Election 2023: Michael Hartline for Centennial School Board, Region 3

Candidates running in the May 16 primary election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

WARMINSTER, PA —Michael E. Hartline is running as a Republican in the May 16 primary election for one of two, four-year terms in Region 3 for the Centennial School Board.

Hartline is vying for a four-year school board term against school board member Shelly Eilenberg. Both have cross-filed for the position.

Biographical Information

Name: Michael Hartline

Age: 55

Town of residence: Warminster

Position sought: Centennial School Director, Region 3

Are you an incumbent? No

What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Warminster, Ivyland, Upper Southampton

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Married, 3 children: Two are graduates of Centennial; one currently attends William Tennant High School.

Education: BBA, Temple University's Fox School of Business, Degrees in Risk Management & Insurance, Business Law

Occupation: Self Employed

1. What are the top issues currently facing your position and how do you plan to address them?
Like many individuals, my concerns are for the quality of education and the safety of our students. I witnessed firsthand how our children suffered during COVID. In spite of best efforts, it was not always possible to duplicate a classroom environment. As a result, our student’s education suffered.

Having served before, I understand that there is no quick fix however I believe that better communication with parents and guardians, transparency of curriculum, and a return to the basics are essential. Parents cannot help their children if they do not know what is being taught. Finally, when it comes to school safety, I bring my experience as a first responder, as I did my last turn on the school board as part of the team that created Centennial’s All Hazard Plan.

2. Identify specific goals or ideas you have to enhance life in your position:
I believe that we need to return to the basics of education, including arts and music. It is our
responsibility to teach our children HOW to think and NOT what to think. Staff members' political
views, concepts, and ideologies must be kept out of the classrooms. In high school, students with differing opinions should be taught how to constructively disagree.

3. What in your experience or background prepares you for election to office?
Having previously served as a School Director, I know what the job entails. I had the honor of serving for eight years on the Centennial School Board as well as the Bucks County IU Executive board, (four years as board president). As a Centennial School Director, I helped bring full-day kindergarten to the district, chrome books to all students (years before COVID required it) and fought for the safety of our students as part of the team which developed the district’s all-hazard plan.

During my tenure at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit I helped to accomplish a great deal, integrating Bucks County Head Start, setting up the first Early Childhood Learning Center in the state and creating the Bucks and Montgomery County Schools Health Care Consortium, which has saved taxpayers $75 million in reduced fees and costs. This experience along with being a small business owner for over 25 years has prepared me to serve again.