Meet the Candidates: MASD School Board

Nine candidates — including two incumbents — are seeking four seats

By Leslie Savisky
The Tube City Almanac
May 11, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News, Politics & Elections

(File photo by Adam Reinherz for Tube City Almanac)

Four seats are open on the McKeesport Area School Board and nine candidates — including two incumbents — are running in the May 20 primary election.

In Pennsylvania, school board races are officially non-partisan, and all candidates have qualified to run as both as Democrats and Republicans. 

Candidates who finish in the top four positions in each party’s primary will be candidates for the general election, to be held Nov. 4.

Incumbents David Donato and Matthew Holtzman are running for re-election. School Director LaToya Wright, whose term expires this year, is not running again, while Dan Goughnour resigned after being elected state representative for the 35th Legislative District.

In addition to Donato and Holtzman, other announced candidates include Bob Boyle, Tom Filotei, Kevin Kovach, Arla Payne, Mike Shelly, Julian Thomas, and Tiffany Wampler.

Candidates: School safety, improved test scores are a priority

With a total district enrollment of just over 3,100 students, school safety is a top priority for MASD administrators. Last school year, the board replaced its contracted security company, Homeland Intelligence & Protective Services LLC, after former security guard Alexis Brown was accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. 

Brown was charged with institutional sexual assault and corruption of a minor and the events also led to the resignation of the district’s superintendent and sanctions on other administrators.

Other areas of concern include a low teacher retention rate, low test scores and tax delinquencies.

A scheduled April 29 debate between the candidates was cancelled due to severe weather that closed roads and knocked out power.

Instead, writer Leslie Savisky asked all nine candidates to respond to the same questions about the district and their decision to run for school board. Their answers are in alphabetical order by last name.

• Bob Boyle
• David Donato
• Tom Filotei
• Matthew Holtzman
• Kevin Kovach
• Arla Payne
• Mike Shelly
• Julian Thomas
• Tiffany Wampler

Bob Boyle, 51, White Oak

Bob Boyle retired from the Pennsylvania State Police and has been working as the West Mifflin police chief for the past year and a half. The 51-year-old lives in White Oak and is married to Ashlee, a first grade teacher at Twin Rivers Elementary. They have two children, both MASD graduates. This is his first time running for the school board.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Boyle: “I’ve been in the schools and attended board meetings as the police chief. I also ran the high school and Founders Hall by myself. This is a community service position, and some people lose sight of that. You have to do right by the people, and I can certainly help out with the safety and security of the school.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Boyle: “I live in McKeesport Area School District. There’s a lot of good kids and a lot of good teachers. I’m very comfortable living in the school district. A lot of kids lean on our schools for guidance. That’s my wheelhouse, school safety. I implemented the Titan Safety 365 website at West Mifflin, which is a centralized platform for safety. That is definitely something that is lacking [at MASD]. With technology, safety can be very cost effective.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Boyle: “I think creating that culture to make sure the kids are given the correct curriculum. More or less, giving them the opportunity to excel and making sure everyone is on the same page. I would be all for looking at the contracts and looking at the teacher’s pay so it is more in line with surrounding schools. Teachers want to feel supported, which means holding kids accountable. Teachers want to teach and, when students are held accountable, that creates a positive learning environment.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Boyle: “With that situation, I think the school wasn’t transparent. They probably should have consulted with law enforcement, either the school police or McKeesport, because they work hand in hand. Also, ensuring anonymous reporting and that school counselors are active and there are enough of them. And there needs to be accountability and professionalism at every position in the school. That was a failure all the way around.”

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David Donato, 76, McKeesport

Dave Donato, 76, is a lifelong McKeesport resident and married with two children. A resident of Myer Park, he is the longest serving MASD board member.

Donato is proud to have been recognized with the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) earlier this year for his 26 years of “scandal free, volunteer service.”

