Three Park City School District Board of Education members face new candidates as they seek reelection after their current terms expire at the end of the year.
Incumbents Anne Peters, board President Andrew Caplan and Wendy Crossland each face rivals who believe that — for one reason or another — it is time for change on the school board.
Running for District 1, Susan Goldberg officially declared her candidacy at the metaphorical 11th hour on Monday, the deadline. She is running against Peters, who joined the board in 2017 after an early resignation from her predecessor.
Goldberg did not respond by press time for an interview.
Caplan faces two running for his position: Dr. Eileen Gallagher and Dave McFawn.
Gallagher, a pediatrician who owns Gallagher Pediatrics, said she would like to see the school district better manage its projects, ensure that students have a safe and healthy environment, and better use taxpayer dollars.
“It’s time for projects to be managed effectively and with attention,” she said. “As someone who comes from a family of teachers and is pro-union, I look forward to making sure that teachers are well compensated and love their jobs and feel respected and listened to.”
An eight-year resident of Park City, Gallagher comes with lots of nonprofit and volunteer experience, including as a volunteer at People’s Health Clinic and a teacher at St. Mary’s religious education program.
McFawn, who has served on the Arts Council of Park City and Summit County and on the Park City’s Historic Preservation Board, believes that the school district’s $79 million bond passed in 2021 for current construction projects has the district in an exciting position.
“I have a background in project management and I’ve done a lot of work in change management, and lending my expertise in that area would be a way to give back to the community,” he said.
Realignment and its surrounding communication, he said, will be vital for the district’s future.
While he said he didn’t think the district was going in a bad direction, he emphasized a need for better communication with students, parents and teachers.
“I had somebody tell me long ago, if things are going well, communicate, and if things are not going well, over-communicate,” he said. “I just think that questions that people have, they want to hear communication and making sure that the district continues to do a good job.”
McFawn also said he sees importance in programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
In District 3, Crossland faces Utah Board of Education Director of Child Nutrition Programs Kathleen Britton and the former CEO of the National Ability Center, Danny Glasser.
Britton had responded to an interview request by press time, but Get Healthy Utah website states she was Park City School District’s director of child nutrition services for 22 years before she began her state position.
Glasser, who has two children enrolled in the Park City School District, said he and his spouse “have been so impressed with the passion and skill of the educators and the commitment of the administrators in the district.”
He said, “I’m compelled to enter the race because I want to support that. I’ve always had a strong belief in giving back.”
The district staff not only did a good job in following the processes to help his children with disabilities, but also were passionate about specific individual needs, he said.
If elected, there are areas of the district’s operations Glasser would like to address.
“From the outside, I’ve witnessed a lot of time and money spent toward litigation or toward issues that don’t necessarily translate to impacts in the classroom or to supporting our educators,” he said. “I think there’s a need for more transparency, and I think there’s a need for more accountability and fiscal responsibility. All of our taxpayers are contributing to the wellness and the betterment of our school system, and those dollars need to be held sacred.”
He also said he saw benefits if the school district worked closer with the city itself and established better relationships with Utah legislators.
“During my time as CEO of the National Ability Center,” he said, “I had the opportunity to work with the state Legislature and with MIDA and other groups in the government. I found that there is receptivity to work together.”