1 00:00:01,350 --> 00:00:02,183 Starting now. 2 00:00:02,860 --> 00:00:07,070 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,710 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:14,390 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,930 --> 00:00:17,350 And now your host, Matthew Dowling. 6 00:00:17,770 --> 00:00:20,390 And today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,630 Hello, and thank you for tuning in to Commonalities. I'm your host, 8 00:00:26,630 --> 00:00:29,750 Matt Dowling. My guest today is Patty Columbia. 9 00:00:29,970 --> 00:00:34,710 Now Patty is running for school director in the Brownsville Area 10 00:00:34,710 --> 00:00:36,830 School District. And, uh, Patty, 11 00:00:36,850 --> 00:00:39,510 we wanna thank you for being on the show here today. 12 00:00:39,570 --> 00:00:41,870 And I wanted to give you a chance here at the, uh, 13 00:00:42,090 --> 00:00:46,310 the top of the program to kind of do a little bit of a self introduction. Uh, 14 00:00:46,340 --> 00:00:48,350 tell me a little bit about, uh, yourself, 15 00:00:48,380 --> 00:00:51,030 tell the voters a little bit about yourself and, uh, 16 00:00:51,370 --> 00:00:55,960 why you've chosen to run for school board. Well, first off, 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:59,360 first I'd like to say thanks to you, Matt, for, um, for giving me, uh, 18 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,840 the opportunity to, to do the interview and, um, to be part of this show. Um, 19 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:08,720 I was born and raised in Brownsville. I, um, I graduated, um, 20 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,720 actually salutatorian from Brownsville High School back in, uh, 1982. 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,560 I left Brownsville. I, I, um, I went to, uh, I went to, 22 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,320 I went to college at iup, had a four year degree in, in, uh, 23 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:22,400 business administration. 24 00:01:23,540 --> 00:01:28,480 And not long after I graduated from college in 1986, I, I went to work for, 25 00:01:28,540 --> 00:01:30,000 for Mellon Bank. I, um, 26 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,320 I worked for Mellon Bank for about 20 years. 27 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:38,640 The vast majority of my experience in Mellon was, um, 28 00:01:38,700 --> 00:01:40,240 was in the commercial loans department. 29 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,640 I did do some work early on in my career in, um, it were, you know, like, uh, 30 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,680 interest bearing, um, instruments. I'm actually a computer programmer, 31 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:53,680 so although I have a degree in business administration, I actually, um, 32 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,400 I actually started my career. It was, it was a hot field, 33 00:01:56,900 --> 00:02:00,120 hot field back in the mid eighties, and I started out as a computer programmer. 34 00:02:00,300 --> 00:02:03,640 And so, um, I was writing software for Mellon. And, 35 00:02:04,380 --> 00:02:08,400 and towards the end of my career at Mellon, I, um, you know, 36 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,680 things we sold Mellon Banks sold to, 37 00:02:10,910 --> 00:02:13,080 sold the retail department to Citizens Bank. 38 00:02:13,140 --> 00:02:16,680 And so I went to the risk management department in the finance department. 39 00:02:16,700 --> 00:02:19,560 And then not long after that, or some of our, um, 40 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,840 systems that we worked on were, were offshore to India and, 41 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,960 and a large group of us, we lost our jobs. I actually was called back to Mellon, 42 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,920 but when I went back, you know, I, I was, I wasn't as interested as working in, 43 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:35,560 working there. And I actually left Mellon and went to work for Highmark. 44 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:38,920 And, uh, that's where I currently work. So I've been at Highmark for, 45 00:02:39,190 --> 00:02:42,240 I'll be starting my 18th year here in July. And, um, 46 00:02:43,140 --> 00:02:46,680 the vast majority of my experience at Highmark is working in claims processing, 47 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,720 and then the provider area. 48 00:02:49,060 --> 00:02:52,840 And my system focuses mostly on, on pricing claims. 49 00:02:53,060 --> 00:02:56,680 So that's a little bit about my, my professional career, um, 50 00:02:57,790 --> 00:02:58,623 from a, um, 51 00:02:59,950 --> 00:03:03,920 from a community standpoint and from a dedication to young people. Um, 52 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:07,760 I've been, I've been coaching my whole life. I, um, I, I, uh, when I, 53 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,600 when I first moved to Pittsburgh, I actually, I, I left, 54 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,640 I left Brownsville not long after I graduated. 