In 2016, Donato became the coordinator for the Best Man Scholarship, which annually gives one male student a $5,000 scholarship for post-secondary education. To date, they have raised over $60,000. “It’s the largest single endowment given to a student at McKeesport,” Donato said. Donato is seeking his eighth four-year term on the board.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Donato: “When I served as board president, I signed the tax abatement that would permit the developers in the Rainbow Village Plaza. MASD has lowered property taxes three times — all three times I made the motion. There is a $20 million fund balance — the largest fund balance in MASD history. 24 percent of our total budget is a fund balance. It’s under the cooperation of the nine-member board that I’m so proud of to be part of the team.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Donato: “We just recently interviewed the 11 students for the Best Man Scholarship, and  they say, ‘That doesn’t go on in those walls.’ There are obstacles of one-parent families and troubled kids and sometimes those kids bring those problems to school. We just have to work with them and with everybody.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Donato: “Test scores are abysmal. We hired Don MacFann, the new superintendent, and he has that as a priority. It is one of the disappointments of my tenure here at McKeesport. As an occupation, teachers are not as excited to be teachers. But the most recent contract that was ratified a few months ago, 80 percent of the teachers voted to accept the contract. We also offer incentives like a $5,000 signing bonus.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Donato: “You have to go with who they [security company] hire. You try to go with AIU recommendations; you interview them. Ever since COVID, there’s been a shortage of applicants. They are mandated reporters, and in some cases they did not report. Once the board found out about it, we had to handle it and we had to have a few people move on.”

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Thomas Filotei, 75, McKeesport

Tom Filotei, 75, is a life-long McKeesport resident and lives in Ward 8. He previously served on the school board for one four-year term. Filotei is married and has two sons, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Filotei was employed by South Allegheny as the directors of buildings and grounds for 12 years before working as an engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. He was then hired for a two-year term as the director of buildings and grounds for MASD in order to complete a project and train a new director; he retired at the end of 2024.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

“During that time, I became familiar with all of the departments at MASD and where the money is going and where it should be going. And I have a lot of opinions, and that’s why I’m running again. I go to every board meeting, even though I don’t have a single child or grandchild currently enrolled at McKeesport. I got to stay on top of things.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Filotei: “I don’t buy the fact that it’s a bad place to live, but I do think it needs to be brought under control. No one is paying taxes, there’s people on the board [not paying]. The city and the school district are going to have to manage what they have until something changes or until new business comes in. You can’t go any further with the same old thinking.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Filotei: “Society as a whole tends to turn the other cheek with children’s behaviors. There’s little discipline, and the students don’t care because there’s no consequences. I think I have a better understanding since the first time I was on the board. The test scores aren’t going to go up. The students that go in and want to learn, for the most part, will do well and learn. Some of the teachers are afraid to say anything because the parents yell at them. It’s a trickle-down effect. You need staff who are invested and not just there for the paycheck.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Filotei: “When you hire the company, you have to assume the company is vetting their people. When something like this happens, there were a whole bunch of things that went wrong there – and I’m talking out of the school, too. And I think people are going to be much more aware. If it’s reported right, I think it could work right.”

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Matthew Holtzman, 45, McKeesport

