Gaschler, 19, expects to be able to balance college, school board duties

A high school student winning election to his district's school board is rare but not unprecedented, a spokesman for a state school boards group says.

But Allegheny Valley senior James Gaschler Jr. will have few peers, at least of his age, assuming he joins the school board later this year.

Just half of 1 percent of school board members are 25 or younger, according to Steve Robinson, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, citing a survey the group does every five years.

Gaschler, 19, won Democratic and Republican nominations to the Allegheny Valley School Board in Tuesday's primary, according to unofficial election results.

The November general election stands to be uncontested, as Gaschler and four other candidates, all cross-filed in the primary, won nominations on both party ballots for five seats.

“The campaign went very well,” Gaschler said Wednesday, noting that he came in second when his votes from both parties are combined. “I felt reassured the community wanted a fresh pair of eyes looking over them.”

Incumbents apparently successful in seeking re-election are Elizabeth Ann Moretti, 35; Steve Puskar, 48; and Glenna Renaldi, 64. The fifth apparently successful candidate is newcomer Donald Rocco, 42.

Incumbent Jimette Gilmartin lost on both party ballots.

Gilmartin, 49, who is serving her first term on the board, congratulated Gaschler and Rocco.

She said Gaschler has a “good handle” on the issues, but she has concerns given his plans to join the National Guard and attend Penn State University's main campus in State College this fall.

“I'm a little unsure personally as a voter and a taxpayer in the district how a senior from high school is actually going to juggle all of those responsibilities on behalf of the taxpayers and voters that elected him,” she said. “However, he's a bright individual, and I'm sure he will do the best that he can in this situation.”

School board members, like many elected officials, tend to be older because they have more time to devote to the office, Robinson said.

According to the PSBA survey last done in 2014, the majority of board members are ages 45 to 64, accounting for 62 percent, Robinson said.

Twice as many board members — 14 percent — are over 70 than in their early 40s.

Surveys have found that school board members put in about 20 hours a month on their public service, Robinson said.

“There are a lot of duties that board members do,” he said. “It is a time-consuming commitment.”

Gaschler said the No. 1 question voters asked him was on his ability to have the time to serve on the board, in light of his post-graduation plans.

With parents and other family offering to drive him back for meetings, Gaschler said he'd make all regularly scheduled meetings and as many others as best he can.

“I'm going to make the time,” he said. “I'm going to be at those meetings.”

He vowed to honor his commitment to the school community, even if it means, for instance, transferring from University Park to Penn State New Kensington if he finds State College too demanding.

But, he said, “I think that I can do both successfully.”

Any concerns about Gaschler having the time for the office were for voters to decide, Puskar said, which they “obviously didn't have.”

By the time Gaschler joins the board, he will have finished his first college semester, Puskar said.

“Jimmy knows his schedule. He's going to quickly find out the demands,” he said. “My only concern is the same as it would be for any board member: that they give 100 percent to representing the residents of Allegheny Valley.”

Gaschler has attended most of the school board's meetings for the past two years, Puskar said.

“His approach may not be shaped by years of life experience,” Puskar said. “I can say that his passion for issues and the amount of time he puts into studying the issues should be an asset to the board.”

Renaldi, among the board's longest tenured members, said she's not sure Gaschler realizes how difficult board meetings may be. While he has been at its public meetings, he has not attended all of the board's sessions.

“I'm not sure he realizes how much time we put in he does not know about,” she said. “I'm a little concerned about him traveling and trying to keep up.

“I know he can vote over the phone, but the phone is a little difficult if it's a discussion we're having. You don't get the flavor or the texture of what's going on.”

Renaldi said she has watched Gaschler since he was in kindergarten. While saying she has the concerns of a grandmother, she's looking forward to hearing his views as a recent graduate.

“The kid's smart. There's no doubt about it. He's very responsible. He's very articulate,” she said. “I think he put a lot of thought into it. I truly think he thinks he can do it. Maybe he can. It's a different world from when I left home. It's something we'll figure out together.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4701 or brittmeyer@tribweb.com.