55 00:03:13,660 --> 00:03:15,880 And I lived in the South hills of Pittsburgh for 20 years. 56 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:20,280 Moved around from the different communities, and, um, devoted a large, 57 00:03:20,290 --> 00:03:24,760 large part of my life to, to coaching. Coached for several years in Upper St. 58 00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:26,720 Clair, coached softball at Upper St. Clair High School, 59 00:03:27,150 --> 00:03:31,680 managed a lot of rec leagues, uh, a lot of youth programs, got involved, 60 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,160 went to St. Louisa Merla, and, um, was extremely involved there, 61 00:03:35,380 --> 00:03:39,040 was extremely involved with the youth. Worked with our youth group, 62 00:03:39,210 --> 00:03:43,200 youth group program. And also when I worked at Mellon, I went, um, 63 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,200 I was involved in a, uh, in a mentoring and tutoring program. 64 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:52,720 Uh, it was a pretty intensive training program that a few of us from Mellon went 65 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,000 through. And, um, 66 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:00,120 I spent several years doing mentoring and tutoring with, uh, with kids that on, 67 00:04:00,220 --> 00:04:02,320 you know, Perry, traditional high school on the north side, 68 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,800 they were kids categorized as at-risk kids and also kids from Schumann Detention 69 00:04:06,820 --> 00:04:09,120 Center. So it was a pretty intensive program. 70 00:04:09,380 --> 00:04:11,840 Got a lot of opportunity to work with, you know, 71 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,320 a a lot of kids that don't have the same opportunities as, um, you know, 72 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,160 those of us who grew up in more stable homes. So it was actually a very, 73 00:04:20,190 --> 00:04:24,000 very interesting experience. And also was very involved in, um, 74 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:28,120 an AAU basketball, which, which brought kids together from, you know, 75 00:04:28,340 --> 00:04:32,320 all different socioeconomic backgrounds. So that was also an interesting, 76 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,480 interesting part of my, um, you know, my work with youth. 77 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:40,440 I moved back to Brownsville, I think it was 2001, and, um, 78 00:04:40,510 --> 00:04:45,280 immediately got involved at, uh, the youth group at St. Peter's. And, 79 00:04:45,380 --> 00:04:46,480 uh, I, I joined, uh, 80 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,920 Brownsville Rotary and started to work with a lot of youth through the art, 81 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,240 you know, student of the month program. And then I got involved at a rec center, 82 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:58,080 started officiating and helping, uh, Wayne Schor with the, um, you know, 83 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,960 with the basketball program out at the rec center. 84 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,800 And then one thing led to another and started coaching both high school softball 85 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:08,240 and basketball and Brownsville. So obviously my entire life has been, um, 86 00:05:08,580 --> 00:05:13,160 has been devoted to youth. Um, I, I now work from home. I, I did, 87 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,560 I did travel to Pittsburgh Daily, so that was a rough grind. But post covid, we, 88 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,320 you know, we all work from home now, so somebody's a little bit easier to, um, 89 00:05:21,420 --> 00:05:24,000 you know, dedicate more of my time to, to youth. 90 00:05:25,110 --> 00:05:29,480 Sure. So, um, I, I have to pause, uh, and, 91 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,240 and ask you a question, um, 92 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:36,200 about computer programming in the 1980s. Now you're not, uh, 93 00:05:36,540 --> 00:05:40,320 you didn't start when we were still using punch cards, did you or, or what, 94 00:05:40,390 --> 00:05:42,360 what was the platform that you coded on? 95 00:05:43,030 --> 00:05:46,560 Well, Matt, believe it or not, my, my first college, 96 00:05:47,060 --> 00:05:51,240 my first three or four college assignments were punch cards, believe it or not. 97 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,720 I, I am that old that I actually did do punch cards, 98 00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:57,960 but