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School Director - NORTHGATE {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School Directors are elected on behalf of the community to oversee the education of students in their jurisdiction. They serve as agents of the state legislature. They are responsible for curriculum and instruction management; all finances including development of annual budgets and levying of taxes and issuance of debt obligations when necessary; personnel; legal matters; management of facilities; and transportation of students as appropriate. Schools may include pre-K and career and technical schools.

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    Melissa A. Bilski
    (Dem)

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    Amber Lehman
    (Dem)

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    Chelsea MacDonald
    (Dem)

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    Cheryl Patalano
    (Dem)

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    Laura Pollanen
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What is your experience with your public schools, and what in your background would contribute to your being an effective school board member?

How would you address anticipated shortfalls in school funding over the next few years? Please be specific.

How would you approach decisions about curriculum selection and access to books in the district to balance educational value and community concerns?

Campaign Web Site http://NA
Occupation Licensed Psychologist
Qualifications for office 13 + years in higher education, Clinical Psychologist
Education PsyD
Facebook NA
I was appointed to the position of Northgate School Board Director in the summer of 2024. Since then, I’ve gained valuable insight into the vital role a school board plays in ensuring that a district remains aligned with its mission and core values. I’ve worked collaboratively with district administration to provide policy guidance, budgetary oversight, and to serve as a liaison between the district and the broader community. Prior to joining the board, I worked for over ten years as a clinical psychologist at a local university’s counseling and psychological services center. My background in mental health gives me a deep understanding of the social and emotional development of students, which I believe is essential for academic success. I
In general, our district operates in a fiscally responsible manner. We regularly evaluate programs and software to ensure resources are used efficiently, replacing tools that are outdated or no longer serving students effectively. The focus of budgetary planning is always to balance the needs of the district with those of the community, with an emphasis on sustainability. Looking ahead, we are already anticipating that public school funding will be a challenge. While my approach is to remain proactive and forward-thinking, I recognize the strength of our team and am committed to identifying creative funding solutions through grants and partnerships. Finally, advocacy at the state level is more essential than ever.
I don’t generally support the idea of banning books or access to differing viewpoints. While I understand that certain materials may be uncomfortable—especially when they challenge personal beliefs or lived experiences—I believe it’s vital for students to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives. Growth often comes from engaging with ideas that are different from our own? Rather than removing material that challenges us, I believe it's more constructive to reflect and ask: What is it about this that makes me uncomfortable? That said, I also deeply trust the educators, curriculum director. They are trained experts who understand what content is developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, and academically enriching for our students.
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Occupation Administrative Assistant
Qualifications for office Current School Board member, parent, school volunteer, former library worker
Education BA Communications
Facebook facebook.com/PatalanoForNorthgateSB
My connection to Northgate School District spans over 14 years, beginning when my eldest child entered Kindergarten. She has transitioned to the University of Pittsburgh as a biology major, while my youngest is currently a freshman at Northgate High School. Throughout these years, I've been actively engaged in our educational community through multiple avenues: serving on the PTO, volunteering in classrooms and the elementary school library, and holding a leadership position on the Northgate Marching Band Boosters board. This hands-on involvement has provided me with invaluable insight into our district's operations from both parent and volunteer perspectives.
Northgate has navigated funding shortfalls for years prior to the pandemic-related investments. As these temporary funds have dried up, our board has developed comprehensive long-term plans addressing our core areas: curriculum, athletics/activities, and facilities. Financially, we've adopted a measured approach with modest tax adjustments rather than imposing substantial increases every few years. Our district faces unique geographical constraints as a fully developed area without expansion opportunities available to neighboring townships like Ross and Ohio. Within these limitations, we balance fiscal responsibility to our community while maintaining our commitment to academic and extracurricular success.

Students in the Northgate School District will always have access to a full range of books and educational resources. My background in libraries has made me a passionate advocate for ensuring that children experience both windows ( a look into other lives and perspectives) and mirrors (texts that reflect their own identities) through literacy. If concerns ever arise about particular materials, I would view it as an opportunity to foster greater understanding and education across our community. As President of the Northgate School Board, I will continue to encourage lifelong learning and open dialogue throughout our district.
Occupation Non-profit manager
Qualifications for office Served for 3 years on SB already; 15 year career in non-profit work; certificate in Instructional Design
Education BA Political Science, University of Pittsburgh; Master's Certificate in Instructional Design, UIUC
I went to public school for my K-12 education, and I ran an afterschool program that worked with public schools for 4 years. I have been serving on the board for 3 years now, and am chair of the Food Service and Wellness Committee. I understand the needs of community members in Northgate, and I know how kids' educations can be affected by matters outside of their control. I bring a perspective of a community member who is very well-versed in community resources, and as a non-parent who is passionate about education.
Dr. Johns and the rest of the admin team are extremely skilled at finding grants to fund programming for Northgate. By prioritizing needs such as funding for free lunch, mental health supports for kids, and maintaining safe and effective schools buildings, we can ensure a base level of quality instruction for our communities. We can also leverage professional connections to non-profits for in-kind partnerships to provide services with little to no cost.
My focus would be that the curriculum provides an age-appropriate, historically accurate, and culturally sensitive breadth of material. I would not support curriculum that changes or omits facts about our world and culture.