the $165 million plan was not the only one considered. As a board member, I expect that I will champion and engineer other plans that will keep our new taxes lower.”

In your opinion, how has the district been handling the school’s steady growth in recent years? What, if anything, would you do differently?

Ruston: “Actually, projections for the state shows a decline of high school graduates by 17% in the next 15 years across Pennsylvania which presents a real problem. Butler Area School District once graduated 1,000 students 40 years ago, and today, graduate half that amount.

“The good news is that Cranberry and surrounding communities continue to grow and are projected to remain on that path for the foreseeable future. Having a great school system plays a major role in that growth so I want to do my part to see Seneca Valley become a top 5% program in the state and our kids getting some of the best test scores as a result of that. Those goals not only come from school board members but having the best teachers and programs possible as well as coordinated and cooperative effort working with the parents.”

Savitt-Kraft: “Our school board has been effectively managing our growing district well. Part of the community’s disappointment with the new building is cost, but the board is planning for a future where we need to accommodate far more students in our physical school buildings. Our vo-tech program needs to make sure that it is reaching all interested students and as those apprenticeship style programs grow, we must continue to transport those students appropriately.”