the platform that I coded on back in the eighties with cobal, 99 00:05:58,620 --> 00:06:03,240 and believe it or not, it's still, I still do mainframe cobal to this day. 100 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:08,890 There's millions and millions of lines of code in corporate America that's still 101 00:06:08,890 --> 00:06:10,770 running on mainframe cobal. And it's, 102 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:12,650 it's gonna be a long time before it goes away. 103 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,450 Yeah. Uh, during my time, uh, 104 00:06:15,710 --> 00:06:19,650 at the Boy Scouts of America and in several different roles, um, 105 00:06:19,910 --> 00:06:24,490 our main national database was, was coded with, uh, with cobal. 106 00:06:25,190 --> 00:06:29,370 And, uh, and I, I know they were going through some revisions, uh, 107 00:06:29,370 --> 00:06:32,730 when I left there six or seven years ago. But, uh, but up till that point, 108 00:06:32,730 --> 00:06:36,810 they were still using that language. So, uh, you know, 109 00:06:36,910 --> 00:06:41,850 you have a lot of experience in youth programming and, um, 110 00:06:42,230 --> 00:06:45,330 you know, you, you have from that experience, uh, 111 00:06:45,330 --> 00:06:50,290 kinda a concept of what are kids today need to be seeing so that 112 00:06:50,290 --> 00:06:52,730 they're prepared for tomorrow. Um, 113 00:06:53,070 --> 00:06:55,850 but I ask almost all the candidates I have on the program, 114 00:06:56,670 --> 00:07:00,970 the question about immediate priorities. And, you know, 115 00:07:01,230 --> 00:07:05,770 our national news covers, um, presidential cycles, and, 116 00:07:05,770 --> 00:07:09,130 and when you get into office in your first a hundred days, um, 117 00:07:09,130 --> 00:07:13,970 there are certain things that you want to immediately address. So, you know, 118 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,210 what are your priority issues that, uh, 119 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,370 that should you be elected you want to address, uh, 120 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,250 very soon after the start. 121 00:07:24,270 --> 00:07:27,210 You know, Matt, that, that, that's a good question. And I, you know, 122 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,890 I've thought about that and I, and I've had a few other people approach me and, 123 00:07:32,030 --> 00:07:36,690 and, and ask me similar questions. Um, you know, 124 00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:40,810 I, I think some obvious priorities, I think some obvious priorities, 125 00:07:41,410 --> 00:07:43,010 probably not just for Brownsville School District, 126 00:07:43,650 --> 00:07:46,490 probably just about every school district across the country, you know, I, 127 00:07:46,530 --> 00:07:50,850 I think, uh, or, but, or budget concerns. I know, I know. 128 00:07:50,850 --> 00:07:54,090 That has to be, um, you know, huge priorities, 129 00:07:54,260 --> 00:07:58,930 especially for a district such as Brownsville. Um, I think another one, 130 00:07:59,230 --> 00:08:03,770 and I I think it's becoming in, you know, in increasingly more, uh, 131 00:08:03,770 --> 00:08:07,930 worrisome is, is the teacher shortage. Uh, I think that's another big one, 132 00:08:07,930 --> 00:08:11,490 especially here in Western Pennsylvania. And especially, once again, 133 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:16,210 districts such as Brownsville, um, probably don't have, you know, 134 00:08:16,590 --> 00:08:18,450 aren't able to offer maybe, you know, 135 00:08:18,780 --> 00:08:22,130 maybe what other districts are able to offer. Um, 136 00:08:23,790 --> 00:08:24,590 I do, you know, 137 00:08:24,590 --> 00:08:29,510 I will say from my experience with working with the kids in Brownsville, 138 00:08:29,810 --> 00:08:33,990 um, I, I, I believe that some issues that, uh, you know, 139 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:36,950 I've noticed at as a coach, spending every day with them, 140 00:08:37,060 --> 00:08:40,910 hearing what they're saying and listening to what they're saying. Um, I, 141 00:08:40,950 --> 00:08:45,070 I think, I think discipline is, is definitely one that, you know, that, um, 142 00:08:45,070 --> 00:08:47,190 definitely needs to be addressed. Um, 143 00:08:49,460 --> 00:08:52,850 attendance, uh, I've, I've noticed it. I, I've noticed a, 144 00:08:52,890 --> 00:08:56,360 a decline in attendance even, even from my start at, 145 00:08:56,380 --> 00:09:01,360 at coaching at Brownsville 10 years ago to now. Uh, I, 146 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,440 I, I, I feel as if attendance is a problem. And, 147 00:09:04,500 --> 00:09:09,040 and I think that it's become like in increasingly more of a problem since Covid. 148 00:09:09,700 --> 00:09:14,010 Um, I know I started attending some of the school board meetings. I, 149 00:09:14,130 --> 00:09:15,490 I know that, that it's out there, 150 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:18,370 that there are parents who have great concerns about, you know, 151 00:09:18,370 --> 00:09:22,930 about bullying and obviously as a result, uh, mental health of our students. 