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Stearns announces Region I, School Board bid

Warren native Aaron Stearns has announced his candidacy as a Democrat for Region 1 School Board. Region 1 encompasses the City of Warren, Glade Township, and Elk Township.

Stearns, 36, is a 1999 graduate of Warren Area High School. Post high school, he spent time in restaurant management before taking a position with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at Warren State Hospital. He left that position in 2010 and took on the role of stay-at-home dad.

“The WCSD work stoppage brought to light many problems within our District,” said Stearns. “As I became more involved and looked further into the state of our District, I became deeply concerned with the direction the Board had taken in the preceding years. A pattern of building renovation projects being put before students and curriculum became apparent. This pattern came at the expense of the students and taxpayers, and left us with a multi-million-dollar debt. I believe that any further spending in this area needs to be curtailed.

“Focusing on giving our students the technology they need to excel,” said Stearns, “while making needed repairs to our current buildings. Facing a projected 40-million-dollar deficit over the next five years, we cannot continue to expect the taxpayer to accept the practice of deficit spending for renovation. We must also do a better job of negotiating with the employees of the district. I believe my background in management, as well as my work with a union as both a member and as a steward will make me an effective negotiator. We can negotiate contracts that make our District competitive in hiring and retaining the highest quality educators and staff for our children, without mortgaging the future stability of our district.”

Stearns’ priorities include:

¯Reducing the fund balance before levying any increase in property taxes. The Senior Citizens of Warren County, many of whom live on a fixed income, cannot afford another tax increase.

¯ Be more fiscally responsible with QZAB loans. Although the interest rates are excellent, we cannot continue to amass debt while our tax base declines and State and Federal funding remain stagnant.

¯ Fair, open and transparent contract negotiations. This will go a long way in showing good faith and avoiding work stoppages.

Stearns lives in Warren with his wife, Carissa, and sons, Wyatt and James Henry. He has shown dedication to his community and its children through his membership with Glade Volunteer Fire Department, his work with the Boy Scouts of America, including currently being Cubmaster for Pack 36 in Sheffield, and the time he has volunteered as a Little League coach for the past four seasons. He regularly attends service and is a member of The Harbor Free Methodist Church in Warren.

Stearns added in closing, “I believe ensuring the highest quality education for our children should be a nonpartisan effort, therefore I will cross file to appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballot.”

For more information visit www.stearnsforschoolboard.com.

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