School Board Candidate: Pam Poletti

Pam Poletti is a first-term school director who thinks the board’s decision last year to hire a new superintendent is moving the district in a positive direction.

“I think that’s the best think we’ve done,” Poletti said. “He came in and put (a strategic plan) together and we set some pretty high goals and objectives. I want us to succeed at and see it through.”

She pointed to several programs such as the individual learning plans and freshmen academy that are moving the school district forward and improving the lessons. She acknowledged that the standardized test scores must improve, but thinks the board and Superintendent Brian White Jr. are making progress.

“Those are things we can work toward and I think Dr. White can get us there,” Poletti said. “We have the stability.”

She thinks the hiring of White has been crucial, and said she helped lobby to review more superintendent candidates following the initial interviews.

Poletti, 52, lives in Scott Township and works at Duquesne University in the Health Sciences department and also helps mentor freshmen students. She has a professional studies degree from Duquesne. All three of her children graduated from Chartiers Valley.

“We didn’t get where we were overnight, so change won’t happen immediately,” Poletti said.  “But people can see we are getting there.”

Poletti added that she voted against last year’s property tax increase. She applauded the work of the district’s business manager, Nicolas Morelli, for giving the board good information to make decisions.

She hopes to remain on the board to continue improving the education curriculum to help students achieve after they graduate.

“Obviously, I want our students to succeed, not just in school but afterwards,” Poletti said. “I want them to have the skills once they go into the job market or college. That’s what I want for our students.”

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