152 00:09:24,490 --> 00:09:25,750 Um, I, I've had, you know, 153 00:09:25,750 --> 00:09:29,270 I've had some folks approach me what's their platform, and, um, you know what, 154 00:09:29,310 --> 00:09:32,070 I, I don't know that, I don't know that I, you know, 155 00:09:32,070 --> 00:09:36,510 necessarily have a specific platform, so to speak, 156 00:09:36,930 --> 00:09:40,790 but as you say, your immediate priorities, I, I, I feel those are, 157 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,230 those are probably the immediate priorities. Um, you know, I, I, 158 00:09:45,870 --> 00:09:49,550 I, I also feel as if you, you have to get in there on the other side. Sit, 159 00:09:49,610 --> 00:09:53,470 sit in that seat as the school director, and, you know, here, 160 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:56,510 here the information, and I'm, I know I'm obviously elected, I'll, 161 00:09:56,510 --> 00:09:59,870 I'll have a lot to learn and, you know, I'm sure I'll lean on, you know, 162 00:10:00,230 --> 00:10:02,870 directors with a lot more experience to, you know, to help, 163 00:10:02,870 --> 00:10:07,230 help get me up to speed. But, um, but I, I think also, you, 164 00:10:07,290 --> 00:10:09,990 you have to, you have to get, you have to get inside there. 165 00:10:10,090 --> 00:10:12,870 You have to get inside that arena and be, and be able to hear the facts, 166 00:10:12,870 --> 00:10:16,310 and to be able to hear what's going on and, and, and, and prepare yourself, 167 00:10:16,570 --> 00:10:20,550 you know, prepare yourself to make the best possible decisions, you know, 168 00:10:20,610 --> 00:10:23,790 for the, for the people of the district, students, staff, administration, 169 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:25,870 everyone, the educators. 170 00:10:27,870 --> 00:10:28,703 Sure. So those. 171 00:10:28,970 --> 00:10:31,600 Those will be the top priorities I at, at, at this point. 172 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:37,160 So we've, we've talked about your skillset and, uh, you know, your, 173 00:10:37,270 --> 00:10:42,000 your experience as a youth mentor, as a coach, uh, et cetera. So I, 174 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,160 I, I'll skip my normal question about, uh, 175 00:10:45,270 --> 00:10:49,640 experiences or skills that make this position appropriate for you. 176 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:52,240 But my follow up is, uh, 177 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:57,000 is always what differentiates you from other 178 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,880 candidates that may be on the ballot. Um, and, you know, 179 00:11:01,110 --> 00:11:04,840 basically what makes you, uh, not only a good fit, 180 00:11:04,860 --> 00:11:09,080 but the best fit for, uh, for this position as school director? 181 00:11:11,060 --> 00:11:15,350 Another good question, Matt. Um, the, uh, I, I'll tell you, I'm, I'm gonna be, 182 00:11:15,370 --> 00:11:18,310 I'm gonna be a hundred percent honest with you. There are, um, 183 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:22,670 there are some outstanding candidates. Um, I, um, 184 00:11:22,780 --> 00:11:26,870 some folks that, that I'm just now getting to know, and some folks, obviously, 185 00:11:26,870 --> 00:11:30,070 because Brownsville is a small town and, um, some folks I've, 186 00:11:30,260 --> 00:11:35,230 I've known my whole life. Um, so there are some outstanding candidates, 187 00:11:35,410 --> 00:11:38,910 um, I'm excited about, you know, even just the opportunity to maybe, 188 00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:42,630 possibly have the opportunity, you know, to work with them. I, 189 00:11:42,750 --> 00:11:47,390 I think what I think what potentially separates me is, 190 00:11:47,930 --> 00:11:51,990 um, that I've been, I've been out there, I've been, I've been in the community, 191 00:11:52,140 --> 00:11:56,160 I've been involved with, with so many people, uh, 192 00:11:56,340 --> 00:11:58,840 in so many different avenues. Um, 193 00:11:59,750 --> 00:12:04,440 I've had the opportunity to, you know, to, to really get to know the kids, to, 194 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,440 to work very closely with them on, on a daily basis. And I, 195 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,880 and I'd also like to think that, uh, one of the, um, 196 00:12:12,820 --> 00:12:17,320 one of the really, and, and, and probably a lot of people can say this, so I, I, 197 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:21,720 I don't know that this necessarily separates me from all, all candidates, but, 198 00:12:22,380 --> 00:12:26,800 but, um, it's, it's my ability to, to work, uh, in a team environment. 