Married to Valerie Hayden 35 years. Two daughters both graduated from Dallas School District. Both went on to college to earn their B.S. degrees Kings College Wilkes-Barre and Tampa University, TampavFlorida. I graduated from Kings College Wilkes-Barre in 1971 with a B.A. in education and English Literature. Taught at St. Michaels School for Boys Harding 1971 through 1975. Continued to work full time in the family business, Tuft-Tex Flooring in Plains, Pa. Tuft-tex Flooring has been serving the community for 50 years.
 

Having lived in the Dallas school district for 30 years, I became more interested in the political climate of Luzerne County. Particularly the quality of life issues that our elected officials have ignored over the last 20 years. In 2014 I applied and was awarded a seat on the Luzerne County Board of Assessment Appeals. My term lasted six years and granted assessment reductions to approximately 80% of the appeals we heard.
 

After seeing how adversely property tax has continued to have an adverse effect on the quality of life of regular people with families I decided to run for a seat on the Dallas School District Board of Education. I was elected in 2015 and presently in my third term as Board of Education Director. During the past eight years (2015-2023) as a Board member, (three of which as Finance Chair). we successfully built a new $21 million dollar school grade 3 through 5, under budget, without change orders, in eighteen months. This was accomplished without a tax increase the following year and four more years consecutively. During
that period of time the Board of Education increased the learning tools, chrome books, active panels, math and reading courses, in every classroom for all of our students needs K though 12.
 

I was part of the negotiating team which settled the Dallas School District contentious four year teacher contract negotiations. During this time I testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee concerning the detrimental effects of teacher strikes on students and the community. I believe that this demonstrates that property tax increases are not needed to provide or even increase the educational tools and environment necessary to provide comprehensive courses of study for our students. What is necessary is the will and cooperation from administrations and the PSEA throughout the Commonwealth to balance the requirements of foundational education and the division of labor to
successful accomplish our students’, K through 12, education.