More than 20,000 votes were cast for seven Warwick School Board candidates in the November 2015 municipal election, and Republicans won all five seats on the ballot.
Voters could choose up to five candidates.
The winners
Republicans Todd Rucci, Scott Shaub, Benedict R. Sahd, Leslie Penkunas and Nelson L. Peters each received more than 3,000 votes. Rucci, Shaub, Sahd and Peters were incumbents; Penkunas was newly elected.
Democrats Cathy Gelatka and Charles Hample fell short, each trailing the fifth-place Republican by roughly 1,000 votes or more.
Official results
With all 16 precincts reporting, the results were:
- Todd Rucci (R): 3,287
- Scott Shaub (R): 3,243
- Benedict R. Sahd (R): 3,149
- Leslie Penkunas (R): 3,140
- Nelson L. Peters (R): 3,096
- Cathy Gelatka (D): 2,119
- Charles Hample (D): 1,995
A total of 20,029 votes were cast in the race, with no write-in votes recorded.
What the board does
The Warwick Board of School Directors has nine members who shape school programs across the district, from curriculum and textbooks to hiring and the budget. In Pennsylvania, school directors are elected to four-year terms and serve without pay, and terms are staggered so that four or five seats are on the ballot in each odd-year municipal election.
The board’s decisions carry weight for every family and taxpayer in the district, which serves Lititz Borough and Warwick, Elizabeth and Clay townships. In 2015, the board faced a projected deficit of nearly $4 million in its 2015-16 budget, debates over media access and policy, and the selection of a new solicitor.
Cross-filing in school board races
Pennsylvania allows school board candidates to cross-file, appearing on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots. In many districts, that means general-election contests are decided in the spring. In Warwick’s 2015 race, voters had a choice of candidates from both parties in November, and the Republican slate carried the district.
Attend a meeting
The board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the board room of the Warwick School District Office, 301 W. Orange St., Lititz. Parents, students, residents and other interested people may attend and speak during public comment. Formal actions and major decisions, including the budget, are voted on at these public meetings, and minutes are posted on the district’s website.
Looking ahead
The newly elected and re-elected directors took their seats in December 2015, when the board reorganizes and elects its officers each year. Among their first tasks was work on the 2016-17 budget and continuing efforts to address the district’s structural deficit.
How school board elections work
In Pennsylvania, school board candidates often cross-file, seeking the nomination of both major parties in the spring primary. A candidate who wins both nominations can appear on both party lines in November, which makes the primary especially important in local school board races.
School directors serve four-year terms without pay. They set the district budget and tax rate, approve curriculum and contracts, and hire the superintendent. In a district the size of Warwick, those decisions shape the education of thousands of students and the tax bills of every property owner.
Why turnout matters
Municipal elections typically draw far fewer voters than presidential or gubernatorial races, so a relatively small number of votes can decide a seat. Local observers often point out that school board races are among the most consequential decisions on the ballot, even though they receive the least attention.
Staying involved
Residents can follow the board’s work at its public meetings, where agendas and minutes are posted in advance and public comment is welcome.
This article was originally published in November 2015.