School board candidates press for transparency, student supports and caution on stadium spending

School board candidates at a Sunbury forum criticized the district’s transparency, urged expanded student supports to reduce dropout rates and questioned recent stadium spending and proposed new athletic fields.

Simone Franklin, a school-board candidate, said the district must give teachers a stronger voice and provide them tools to prevent student dropouts. “In the year 2023, 2024 ... we had the thirteenth highest percentage of dropouts in the entire state of Pennsylvania. I believe that number was 44 students dropped out of our high school that school year,” Franklin said. She argued intervention should start as early as kindergarten and that teachers should be able to refer students for mental-health evaluations and supports.

Discussion of athletics focused on a multi-phase stadium project. One candidate said the public was initially told the stadium price was $5,200,000 but “that quickly ballooned into 8 and I think we're approaching $9,000,000 right now.” Candidates expressed support for necessary facility repairs—such as updated locker rooms and bathroom facilities for female athletes—but questioned additional phases, including a proposed second turf field estimated at $1.5–$1.7 million. Several speakers called for clearer contract information and for the district to prioritize building repairs and classroom needs before further athletic expansions.

Several candidates noted programs they support: career pathways at the high school (construction, medical, education and entrepreneurship pathways), a diversified-occupations program that places seniors in workplace apprenticeships, and in-school interventions such as increased counselor and psychologist capacity. A candidate recommended making it easier for teachers to refer students to those services and for the district to post mental‑health resources and phone numbers prominently on its website.

On transparency, speakers criticized the district website’s navigation and urged posting agenda materials—especially “first reading” documents—so the public can review proposals before the second reading and final vote. One candidate cited Pottsville’s policy of accepting submitted questions before meetings and allowing the board to answer agenda-related questions during the meeting as a model to consider.

Ending: Candidates asked voters to weigh their proposals ahead of the election and said they would prioritize more accessible information, targeted student supports and fiscal scrutiny of large capital projects if elected.