Five nominated candidates are vying for four seats on the Greater Latrobe School Board.

A sixth hopeful, who fell short in primary voting, is seeking a second chance through a write-in campaign.

Listed on Tuesday’s ballot are three incumbents — Republican nominee Bill Palmer, Democratic nominee Cathy Sarraf and Heidi Kozar, who was nominated by both parties. Two newcomers, Merle D. Musick and Andrew Repko, also were nominated on both tickets.

The fourth board seat that is up for grabs is occupied by Dr. Rhonda Laughlin. She was appointed to fill out the term of Steven LoCascio, who died suddenly in May.

Tom Gockel, who failed to gain a primary nomination, is hoping to capture a board seat with write-in votes.

Kozar, 62, of Unity, is completing her 16th year as a member of the school board, which she helps to represent on the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center Joint Operating Committee. She helps to provide care for her two grandchildren, who are Greater Latrobe students.

Kozar said the entire Greater Latrobe community should join district staff in “protecting and helping any students who are struggling” with mental health issues or “feel marginalized and left behind” during the covid-19 pandemic.

“Isolation during remote learning, quarantining and the fear of bringing the (covid) virus home to loved ones have all contributed to the increase in mental health problems and the impact on student learning,” she said. “We as a district must continue to reach out to these students and help with their academic work and their fears and concerns.”

Musick, 20, of Unity, is a 2020 district graduate who is studying political science and participating in the Army ROTC program at the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. He is the son of school board member Merle L. Musick.

He also is a coach for the Greater Latrobe clay target team, stressing that team members should maintain their academic achievement while learning firearms discipline and staying safe.

“I believe in the arts, academics and athletics,” he said. “That is what our school distinct is known for, having the best of all three.”

He has said the school board should use a balanced approach to budgeting so “taxpayers are happy and students are receiving the highest quality education they can.”

Palmer, 64, of Unity, is the general manager of a construction firm. He has served on the school board for 12 years and is another Greater Latrobe representative on the joint operating committee for the career and technology center.

In addition to keeping students learning in-person five days per week in district classrooms, Palmer said he is focused on plans for renovating the career and technology center.

“I’m very pleased it’s coming to fruition,” he said of the renovation project. He noted it will involve support from Greater Latrobe as well as the neighboring Derry Area and Ligonier Valley school districts.

While other Greater Latrobe buildings are likely to need attention further down the road, Palmer said, “I’m very comfortable with the school district at the point where we are right now.”

Sarraf, 62, is working part-time as an office assistant while caring for grandchildren. She previously worked as a Realtor and an administrative assistant.

She fell short of gaining election to the board in 2019 but was later appointed to fill a vacancy. She chairs the board’s policy committee.

Sarraf said Greater Latrobe shouldn’t let its guard down when it comes to the continuing threat of the covid-19 pandemic. “We must continue to stay diligent in protecting our students, staff, families and community, while we strive to find safe ways to allow our students to enjoy the activities and traditions we’ve been missing so much these last months,” she said.

As for preparing students for the future, she said, “We need to retain our high-quality staff and continue to recruit forward-thinking educators and administrators. We must build Latrobe pride in our students, while also helping them to appreciate the wider world around them.”

Repko, 58, of Unity, is retired as major of the guard at a state prison and has worked as a district bus driver.

He couldn’t be reached for an updated comment. Prior to the primary election, he expressed concern about recent school tax increases and said Greater Latrobe should focus more on arts programs and helping students develop job-hunting skills.

He said his leadership role in the prison system provided him with experience in budgeting and labor relations.

Gockel, 48, of Unity, is a district bus driver and a residential program worker for a group home.

He said his daughter, once a district student, now attends private school because of the pandemic-related state mandate that Greater Latrobe is following. It requires all those inside district buildings who don’t have an accepted medical exemption to wear masks.

Gockel would like to see more discussion concerning the mask mandate. “I feel we need members on the board like myself to look out for parents and the kids and to fight Harrisburg,” he said.

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