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BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- Residents of the South Range Local School District will have plenty of candidates from which to choose on the November ballot with three seats open.
Incumbents John Kuhns, Dale Murray and Ralph Wince will be joined on the ballot by Taylor Christian, Bob Dance, Terry Lally and Kelcie Witmer Schiraldi.
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Taylor Christian
A former South Range valedictorian, Christian is currently enrolled in his senior year at Youngstown State University with a double major in geography and political science while working on a GSAT certification. He has worked as a manager at Dairy Queen and as an intern with the Mahoning County Board of Elections. His community activities include Eagle Scout from Troop 80 in North Lima and YSU Rotaract.
Christian lost his campaign for the board two years ago. He said he is running again because he can "bring the energy and creativity needed to ready our students for the 2020s."
"The school board needs someone that understands that no one knows the children better than the parents do, and will therefore value parents' input. The board also needs someone that will protect taxpayer money as if it were their own," he explained. "I understand that in our district, we work hard for our money. We want people on the school board that respect the fact that every dollar we give them must be spent wisely, so that our students get the best education possible. It is important for the school board to be transparent, so that we can gain valuable feedback from South Range residents."
Christian lives on West Calla Road.
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Bob Dance
Currently a project manager at Butech Bliss, Dance is a mechanical engineer with over 30 years experience including chief engineer for George C. Mitchell Company, project manager for Taylor Winfield Corporation and project engineer for Electric Furnace Company. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and master's degree in mechanical engineering from Youngstown State University and is a licensed professional engineer in Ohio.
Dance has served as chairman of the Green Township Zoning Board on which he has been a member for over 10 years. Prior to that, he served on the Green Township Zoning Board of Appeals. He has also coached girls softball for the South Range Baseball Association and soccer for the South Range Soccer Club.
Having run unsuccessfully for the school board two years ago, Dance said he is running again because he believes the current board has lost the trust of district residents and seems to be "disconnected from reality."
"South Range schools are facing a future financial crisis and our board does nothing to prevent it," he explained. "Costs need to be contained or reduced before the taxpayers are asked to vote for an additional levy. The taxpayers deserve better than they are getting.
"Board members need to be accountable to the people that they represent. This means answering questions that are asked during board meetings, not requiring questions be submitted in writing weeks in advance."
Dance said the board needs to assess the impact open enrollment has had on the district and develop a plan for the future. He also said he will propose an independent audit of the district if elected.
He described himself as the candidate for change.
"I will always listen to the taxpayers' ideas and promote those that make sense for our district," he said. "I will be accountable and accessible to all of our residents. I do not believe in conducting meetings in executive session and will bring honesty to board meetings, as well as promote an open and transparent board of education."
Citing his experience managing multi-million dollar industrial projects, Dance said he has the understanding of the budgetary process to contain costs the get the most out of taxpayer dollars.
"As a taxpayer and parent of a child attending South Range schools, I have a vested interest in retaining the quality education that South Range is known for," he said. "Quality programs cost money and money is something that all school systems seem to be short of."
Dance lives with his wife on Beaver Creek Road. They have one daughter.
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Kelcie Witmer Schiraldi
A South Range High School graduate, Schiraldi graduated summa cum laude from Youngstown State University with an accounting degree. She is a certified public accountant, personal financial specialist and certified financial planner, plus she holds her Ohio Life and Health Insurance license. She is currently a trust administrator for Farmers Trust Company and has previously worked in public accounting for a regional accounting firm in the valley.
A member of the Mahoning Valley Young Professionals, Schiraldi also serves as treasurer for Harmony Village in Columbiana and sits on the board of Ohio Living Park Vista in Youngstown. She attends Old North Church.
Citing her financial background, Schiraldi said she can help on the school board.
"In my current position, I work with and manage money for many local public entities and understand the financial requirements and details for schools and other public entities," she said. "I was raised in and currently reside in South Range school district and have a vested interest in the well-being of the school system."
With an infant daughter who will be entering the school system in five years, Schiraldi said she feels compelled to act on her desire to serve on the school board and said her financial expertise can help keep the district financially sound to provide the best education for its students.
"I believe it is important to have someone on the board of education that has financial knowledge and expertise so that the financial impact on the district is considered in every decision," she explained. "As a 2007 graduate of South Range, I represent a generation that may not be currently represented on the board and can provide insight from the perspective of student since it was not that long ago that I was a student. Most of all, I feel compelled to help the district that I call home and that my children will be a part of and I think I have the qualifications to do so."
Schiraldi lives with her husband and daughter on West Middletown Road.
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The Salem News did not receive a response to an election questionnaire from John Kuhns, Terry Lally, Dale Murray and Ralph Wince
khowell@salemnews.net