Meet School Board Candidate Ed Inghrim

Ed Inghrim

Age: 70

Family: Wife Ellen, Four Children and two Grandchildren (All products of public education)

Political party affiliation: Cross filed

Tell us about your educational background:

SUNY BS Electrical Engineering

Tell us about your professional/business background:

(1) Engineer -Bell Telephone Laboratories (2) Engineer/Financial Analysis - AT&T, Bell Communications Research & Pacific Bell (3) Senior Partner – Financial Strategies Group

Why are you running for school board?

 Eight years ago I ran for the school board because spending and taxation in Saucon Valley was out of control and our bond rating was heading down. We have not had a tax increase in four years, our bond rating is triple A, we have over $10 million in the fund balance (savings account), we have not fired any teachers or cut programs and our a cademic scores have improved.

What qualifies you to serve on the board? See the previous question.

What do you see as the board's primary role and responsibilities? Working with the administration to run an efficient and cost effective district while preparing our students to succeed in the real world.

What's your position on outsourcing school bus drivers' jobs?

I don’t have a position. We have seen a lot of emotion but little facts. When I get the facts I will formulate a position.

SV teachers went on strike in 2005, 2008 and 2009, and they are currently working without a contract. Do you support the pay freeze teachers have been asked to accept, along with other district employees? Yes I support the pay freeze, every other group in the school district understood the impact of the economic collapse on taxpayers and volunteered for a pay freeze. What do you think must happen to aver t another strike? We need to sit down and talk as reasonable adults which thus far we have done.

Tell us about any other major challenges facing the school district and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):

The biggest challenge that our school district faces, along with another 499 school districts, is the looming pension. When PSERS was over funded, Harrisburg voted to increase their pension, as well as the teachers’ pension, and cut the employer contribution rate. Within three years PSERS was in the red and will be for years. Pundits argue the problem is that schools did not contribute their fair share. Well schools never cut property taxes with the savings they just added more professional and support staff and there is little evidence they improved academics by spending the savings.

How much are you spending to run? I signed an affidavit not to exceed $250. How is your campaign being funded? Through donations.

What, if any, endorsements have you received? None

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/edward.inghrim