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Seneca Valley election reflects changes in district representation
Wednesday, May 09, 2001 By Pamela R. Winnick, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
As a school district encompassing more than 100 square miles, with some areas booming and others losing population, Seneca Valley has had to take a hard look at the composition of its board.
In contrast to school districts such as North Allegheny, where board members are elected "at large," Seneca Valley's board members are elected by region. In concept, at least, the board should reflect the geographic distribution of its residents.
But in an ever-changing district like Seneca Valley, it's not that simple to keep up with the demographics.
Board member John Mitro, now board president, became aware of this about five years ago when he looked around the board room and realized that Cranberry was grossly underrepresented on the nine-member board: Cranberry had 62 percent of the district's population but only 2 1/2 board members. (One was shared with Seven Fields.)
"In a school district as large as this," Mitro said, "having equal representation is very important."
His colleagues -- some of whom stood to lose their seats if redistricting went through -- agreed, and four years ago the board petitioned Butler County Court for a change.
Though districts were redrawn, no board member was out of a post -- at least not immediately. The change, the court decreed, would take effect over the course of two elections: 1999 and 2001.
After this election, Cranberry will have 4 1/2 board members.
"Essentially, my own area was cut in half," Mitro said of the 1999 election.
Other areas were realigned. Region 9, for example, used to consist of Harmony and Lancaster. This year, Harmony will share that region with Jackson, and Lancaster will move into Region 8 to join Forward.
Will Cranberry's continued growth mean changes in the future?
"Not for at least five years," Mitro said.
Here's a look at this year's candidates and the areas they represent:
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Region 1, Cranberry East I and East II -- Incumbent Dean T. Berkebile is unopposed.