Meet School Board Candidate Stephen Annunziato

Stephen Annunziato

Age: 53

Family: Wife Lisa, Sons Alex and Christopher

Political party affiliation: Republican

Tell us about your educational background:

·         BS Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1982

·         MBA, Creighton University, 1986

·         Master of Engineering, Boston University, 1988

Tell us about your professional/business background:

I am the SVP of Marketing & Sales and an officer of Synapse Biomedical, www.synapsebiomedical.com . I have over twenty five years of medical device, diagnostics & life science experience. Fifteen years were with Johnson & Johnson. I’ve been a corporate officer of two public companies, Osteotech (OSTE) and Integra LifeSciences (IART).   Additionally I was an officer in the USAF.

Why are you running for school board?

The track record of the incumbent board members running for reelection on budget prioritization and management oversight lead me to explore running.  Discussion with SLSD directors  convinced me my experiences with Upper Saucon Township and with the NJ’s State University curriculum and budgets, will benefit the SLSD board decision making and policy development capabilities. 

What qualifies you to serve on the board?

I have experience as an appointed representative for township budgetary and program matters; including;

o   2009 Planning Commission

o   2010 & 2011 Municipal Authority Secretary

o   2011 Budget Advisory Committee

Additionally, I have significant experience regarding education, programs and curriculum developed over 13 years supporting New Jersey’s Science and Technology University (NJIT) Board of Visitors for Biomedical Engineering, http://biomedical.njit.edu/about/board.php, and School of Management, http://management.njit.edu/about/board.php,  (2001 – Present) and Board of Overseers for NJIT (2012 – Present), www.njit.edu/about/boards/overseers/members.php.

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

The role of the board should be oversight and support of management and teachers of SLSD in their mission.  Provide review and approval for plans and programs related budgets and funding impact on taxes to SLSD member families.

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

1) Enhancing school management accountability for productivity of staff resources and budget efficiency, including:

·         Programs rationalization such as school wide student laptop purchases.

·         Compensation review across local and benchmark school districts.

2) Prioritization of resources in a slow growth, high unemployment environment that meets the needs of students while balancing the demands placed on families that financially support SLSD. 

3) Enhancing school management accountability for deterioration in PSSA scores as SLSD student progress from grammar to high school.

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

My campaign is being self funded. 

What, if any, endorsements have you received?

“When Steve served our Township in financial and operations capacities, he consistently advocated fiscal prudence as well as an ability to prioritize funds for vital community services.   His educational background and occupational experience make him an excellent school board candidate. I highly recommend Steve as a Southern Lehigh School District Board Director.”

Stephen Wagner, Chairman

Upper Saucon Board of Supervisors 

"We were fortunate to have had Steve serve our community on 2 vitally important committees that directly impacted our township in a positive way. Ultimately these committees kept our township taxes unchanged while keeping our level of service high and helped guide the supervisors through a financially difficult time. I endorse Steve and thank him publicly for serving our township residents.

Miro Gutzmirtl,

Former Township Supervisor Chairman

2007-2011

Do you use social media? If so, please provide links to your Facebook and Twitter.
I personally use social media, both linked in and Facebook. I do not plan to use social media for the campaign.