SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — The father of three children who attend Parkland schools has announced his campaign for Parkland School Board.
Chris Pirrotta of South Whitehall Township is a member of the Parents Association of Cetronia and recently raised concerns at two hearings about the proposed recovery house next to the Cetronia Elementary School.
- Chris Pirrotta, a father of three children who attend Parkland schools, is running for the Parkland School Board
- Pirotta said his priorities are stability, support, safety and bipartisanship
- Pirotta, a Democrat, is the second new candidate for the school board, after former educator Joanne Dillman. Incumbent directors Marisa Ziegler and Patrick Foose also announced bids for re-election
“If 20 to 40% of these people relapse in these homes, it isn't the smartest thing to have next to a school with no fences, no walls, no nothing,” Pirrotta said at a meeting in February.
Pirrotta is the second new candidate to announce a bid for the upcoming election, in which six seats on the board will be up for re-election.
Former educator and North Whitehall resident Joanne Dillman, a Democrat, announced her campaign last month.
Board Vice President Marisa Ziegler, a Democrat, and board member Patrick Foose, a Republican, both announced re-election campaigns in January.
"I am not motivated by political ambition but rather by a genuine desire to serve my fellow community members and make a positive impact in our schools."Chris Pirrotta, candidate for Parkland School Board
Pirrotta is a registered Democrat, but he said he has no strong party affiliation and is cross-filing for the election.
Pirrotta’s priorities
Pirrotta said in a news release that he has four priorities in his platform: maintaining a stable environment for students and staff, providing resources to help every student achieve their potential, ensuring safety and promoting bipartisanship.
"My focus is on the issues that matter most to our community rather than those that may be dominating the national news,” Pirrotta said in the release.
“I am not motivated by political ambition but rather by a genuine desire to serve my fellow community members and make a positive impact in our schools."
Pirrotta said in the release that he believes his platform can “help students succeed, minimize school taxes and maximize property values.”
Pirrotta said in an interview that he thinks it's important for the school board to be transparent.
"The school board does owe it to the residents of this area to be transparent in decisions and discussions," he said. "And I think they do a great job of that now, in my opinion.”
The transparency of the board has become a hotly debated subject in recent meetings.
The upcoming election
Pirrotta is joining what could become a crowded race for the primary election, which is on May 16. The general election is on Nov. 7.
The six seats on the school board that will be on the ballot in 2023 will be those held by board President Carol Facchiano, and directors Jay Rohatgi, Lisa Roth, Robert Bold, Ziegler and Foose.
Bold said that he did not plan to run for re-election when he was appointed in January.
Other board members have not said whether they intend to run.