199 00:12:26,870 --> 00:12:31,520 It's my ability to work as a team player. You know, obviously, 200 00:12:31,580 --> 00:12:34,560 you know, when you're, spend as many years as I did, you know, in, 201 00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:38,960 in involved in sports and, and, and involved in coaching kids, um, it's, 202 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,840 it's all about teamwork. And it's, it's all about teamwork at work. 203 00:12:42,190 --> 00:12:44,760 It's all about teamwork in my professional life. Um, 204 00:12:45,110 --> 00:12:49,360 it's all about teamwork in our, in our families and in our communities. And I, 205 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:54,280 I, I feel very strongly that we, um, we have to work together with, 206 00:12:54,380 --> 00:12:59,120 um, you know, with, with our fellow, our fellow directors, with our, you know, 207 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:02,720 with our superintendent, with our, with our solicitor, with our, 208 00:13:02,740 --> 00:13:05,560 our administration. We have, we have to work together as a team. 209 00:13:05,850 --> 00:13:08,800 We're not always gonna agree on everything, but we, 210 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:12,680 we have to work together as a team. And, and I think we have to model teamwork. 211 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,360 I mean, if we, if we expect effective teamwork, uh, out of, um, 212 00:13:17,540 --> 00:13:18,680 out of our staff and, 213 00:13:18,940 --> 00:13:23,280 and out of the administrators and our educators and our athletic teams and our, 214 00:13:23,740 --> 00:13:28,080 and our band and, and our extracurricular activities, then I think we, 215 00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:32,240 we have to model teamwork at, at the top. And, um, 216 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:36,120 I think it's something that I've excelled at in, in my professional career, 217 00:13:36,500 --> 00:13:38,080 and obviously something that, you know, 218 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,360 that I've worked very closely with and very hard at in my, you know, 219 00:13:41,380 --> 00:13:46,120 my personal life and you know, what, where, where my passion is. And I, I still, 220 00:13:46,150 --> 00:13:49,760 it's probably one of my extraordinary skills that, that I bring to the table. 221 00:13:49,780 --> 00:13:53,600 And, and I think it's key in, in, you know, making positive change. 222 00:13:55,410 --> 00:13:59,110 So we've been talking a little bit about teamwork work, or you're, 223 00:13:59,110 --> 00:14:02,190 you're talking a little bit about teamwork. Um, so I'll keep, 224 00:14:02,470 --> 00:14:06,670 continue to use that sports analogy here. Um, you know, 225 00:14:06,670 --> 00:14:11,390 you have the paid administrators, uh, in the school district, 226 00:14:11,390 --> 00:14:14,950 your superintendent, um, maybe you have a grants director, 227 00:14:15,350 --> 00:14:19,510 director of transportation, buildings grounds, et cetera. Um, 228 00:14:19,570 --> 00:14:24,230 and then you have your school board members who, you know, have been elected, 229 00:14:24,650 --> 00:14:28,350 uh, to represent their friends and neighbors in their communities. 230 00:14:28,890 --> 00:14:32,670 So my question is, uh, using the sports analogy, 231 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,830 who's the coach of that team? If you're all team members, 232 00:14:37,450 --> 00:14:41,550 is it the superintendent or is it the school board? And, 233 00:14:42,010 --> 00:14:46,230 and kind of give us a little bit of clarification on how you see, uh, 234 00:14:46,540 --> 00:14:50,790 that relationship working. And, and again, you know, who's coaching the team? 235 00:14:51,740 --> 00:14:56,640 You know, boy, that that's, that's a, that's a really good question, Matt. Um, 236 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,840 I, from what I'm, from, from my experience so far, 237 00:15:02,070 --> 00:15:06,800 I've attended multiple, um, multiple, uh, uh, 238 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:11,680 school board meetings. Um, you know, I I'm sure that, um, 239 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:13,760 I'm sure that some of the, 240 00:15:13,820 --> 00:15:18,520 the coaching of the team happens in executive sessions where, where, 241 00:15:18,660 --> 00:15:23,600 uh, the public isn't necessarily privy to, to hear what's going on. Um, 242 00:15:25,070 --> 00:15:28,800 yeah, boy, that's not, that's a tough one. Matthew, you, you know, I, 243 00:15:29,660 --> 00:15:33,920 the coach, I the coach I think is, is, is, 244 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:39,040 is probably the superintendent, um, is the superintendent, the coach of the, 245 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:43,240 the school directors. You know, I, I don't know. I, um, I don't know who, um, 246 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:49,200 I, I think, uh, I don't know this, this, this one, this is, this is a difficult, 247 00:15:49,230 --> 00:15:53,960 this is a difficult question because I, the coaches is the leader. 