Martin Schmotzer Looking to Keep Baldwin-Whitehall School Board Seat

Schmotzer, a former state representative, is a longtime B-W Board member.

Thirteen candidates are vying for four seats on the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board during May 21's primary election, including Martin Michael Schmotzer. Name on Ballot: Martin Michael Schmotzer Age on May 21: 57 years old Incumbent? Yes or No?: Yes. Are You Cross-Filed as a Republican and a Democrat?: Yes. Primary Political Party: Democrats Occupation: Businessman Municipality of Residence: Whitehall Borough Work History/Previous Political History: "Being in private business and running successful small businesses has given me the opportunity to see how the real world works." Post-Secondary (College, Trade School, et al.) Education History: Two years at University of Pittsburgh; two years at St. Fidelis College Seminary (Bachelor of Arts …

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Sound Off

Baldwin-Whitehall School Board: Who Are You Voting for, and Why?

Tell us which candidates you're backing in the May 21 primary.

Four seats, each for a four-year term, are on the ballot for Baldwin-Whitehall School Board. All candidates cross-filed as Republicans and Democrats for the primary election, which will be held on May 21. So, who are you voting for? And why? Tell your neighbors in the comments section below who the most qualified people are. The following candidates will appear on the ballot: School Board Candidates Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

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whitehallgirl89

5:46 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013

when have you seen him get very involved with the band? when I was at any event for the band for my little cousin I only saw him standing around talking. and to me he is more into getting popularity points than really caring for our community and the kids. I've never seen him run on the field for these events to help the kids get on and off the field for a competition or festival and his son is …   more ›

Choate Resigns, April Meeting Moved and Other B-W School Board Notes

The 2013 Baldwin Invite gets a sponsor.

Terry Choate Resigns Whitehall Borough resident Terry Choate, who used public-comments time during a March 16 Baldwin-Whitehall School Board meeting to express his dissatisfaction with the cleanliness of district buses, has resigned from his position as an extra bus driver for the district. The school board accepted his resignation, dated for Jan. 4, by an 8-1 vote at its meeting on Wednesday night. Board member Martin Michael Schmotzer dissented. Choate said on March 16 that he is a 35-year administrator of transportation. "I have never seen so many rules and regulations not followed at that (Baldwin-Whitehall) bus garage," Choate said. "You can't sweep bacteria out of a bus with a broom." Following Choate's March 16 speech, board member…

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Baldwin-Whitehall Schools' 2013-14 Calendar Debated

And other notes from Wednesday night's B-W School Board meeting.

2013-14 Calendar Debated Baldwin-Whitehall School District administration presented its preliminary 2013-14 academic year calendar at a B-W School Board meeting on Wednesday night, and board members had some concerns. District Superintendent Dr. Randal A. Lutz said that the calendar—not yet approved by the board—shows a starting date for students of Tuesday, Sept. 3, the day after Labor Day. And the graduation ceremony for Baldwin High School seniors is proposed for Tuesday, June 10. The calendar also proposes six scheduled two-hour delays—regardless of weather. Lutz said that those two-hour periods would be used for educators' clerical work and professional development. Board member Larry Pantuso is not a fan of the two-hour delay days, …

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No Interim Principal Yet at Baldwin High School

But the school board did approve creating that position on Wednesday night. And read more from Wednesday's board meeting here.

Only Interim Principal Position Approved Baldwin-Whitehall School District Superintendent Dr. Randal A. Lutz is not ready to recommend someone to be the interim principal at Baldwin High School, but the position itself was created by a 9-0 vote from the B-W School Board on Wednesday night. The position became necessary after Baldwin High Principal Kevin O'Toole was granted a leave of absence in January. O'Toole's leave—district administration has not divulged the reason for it—is expected to last for the entire spring semester. Lutz said on Wednesday that he is still trying to find a hire. "I've had conversations with a few different individuals," Lutz said. "There's not someone who I've identified yet as available for this position. Who …

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Peter Wagner Jr. Is New Baldwin H.S. Head Football Coach

School board chooses Wagner by a 6-3 vote after rejecting Seton-La Salle Coach Greg Perry, 5-4.

Peter Wagner Jr. is the newest head coach of the Baldwin High School football program, the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board decided by a 6-3 vote on Wednesday night. Wagner, the dean of students at Baldwin High, has served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for the high school's varsity team for the past two seasons. He has been an overall assistant in the program for the past four seasons. School board member Tracy Macek motioned for Wagner to be the new head coach after board member George L. Pry's motion to hire Greg Perry failed by a 5-4 vote. (Pry was acting on a recommendation made by B-W School District administration.) Voting for Perry were Nancy Lee Crowder, Nancy Sciulli DiNardo, Pry and Martin Michael Schmotzer…

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tylerlee

11:08 am on Friday, February 22, 2013

do you have any idea how many of the QB,S on these teams alone are worked out by Perry, not to mention at the A, AAA, AND AAAA levels, please do some research before you make these idiotic statements   more ›

School Safety Expert, Whitehall Resident Helping B-W Teachers

And other notes from Wednesday night's Baldwin-Whitehall School Board meeting.

School Safety Expert Dr. Randal A. Lutz provided an update during Wednesday night's Baldwin-Whitehall School Board meeting regarding school safety-improvement efforts in the B-W School District. Lutz said that district administration has been focusing recently on three main areas that pertain to school safety: education/professional development, communication and "the hardening of structures, or hardening of exteriors." In the area of education/professional development, Lutz said that, during an in-service event on Jan. 21, local school safety expert Mary Margaret Kerr made a presentation to Baldwin-Whitehall educators on the topic of "owning spaces." Said Lutz, "The topic was really ... How do we go through our facilities and 'own' the …

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