Matt Holtzman is a McKeesport firefighter with 23 years of service, a small business owner, husband and father of two young sons. The 45-year-old has lived in different parts of McKeesport over the years; he and his family currently reside in the 12th Ward. Holtzman feels that life experience gives him a unique perspective of the district and the specific needs of the neighborhoods. Holtzman is seeking re-election for what would be a second term.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Holtzman: “Throughout my career, my union brothers and I have organized fundraisers like Operation Warmth, which puts winter coats on the backs of students right here in McKeesport. Through my apparel decoration business, Shogun Graphix, we’ve also printed T-shirts for breast cancer awareness and other community fundraisers. This year marks our 15th year raising money for those causes. That’s what pushed me to step up and run for the school board. I wanted to be involved every day. I’d say my strongest areas as a board member are public safety, community relations, vocational curriculum development and personnel.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Holtzman: “McKeesport has faced many challenges, particularly over the last few years. I understand there is a negative public image of the city, but I’m hopeful that producing bright students – who will become the future of this community – can help change that narrative and outcome. I believe the board’s efforts to reorganize the administration, hire a highly qualified school police chief and officers, terminate the former security company, and upgrade our systems and emergency response protocols were all steps in the right direction. Just as importantly, we’re putting student safety front and center. We’re overhauling emergency response systems in every building and changing how evacuations are handled… Protecting our kids isn’t negotiable. It’s nonstop work, and it will always be a top priority. When I first ran, I had a simple goal: to make our schools stronger and safer. But… You can’t fix a system divided by old politics. Good ideas mean nothing without a team that’s willing to fight for them.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Holtzman: “A major contributing factor to our test scores is attendance. We’ve made progress by utilizing attendance officers, but we’re currently exploring additional options to improve student attendance. Our assistant superintendent, Matthew Mols, proposed the idea of rewarding students on a monthly basis with a monetary incentive. Our teachers and faculty, under the leadership of our new superintendent, Don McFann, are making daily improvements. However, there is still much work to be done. As parents, we also have to take responsibility for fostering a home environment that is healthy and conducive to learning. Everything starts in our homes.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Holtzman: “I was extremely vocal about not wanting to settle with that security company. They began in the district as a ‘temporary solution’ due to administrative interference and manipulation, which ultimately circumvented the board on that decision. I believe the action taken by the new board members and myself to replace that security company with a competent one – and  to hold accountable those who failed to take appropriate action – will set the tone for the future.”

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Kevin Kovach, 46, McKeesport

Kevin Kovach is a 1997 McKeesport graduate and lifelong McKeesport resident. His two sons are McKeesport High School grads. Kovach, 46, lives in the 11th Ward. “This town can be rough, but I love it,” Kovach said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m going to die here.” Kovach is in his 24th year at McKeesport Fire Department and was trustee, vice president and, most recently, union president of McKeesport Firefighters IAFF Local #10. He coached youth basketball and baseball for 16 years, including three years as the boys varsity basketball head coach. This is his first time running for the school board.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Kovach: “I think one of my big areas [of expertise] is communications, I got to know a lot of union workers, and I want to produce more skilled labor unions. At the end of the day, the children, the staff and the shareholders are who we are here to service. Everybody running for the school board should feel that.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Kovach: “Later in my life, I’ve become an optimist. It’s a little bit less safe than other places, but we have to foster that culture at home. That’s the first step. There needs to be boots on the ground. We have a very unspecific district, on one end you have kids raising themselves and others with both parents making a good living. We have to service both ends of the economic spectrum.

“When it comes to safety in school, I think they do a pretty good job. But there needs to be discipline across the board. If a teacher gets hurt, we need to crack down and give support to the teachers. It’s a living, breathing thing – the discipline policy — and should be reviewed every two or three years. It’s 100% our job to ensure school safety.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Kovach: “One of the things I continuously hear about is the step program. I would have to be elected and sit on the board, but I think it’s a good program with the incentives. Let’s look at, ‘Are we in line with other districts, can we tweak it, speed up incentives?’ I also think we can utilize the property after school hours for teachers who want extra income: tutoring, cooking classes, shopping classes. If you’re a local person, teachers get a bonus for living in the school district. They’re putting their money where their mouth is.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Kovach: “I think a lot of time we just trust the outside company. We should be doing the vetting ourselves, in addition to what the company has done. We run them ourselves. Not just for security officers, but any adult who has access to children. Double down on the vetting procedure. Worst case scenario, we have a double redundancy. It’s an embarrassing and troubling situation. We also need to do more positive things in the district. Don’t just talk about it, be about it.”

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Arla Payne, 66, McKeesport

Arla Payne, 66, has been a McKeesport resident for more than 50 years. She has an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, bachelor of arts in criminal justice and a master’s degree in business administration.