248 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:58,450 I think, um, I would probably tend to say that, 249 00:15:58,450 --> 00:16:03,170 that the superintendent drives, you know, facilitates the superintendent, 250 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:08,170 facilitates the meetings, drives the meetings, um, obviously your, 251 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,890 your, your school board drives the, um, the final answer. 252 00:16:13,510 --> 00:16:17,330 And so I, is it, is it your more vocal, 253 00:16:17,460 --> 00:16:19,090 vocal school directors who, 254 00:16:19,470 --> 00:16:24,410 who sort of boy communicate their ideas? I, I don't know. 255 00:16:24,410 --> 00:16:25,490 I don't, I don't know that I, 256 00:16:25,570 --> 00:16:28,490 I dunno that I totally know the answer to that question, who the coach is, 257 00:16:28,710 --> 00:16:30,370 who the coach, this team. Well. 258 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:35,330 There's also a possibility that in different scenarios or situations, 259 00:16:35,330 --> 00:16:40,050 yeah, someone is, is picking up the baton as, as coach. Um, 260 00:16:40,070 --> 00:16:43,370 but good to, to get your, uh, your insight on that, 261 00:16:43,370 --> 00:16:45,610 because I think that's an important relationship. 262 00:16:46,390 --> 00:16:49,810 And candidates for school director, uh, in my opinion, 263 00:16:50,150 --> 00:16:54,930 really have to be relationship based people. Um, 264 00:16:55,150 --> 00:16:58,170 you know, because not only are you dealing with the, the general public, 265 00:16:58,230 --> 00:17:01,050 the community, the parents, um, but then you, 266 00:17:01,430 --> 00:17:06,290 you do have those professionals that you have working, uh, basically for you, 267 00:17:07,030 --> 00:17:11,290 um, because you make the decision on, on who's in those roles, um, 268 00:17:11,710 --> 00:17:16,410 as well. Well, we have to get our first break in here today on commonalities. 269 00:17:16,420 --> 00:17:20,010 We'll be back in just a moment. Again, my guest today is Patty, 270 00:17:20,750 --> 00:17:22,930 and she's running for, uh, 271 00:17:22,930 --> 00:17:25,650 school director in the Brownsville area School District. 272 00:17:25,980 --> 00:17:28,650 Patty will continue our conversation in just a moment. 273 00:17:31,950 --> 00:17:36,170 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 274 00:17:36,490 --> 00:17:37,610 uncommon conversations. 275 00:17:38,420 --> 00:17:41,850 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 276 00:17:45,150 --> 00:17:47,850 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 277 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:51,920 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 278 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,720 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 279 00:17:54,910 --> 00:17:58,760 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 280 00:17:58,830 --> 00:18:02,120 bars. 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I'm your host, 331 00:21:14,660 --> 00:21:17,540 Matt Dowling. My guest today is Patty Columbia. 332 00:21:17,670 --> 00:21:22,620 She's running for school director in the, uh, Brownsville School District, 333 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:26,980 and we're gonna get back to our conversation with her in just a moment. Uh, 334 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:28,260 but I, I again, 335 00:21:28,370 --> 00:21:32,940 want to keep plugging the fact that if you are running for public office, um, 336 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,700 we wanna have you on the program, uh, as a former, uh, 337 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:41,020 elected official and, and public servant. Um, you know, 338 00:21:41,050 --> 00:21:45,300 I've always believed that, uh, voters should, uh, 339 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:49,940 shouldn't really have to go out in search of what you stand for and, uh, 340 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:51,060 what your opinions are. 341 00:21:51,380 --> 00:21:54,420 I think that's something you need to put out there in the community. So again, 342 00:21:54,420 --> 00:21:57,860 if you're running for public office, get ahold of me. You can, uh, 343 00:21:57,860 --> 00:22:01,740 visit my website, matthew daling.com, uh, 344 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,020 and you can email me, send a message through the site, et cetera, 345 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,860 and we'll be happy to get you on the program, uh, 346 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,700 if not before the primary election, which is fast approaching, uh, 347 00:22:13,730 --> 00:22:18,420 then before the general this fall. Um, Patty, I want to thank you, uh, 348 00:22:18,430 --> 00:22:23,380 again for being on the program here today. We've, uh, already delved into, 349 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:28,260 uh, a lot of your, your history, your