The Butler Area School Board has appointed a local business owner and former teacher to fill the remainder of a vacant term.
Mary Waggoner was one of nine candidates vying to be considered for a spot on the board to complete the remainder of Leland Clark’s term, who resigned last month to accept a job with the law firm that serves as the district’s solicitor.
“I do feel that the Butler Area School District should be a model of public education in southwestern Pennsylvania,” Waggoner said Monday. “You can’t make everybody happy. Certainly when there’s hard decisions to be made with budget, there’s going to be folks that are going to be disgruntled. But, I think the community needs to be proud of what’s going on here in Butler.”
Each candidate had the opportunity to address the school board on Monday night and discuss why they felt they were deserving of the position. Other candidates included Arthur Haag, Gerri Paulisick, Greg Rajchel, Jamie Shuster, Kristen Fiorina, Jennifer Daniels-Wells, Scott Covert and Tracy Dunton. Several board members asked questions and then all eight voted for their top three candidates using a weighted system. The result of the vote was that Waggoner was the top choice.
In a district that has undergone numerous changes in the last few years and will continue to change in years to come, Waggoner maintains that helping employees to deal with change is essential.
“I think it’s extremely important that the administration and the school board is taking the temperature of what’s going on with the professional staff,” Waggoner said. “I think we need to help people deal with change.”
Waggoner moved to Butler in 1995 and taught special education and life skills at the Butler Junior High before she became a mom to two daughters who are currently attending Butler schools. Waggoner and her husband currently operate local Subway restaurants and Ace Hardware of Butler.
Written By: Ryan Saeler for the Butler Radio Network