She’s been a notary public for 24 years. Payne’s entire adult life has revolved around children. She is a mother of two biological sons and three adopted children, all of whom attended MASD. Payne has 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In her 17 years as a foster parent, Payne fostered 71 children. She attends Three Rivers Metropolitan Church and is a community leader with Ward 7 Task Force.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Payne: “My motto is, ‘Great Children are my Vision.’ As a school director, your behavior should be decent and in order. Despite the differences, we should be able to work together for the best interest in the community. I want to be the peacemaker; I’d like for all of us to work together.” Payne lives in ward 7, district 1. This is her first time running for school board.

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Payne: “I know it’s not the safest of the safe but it’s not the worst of the worst. If we can keep the students interested and get their opinions, then they can have a connection with the teachers and build a rapport. If students and teachers could work together, I think we’d be considered a great school. I think they should continue with the metal detectors and keep the no-phones policy, because phones are a distraction. In addition to security that’s already in the schools, guards should do walk-throughs. Just walk around and show their presence. And the parents have to be responsible too. Parents and teachers should be on the same page. It starts at home.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Payne: “To keep the teachers, they need to have a support system. Teachers burn out too, just like in any other profession. They are burnt out, some covering two and three positions. It would help if they had a better rapport with the parents. We have to come up with something that everyone feels comfortable with – the students, teachers and administration and the parents.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Payne: “I don’t know what all of the qualifications are, and I know it can be hard to determine someone’s intentions. But I think a mental health evaluation would be a good place to start the vetting process. I’m hoping the school will be able to get mental health services and get in into the curriculum. A school-based therapist, even if it’s just one person to start. I also think there should be a program so students feel comfortable going to an adult. If you see something, say something. That’s something that should be emphasized because if you stop it at the head, it will never make it to the tail.” 

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Mike Shelly, 56, McKeesport

Mike Shelly, age 56, is a 1986 McKeesport graduate. He graduated from Triangle Tech in 1988 with an associate degree in HVAC. Shelly has four children with his wife Dawn, who is a teacher in the district, and they live in the Sixth Ward.

Three of Shelly’s children graduated and the youngest is at the high school. Shelly retired after 20 years as assistant director of buildings and grounds at MASD, and is currently employed at Propel McKeesport as custodial supervisor. This is Shelly’s second time running for the school board. For 15 years, Shelly was a volunteer baseball, basketball and hockey coach at the LaRosa Youth Club.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

“I feel my knowledge of the every day operations of the schools will be a valuable asset to the board, if I am fortunate enough to be elected, I value family and friends the most, and I have a passion for putting kids first.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Shelly: “As a lifelong resident of McKeesport, I take great pride in our community. There are many good things that happen in our city, but unfortunately they get overshadowed by the negatives. We need to do a better job promoting the positive things going on in our city. I believe the district is doing what they can in the mornings to ensure our students’ safety with the use of metal detectors.

“I would like to see security and some central administration at the morning check points. I would also like to see students use the main entrances only and go through the metal detectors after hours as they come back from practices and games. I would also use the resources we currently have on the board, as we have police, fire and a security supervisor on our board and draw from their knowledge and experience.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Shelly: “I feel there are many contributing factors. Disruptive behaviors in the classrooms, lack of parent involvement and so on. I would like to see a zero tolerance policy on disruptive behaviors and bullying enforced. Also, to help our younger students get the help they need to build a stronger foundation, we need an instructional assistant in every K-5 classroom. Retaining teachers needs to be a top priority. Possibly opening the teachers’ contract to adjust the starting salary to be more competitive with surrounding districts and supporting our teachers and building overall morale. I would also like to see the 15-year jump step broken down to years five, 10 and 15.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Shelly: “I feel the board is doing a good job vetting all possible hires, as they must have the proper clearances to work in our schools. I think they should, however, take seriously and investigate any serious accusations made towards staff. I also feel all board members should possess the proper clearances.”

