CLEARFIELD-A new board member was seated at a special meeting of the Clearfield Area School Board Monday night.
Three candidates submitted letters of interest for the seat: Brittany Madera, David Restino and Andrea Gordon.
All three introduced themselves, noting their ties to the community and their interest in helping the district and the children, noting that the Clearfield School District has a reputation for excellence.
Board members posed different questions to the candidates, beginning with the question of boys in girls’ sports.
All three candidates noted that it was a difficult subject and talked about the locker room situation and wanting to be fair to all students and not make them feel uncomfortable, with suggestions of having a third space available, and tackling each incident individually.
None of the candidates mentioned actual participation in sport, except for Madera noting that in the past some girls have had to participate in mixed wrestling teams when there weren’t teams specifically for girls.
The question of confidentiality was talked of, especially when board members hear and discuss things that the general public isn’t made aware of, and the difficult and often heartbreaking things that can happen.
The three talked about how confidentiality is something they have dealt with in their own careers.
Gordon, who works as a school bus manager for Fullington, said that much of what the board deals with is something she encounters with the school buses, while Restino said as a CPA and bank employee he regularly deals with confidential information. Madera noted her former career as a journalist and said that confidentiality is something she has also regularly dealt with, and all three said that it is simply something you have to understand and take steps to enforce in your own life.
They were also asked about how they would advise a young person interested in their careers, and all three stated that keeping an open mind and taking advantage of opportunities has been important, also asking questions and developing discipline to do the hard things needed to reach their goals.
The board then called for nominations and voted to appoint Restino to the two year seat.
Madera and Gordon were thanked for their interest and told that their interest showed a desire for the best for the students at Clearfield.