experience, as well as some of your, 350 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:33,900 uh, your opinions as, uh, who's kind of in charge, the, uh, 351 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:37,580 the administration or the, the board. Um, 352 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,060 and we also talked about what your priorities are going to be, uh, 353 00:22:42,060 --> 00:22:44,500 should you be elected. So, uh, 354 00:22:44,580 --> 00:22:47,940 I I wanted to move our discussion, uh, 355 00:22:47,940 --> 00:22:52,780 forward and, um, uh, and I want to ask, 356 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:56,380 uh, about the process of, 357 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,340 of taking a vote. So you're in the meeting and, um, 358 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,340 you know, you vote on something, uh, 359 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,620 you happen to be against this, uh, 360 00:23:08,330 --> 00:23:12,220 this motion against this, uh, this, uh, 361 00:23:12,420 --> 00:23:16,500 decision that's being made. So you vote no, uh, but then moving forward, 362 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:18,060 um, you know, 363 00:23:18,060 --> 00:23:21,540 I think it's important for the school district to show a united front. 364 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,580 How do you get over the fact that basically you, you lost that small battle, 365 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:32,380 um, but be supportive of the decision that comes out, uh, in the end? 366 00:23:35,220 --> 00:23:39,750 Well, I, I think that, I think that goes back to, to more of, um, 367 00:23:40,150 --> 00:23:41,710 I think that goes back to more of the, 368 00:23:41,710 --> 00:23:46,640 of the teamwork element of serving on a board that, you know, 369 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,120 that I was, that I was referencing. Um, 370 00:23:50,220 --> 00:23:54,200 you are a group of folks working towards a common goal, and once again, 371 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:58,880 you're not, not everyone is, is going to agree. And, you know, 372 00:23:58,950 --> 00:24:03,800 it's probably no different than, um, than, you know, a lot of projects that, 373 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,520 that we work on, you know, at, at work or in our jobs or, um, that, uh, 374 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:12,280 not everybody agrees with the approach. And you, you work, you, you know, 375 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,560 you work together to try to hash out what you feel is the best approach. 376 00:24:15,580 --> 00:24:20,120 And at the end of the day, uh, whether it, whether it's, you know, 377 00:24:20,590 --> 00:24:23,720 aligned with your opinion as to how, you know, 378 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:26,640 something should be accomplished or whether it doesn't, I, 379 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:28,680 I think it comes down to respect. Um, 380 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:33,160 I have an immense amount of respect for anyone who's willing to, you know, 381 00:24:33,180 --> 00:24:37,920 to put, to put himself herself out there, to, to serve, uh, you know, 382 00:24:38,460 --> 00:24:43,160 in, in, in any public, you know, in any, in any public, uh, 383 00:24:43,220 --> 00:24:46,400 avenue. But, uh, you know, for, just for, you know, 384 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,920 particularly for me serving, serving on a school board, I've, 385 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,320 I've got a immense amount of respect for anyone willing to do that. So I, 386 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:58,160 I I think it comes down to, to, to respect to respecting, you know, 387 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,800 everyone's opinion and you know, what we're all, what we're all trying to do, 388 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:04,880 whether we agree or, or we disagree. 389 00:25:06,350 --> 00:25:10,840 Sure. So my next question is, uh, is one about, 390 00:25:11,500 --> 00:25:15,560 uh, accessibility to the community. You know, as, uh, 391 00:25:15,740 --> 00:25:18,280 as an elected official, I, uh, you know, 392 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:23,160 always took great broad pride in meeting with basically anyone who 393 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:27,440 wanted to, to meet with me. Um, I had an open door policy, and, 394 00:25:27,460 --> 00:25:32,160 and I think that's very important, but I think you also have to be honest and, 395 00:25:32,380 --> 00:25:35,600 uh, and recognize the fact that, um, you know, 396 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,760 what I was serving as a state representative that was a full-time job with, uh, 397 00:25:39,990 --> 00:25:44,480 with good compensation. Our school board members, uh, on the other hand, 398 00:25:45,180 --> 00:25:48,120 are, uh, elected officials, but they're volunteers. 