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Julian Thomas, 38, McKeesport

Julian Thomas is a 38-year-old McKeesport police officer and father of four. He is the son of a pastor and steel mill worker and Port Authority bus driver. Thomas lives in the 12th Ward; this is his first time running for the school board.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Thomas: “I believe in giving the community a great say in how our communities are governed and operate. I value giving the people a voice along with transparency, first and foremost.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Thomas: “As far as McKeesport being considered or ranked as a bad place to live, I strongly disagree. While previous leaders have not done enough to dispel this notion, the majority of McKeesport’s neighborhoods — Christy Park, Peterson Plan, Haler Heights, Lower and Upper 10th Ward and Highland Grove — experience little to no crime regularly, while the Fifth, Second and Seventh wards of the city don’t receive the resources from local government they deserve.

“To help students feel safer in school we must first let them know that we're listening to them,” Thomas said. “Secondly, we have to reassure them that we care by responding to their safety concerns whether it be bullying, gangs, substance abuse or alleged misconduct from staff.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Thomas: “In response to low test scores, the entire social and economic system in place for schools such as McKeesport are done at a disservice by government on all levels. Students regardless of capability, special education, etc. are expected to perform the same as their peers on state exams with very little extra assistance. To put it plainly, the deck is stacked against our children, and we have to start making sure the people we send to Harrisburg care.”

“To retain teachers, we simply need to pay them on par with their counterparts in surrounding districts, give them the resources to succeed in the classroom and create a way for them to communicate with the board anonymously so they can voice their concerns without fear of retaliation.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Thomas: “Many of the guards from the previous company were retained with the new company, without the current board even so much as running this decision by the public. The board can start by being a lot more transparent with parents and tax payers. My issue is not with hiring any of the former guards, they should have sought approval from the community first, in my opinion. The vetting, to my knowledge, has improved but even in things like this, reassuring the community of safeguards in place doesn't happen enough.”

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Tiffany Wampler, 46, McKeesport

Tiffany Wampler is married with two daughters; one is in high school and the other is an MASD graduate. The 46-year-old is a lifelong resident of McKeesport and a 1998 McKeesport graduate. Wampler is on the Little Tigers board, where she runs the concession stand, and is part of the McKeesport Softball Association. Wampler lives in ward 9, district 2. This is her second time running for the school board.

What makes you a good candidate for the school board?

Wampler: “I believe we need more morale whether it’s the students or the staff. We also need to put cursive writing into the curriculum because you can’t complete job applications, signing letters or checks. As a school district, we shouldn’t be ashamed that our students can’t sign their names. We need to make sure our policies, procedures and punishment are the same across the board. If the kids fight, give them community service versus suspending them. Give them something purposeful to do.”

There is a perception that McKeesport is a "bad place" to live. What is your response to that? How can you, as a board member, help to ensure that students are safe in school?

Wampler: “We need to make sure our security is top notch, scanning the students coats and bookbags. I would like to see some more staff – teacher and administration – visible either outside or around the building. Especially when the kids are coming to and leaving school, so the ratio of students versus adults isn’t so big.”

What contributes to low test scores and grades in the district? What can the board do to help retain teachers and other faculty?

Wampler: “If the children are more focused and not going to the restroom for 20 minutes. As far as uniforms are concerned, we need to adjust the uniform policy. If students feel comfortable, they’ll be more comfortable at learning. Most teachers go above and beyond, and there need to be incentives for that, Whether it’s getting little perks, like a gift cards, ‘teacher of the month’ or a special parking spot.”

What can the school board do right now to ensure that a situation like the Alexis Brown case doesn't happen again? What actions has the school board taken and what are the plans for future vetting?

Wampler: “I’m a firm believer in ‘you know, you tell.’ If anybody sees something that is off or not normal, approach it. But in the process, let the administration know. All situations need to be fully investigated, and either the school police or city police should be involved. It’s communication. For example, I love the way our new superintendent puts out emails of what happens at any of the schools, so all parents get a notification, regardless if your child is at that school or not.”

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Leslie Savisky is an award-winning freelance writer from Jeannette whose work also appears in the Monroeville Times Express and Pittsburgh Parent Magazine. She is also the author of three novels. This is her first story for Tube City Almanac. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/lesliesavisky

Originally published May 11, 2025.

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