Mark Dodson — Chartiers Valley School District
Mark Dodson is running for school director in Chartiers Valley School District, located in Allegheny County. He is a registered Republican and a retired sales manager in operations of point-of-sale systems, following a 37-year career.
Why are you running for school board?
If elected, my primary focus would be on academics and spending wisely. Academic opportunities for all students and fiscal responsibility are critical for the success of Chartiers Valley. Our students deserve the best education to prepare them for the future. A balanced budget without tax increases benefits all tax payers, especially our senior citizens on a fixed income.
What are the most important issues facing your district?
A shocking decline in academic performance by all measurable standards is one of the biggest challenges of Chartiers Valley School District. We need to bring back our school district to its former glory as a top-ranked school district in Western Pennsylvania. This will only occur by working as a team of board members, supporting the administration and enabling staff to deliver instruction in the classroom.
What is your professional background/experience? What skills would you bring to the board?
In my career, I was the sales manager in operations of point-of-sale systems for 37 years. I learned early in my career that trust and transparency are essential for a good working relationship. I would use these skills in my communications with other board members, as well as teachers, parents and tax payers.
Have you run for political office previously? Have you been politically active?
I have not previously run for political office. I have attended the Chartiers Valley School Board meetings for over fifteen years. I have seen years of mismanagement and feel it is time for me to become more involved as a school board director.
Are you running with other candidates?
No.
What is the most important role of the school board in your opinion?
There are several very important roles of the school board, the first being to provide our students with the best education to prepare them for their future. We must also provide them a safe environment for learning. However, we also have a responsibility to our tax payers to be fiscally responsible and provide a balanced budget.
Please list any campaign websites and social media sites.
We contacted the Democratic and Republican committees in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties and asked them to share the questions with their school director candidates. Broad + Liberty will post the responses throughout the summer to assist voters in learning about the candidates running in their district. The series is open to any school director on the ballot in November. Please contact barosica@broadandliberty.com for more information.
