Meet School Board Candidate Brian Merkle

Brian Merkle

Age: 47

Family: Cathy, my wife of 25 years and two daughters, Sara in 10th grade and Keri in 8th grade @ Southern Lehigh.

Political party affiliation: Republican

Tell us about your educational background: Graduated Southern Lehigh high school 1984. Associates degree in Architectural drafting at Lincoln Technical Institute 1987.

Tell us about your professional/business background: I worked as architectural draftsman at Sturbridge Homes 1987-1989 and Posocco Construction 1989-2006. I left Posocco Construction to start my own company, Valley Home Design, where I design homes for several area home builders.

Why are you running for school board?

I decided to run for school board after the board's decision to raise taxes to lease Apple laptops for every student in the high school. There were valid alternatives to having a 1:1 student/computer ratio as well as many valid concerns about leasing an Apple laptop versus a windows based laptop. I feel that the expenditure was a want rather than a need and I would have voted no.

What qualifies you to serve on the board?

I have been a resident within the school district for 35 out of my 47 years. Cathy and I moved back into the district in 2001 specifically so Sara and Keri could enter into the Spanish immersion program @ Liberty Bell and receive the same quality education that we received from Southern Lehigh.

What do you see as the board's primary role and responsibilities?

The board's primary role is to set goals and objectives for the district. The board is responsible for voting to approve or deny EVERY aspect the school district deals with, from the largest issue (the budget and taxes) to the minutiae (salaries for fitness center staff), and everything in between.

Tell us about 3 major challenges facing the school district and how you would address them. (Please be as specific as possible):

1.) The biggest challenge will be the upcoming budgets with the increased school district contributions to the PSERS (Public school employee retirement system) fund. Those payments will eat up a large chunk of the existing fund balance over the next 5 years. Governor Corbett has a proposal to change all new state employees retirement plans from a defined benefit (pension) to a defined contribution system (401k), much like the Upper Saucon supervisors just passed for new employee hires, but at this point it is just a proposal and not guaranteed to move forward.  With that challenge eating up more and more of the fiscal pie, there is less and less money for the students, i.e., extra-curricular activities and sports.

2.) Trying to keep class room sizes at reasonable levels in these trying economic times.

3.)  The upcoming teachers union contract. I would push for a change to a defined contribution (401k) retirement system for new hires. I cannot think of another situation where somebody gets a guaranteed benefit, no matter the economic climate, at the expense of the district taxpayers.

How much are you spending to run? How is your campaign being funded?

I am not spending anything on my campaign (apart from the filing fee to get on the May primary ballot) nor am I receiving funding from any outside sources. I thought about buying yard signs but decided the benefit did not outweigh the cost.

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

I have received an enthusiastic endorsement from my family. I know of no others.

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

I do not facebook but I do have a Twitter account, @chilipepper66.