Meet the Candidates: Jeffrey Dimmig

Jeffrey Dimmig

Political Affiliation: Republican

Town of Residence: Upper Saucon, 11years

Education: Quakertown H.S. 1991; B.S. Economics U.S. Naval Academy 1996; J.D. Temple University Law 2003

Profession/Work Experience: Artillery Officer U.S. Marines 1996-2003; Military Prosecutor U.S. Marines 2003-2006; Asst District Attorney Lehigh County (Supervisor of Juvenile Division) 2006-Present

Elected positions: SLSD School Board, two years

2011 Absences: 2

Committees: Budget & Finance, Teacher Contract Negotiations

Why are you running for your position? I am running to help ensure the School Board is open and responsive to all members of our community. 

What would you most like to accomplish if elected? My number one goal if elected is to reverse the exploding growth of the school budget.   We can achieve this by (1) limiting annual salary increases and requiring a greater sharing of health costs; (2) freezing administrators’ salaries and consolidating positions; (3) empowering teachers to focus on students not test scores; and (4) reducing wasteful spending like $60,000 laser engravers for fourth-graders.  I fought for each of these goals in my first term while voting against every tax increase. 

FORUM QUESTIONS

Do you support pay freezes for school employees for all positions?

Yes, in fact I voted for those things. It’s not something I just came into. I voted for a pay freeze for the administrators last year. This year the president of the union asked for a pay freeze. That’s something we need to take a look at. I don’t think we ought to balance the budget on the backs of some of lower paid employees, though. We absolutely should request a pay freeze for teachers.

Do you think the number of administrators and their salaries has outgrown the district?

The central office is the best area to cut. The farther you get from the classroom teacher, from the people who are interacting with the children day in and day out, that’s where we need to look for savings. Looking at the assistant superintendent, we need to look at if that’s a necessary position. Administrator positions are where we can best realize savings. These have $50,000 to $100,000 salaries.

Do you see a need for a teachers union?

I think we absolutely need teachers unions. That’s an important part of the process. Our union has been quite responsive to us. The school code and state union controls a lot of what happens and put pressure on things that occur. We need them, but we could use some more flexibility. There’s going to be a lot on the line here. Hopefully they can give, so we can give back.

Do you support charter schools and school vouchers?

Yes, I support vouchers and I would support charter schools. I don’t see myself as a cheerleader for Southern Lehigh School District. I’m here to support the community. I think competition is a good thing. I’m in favor of giving an opportunity to our families to choose as they see fit. Hopefully we are producing a product that people want to come to. I would send my children here.

If you were faced between making cuts that would negatively affect education or increase property taxes what would you do?

I think that’s a false choice. We can provide an excellent education without increasing taxes. In the past decade in the state we were the third highest in tax increases out of 501. We had a 48 percent tax increase and we have an $18 million surplus. We’ve overtaxed the district. I don’t think spending equals a good education. I think it’s important we have good leadership.

What would you do to improve cooperation with township supervisors?

It’s just unacceptable on both sides. There’s no reason the school board should be locking heads. We could cast blame but we need to take responsibility. I take responsibility. We missed out on some opportunities. It’s about the community. Not about the school district, it’s about the community.

Studies have shown nutrition affects school performance. Do you believe the food service program should be changed?

I think the key here is we have healthy choices in our schools. We’re not going to make everyone eat healthy. Childhood obesity is an issue. At the same time it shouldn’t be mandated. Sugar options should be available as well.

You have mentioned salaries but what are some other cuts that need to be made?

The farther you get from the classroom the greater we can cut spending. We purchased two $60,000 laser engravers last year. One was for a 4^th grade classroom. We don’t need that. I voted against it. Sixty-thousand, that’s a teacher, folks. That’s where we can find savings -- as we get farther from the classroom. They want to build a new central office building. Who’s that for? Just administrators. Again, I’d be against that.

How important is it to attend school board meetings and serve on committees?

I don’t think we need to belabor the point. You need to be at every meeting we have. I don’t always agree with everyone on the board, but I don’t question the dedication of any person on the board. We have a very dedicated board. It seems like there’s a lot of very dedicated people here tonight. It’s a commitment. You need to make that commitment. I would like to see us get the community involved in the committees. I would love to bring parents in. That’s an untapped resource.

How would you bring cyber school/charter school students back?

I am not against cyber schools, vouchers or charter schools. That fills a vacuum or a need out here. We here are in the business of providing this type of education. I don’t know that it helps us to try and capture that small percentage of people out there. Those people made that choice. I don’t really see the savings. I think we’re better off allowing them to choose that path.

What is the state percentage of surplus dollars allowed per district?

I think our surplus has been problematic to a degree. It’s helpful to have an adequate surplus. At the same time, though, frankly we’re swimming in cash. When you have a big surplus, then you don’t make hard choices. When someone asks for a 4 percent increase, we say OK. That surplus has caused us to overspend. I’ve voted against every tax increase for the same reasons.