Williamsburg School District Candidate Questionnaire Responses

Note: Barry England, Jimmy Grager, Carlee Ranalli, Joseph Detwiler and Adam Hileman did not send in replies to this questionnaire.

Please provide your name, age, town where you live and current occupation.

Patricia Kensinger: 49 years old

Clover Creek Road ( Woodbury Township) Williamsburg

I have been employed at the Village at Morrison Cove for 29 years. I am a licensed nurse who currently does the scheduling for the skilled nursing staff.

Austin McMonagle: Austin McMonagle, 27, Williamsburg, Dairy/Beef Nutritionist at Bedford Farm Bureau Co-op

Please describe your family.

Kensinger: God has blessed me with a wonderful family. My husband Stan and I have 3 daughters, a son, and 3 grandsons that are the pride and joy of our lives. My mother, Shirley Breitenbach, has been one of the greatest influences in my life. She taught me to place my faith in the Almighty God to lead me in every area of my life and she taught me the importance of serving my community in every way possible. My father, Charles, went to be with the Lord 13 years ago. I have 2 sisters, 3 brothers ,nieces and nephews.

McMonagle: I have been married to my wife Victoria for 4 ½ years. We have two kids, our son Ellis (3 years old) and our daughter Millie (1 year old).

What in your background permits you to effectively represent this area?

Kensinger: I have served on the board for the the past 17 years and i have served with integrity. I have been Treasurer of the Board for 14 years, donating thousands of dollars in stipend back to the district. I read and study every thing presented to me and attend every meeting prepared and informed. I am an individual who is fully committed to every task i undertake. I have a strong work ethic and i care deeply about my community and i am an advocate for every single child. With my service on the board, i have served my community.

McMonagle: I graduated from Williamsburg in 2014 and Penn State in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and have been involved with the school as a student, coach, or school board member over half my life. I understand the challenges our area faces as a small-town community but also the many opportunities it can provide. I am very passionate about the success that residents of our community have had and will have here and across the country in many facets of life.

What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of this area?

Kensinger: There are many issues facing our area. Lack of cellular service or poor cellular service is definitely an issue. Limited tax base is another . One of the biggest challenges facing a small, rural district like Williamsburg is ensuring that the students receive the same opportunities afforded to students in wealthier communities without the residents struggling under the increased tax load. We must continue to find innovative and productive ways of funding an amazing educational system that does not solely lay on the shoulders of the community.

McMonagle: Our local economy is always something that challenges our ability to maintain and grow as a community and individuals. The opportunities for business can be limited, but they are possible. Creating conditions that are conducive to new businesses and growth of existing ones is a concern and opportunity for improvement that would greatly benefit our residents. Another challenge we face is maintaining and improving our overall infrastructure, whether that be buildings, roads, internet providers, etc. that all facilitate growth and better living conditions for our residents.

What do you expect to accomplish in the upcoming term if you are elected?

Kensinger: I expect to continue to make wise decisions that provide a quality education to the students in our district while being fiscally responsible to tax payers. My goal is always to continue to meet the Mission Statement of the WCSD to its fullest extent, “ that every child would be given the opportunity to succeed in a changing world, and become positive contributors to society”. I also believe that it is my job to represent the people of this community and work on what they want to have me accomplish. I welcome any resident to contact me with concerns.

McMonagle: I hope to keep the tax burden our residents face as low as possible while still providing the funding our school needs to fulfill its purpose. I also want to keep our students in school to get in-person teaching, which is something that many of us took for granted until recent years.

What is the biggest problem facing this area right now?

Kensinger: Though there are many issues facing our area, one of the biggest challenges facing Williamsburg right now is finding ways to encourage community growth. Lack of employment opportunities many times makes it impossible for young families to survive and thrive in this area and they leave the area and their roots because they have no choice. We need to give them a choice.

McMonagle: Current and future class sizes are always a concern with a community our size. It makes extracurricular activities more difficult to maintain and has led to some consolidation in recent years.

How will you help to solve that problem?

Kensinger: The WCSD Board needs to partner with other organizations in the area and with our local representatives to entice economic growth via new businesses. If we can provide an attractive package, perhaps companies will consider our area when looking for a home site. We must also continue to support the businesses that are in our town. I have, and will always have, the best interest of Williamsburg and the people therein.

McMonagle: I don’t think the concerns I’ve stated can ever really be solved completely because they are ever evolving, but the biggest thing we can do from a very broad view is make our community more attractive to live in. One of the things that advances that is to have a school that is thriving and provides families with a place to send their kids to put them in a position to succeed after graduation. Monitoring curriculum, changing policies, and assessing performance are all important in gauging whether that is happening or if changes need to be made.

Why are you running?

Kensinger: I am running for another term as school board director because i love the Williamsburg community , i care about its people, young and old alike. It is my pleasure to be an unbiased voice for my constituents. If they want me to continue to represent them, i will always do this to the best of my ability .

McMonagle: I want to be involved in my kids’ and our community’s kids’ education now and in the future. I think I can make decisions to put our kids in the best position possible at our school, whether that be academically, socially, or athletically. I would like to see our community grow, and for more young people to feel like they can be involved in setting the direction that we go.