399 00:25:48,230 --> 00:25:52,800 They're not being compensated in any way. Um, 400 00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:55,800 you know, so what is, 401 00:25:56,020 --> 00:25:59,800 how much dedication should they have to being accessible to the community? 402 00:26:00,460 --> 00:26:04,920 How can they go about being accessible to the community and, uh, 403 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:08,760 and opening a conversation and narrative, uh, 404 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,640 between constituents in themselves? 405 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,810 Yeah. And I think, um, I think, 406 00:26:15,530 --> 00:26:19,930 I think that process is something that obviously, uh, 407 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:21,010 it's gonna be a, 408 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:25,850 it's gonna be a learn learned by doing and learned by going through it. Um, I, 409 00:26:26,010 --> 00:26:30,250 I do, I do notice ever since the thought of running, you know, 410 00:26:30,250 --> 00:26:32,890 running for a school board popped into my head, I, 411 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,650 I've kind of paid a little closer attention to, um, you know, 412 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:40,450 certain things that go on around me that I probably didn't pay as close 413 00:26:40,450 --> 00:26:44,800 attention to prior to this decision. And I, I do believe that a, 414 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:49,520 a common misconception is, um, is that members of the, 415 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:50,880 of the school board, you know, 416 00:26:50,940 --> 00:26:55,800 run the day-to-day operations with within a school. And, um, and you know, 417 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:58,920 that that is not the case, obviously. Um, however, 418 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:03,600 I do think making yourself available to the public is extremely 419 00:27:03,670 --> 00:27:05,240 important. Um, 420 00:27:07,390 --> 00:27:11,200 will there come times when you probably do have to, uh, 421 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:16,040 establish some boundaries and, and, and strike a, a happy medium? Yes. I'm, I'm, 422 00:27:16,060 --> 00:27:18,760 I'm sure, I'm sure that there are, um, I, I think, 423 00:27:19,060 --> 00:27:22,080 but I do think it's extremely important that you know, 424 00:27:22,190 --> 00:27:23,680 that you do make yourself available, 425 00:27:23,950 --> 00:27:28,440 that you make yourself available to the public, that you make it easy to, um, 426 00:27:28,580 --> 00:27:31,960 to, to contact you. But at the same time, um, 427 00:27:33,110 --> 00:27:36,490 if you don't know the answer, you, you, uh, you, you take it back to, 428 00:27:36,510 --> 00:27:40,770 to the proper people. And, um, you, you, you get the right answer and, and, 429 00:27:40,790 --> 00:27:44,290 and you try to relay that information as, as best as you can. 430 00:27:44,950 --> 00:27:47,490 But obviously the fundamental difference between, you know, 431 00:27:47,490 --> 00:27:51,010 serving on a school board and maybe some other political roles is that you're 432 00:27:51,010 --> 00:27:53,530 not, you know, you're right, not, you're not a paid employee and you're not, 433 00:27:53,590 --> 00:27:58,410 not a paid employee of the district. So, you know, um, uh, 434 00:27:58,970 --> 00:28:02,090 I just think you have to strike the happy violence and re remember what your, 435 00:28:02,570 --> 00:28:03,970 remember what your role is. And if, 436 00:28:03,970 --> 00:28:07,210 and if you're not sure and you don't know what that is, then you need to, 437 00:28:07,230 --> 00:28:11,050 you know, you need to, you need to take it back, get the right answers, and, 438 00:28:11,190 --> 00:28:14,130 and obviously get, get back to people as, as best you can. 439 00:28:15,270 --> 00:28:20,250 So while we're on the topic of communication, um, you know, I, 440 00:28:20,330 --> 00:28:23,810 I guess one of my questions would be, um, you know, 441 00:28:24,430 --> 00:28:29,330 what's the public relations role or responsibility 442 00:28:29,910 --> 00:28:34,090 of board members? And, and I'm coming at this from the direction that, um, 443 00:28:34,090 --> 00:28:36,570 you know, the board sees a problem, 444 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:41,810 they inform the superintendent, the superintendent comes up with a plan that, 445 00:28:42,510 --> 00:28:46,690 um, the employees, uh, the teachers, et cetera, can, uh, 446 00:28:46,790 --> 00:28:49,530 put into to movement. Um, 447 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:53,610 some people agree with this new plan of addressing the problem, 448 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:57,730 some people in the community don't. Um, do, you know, 449 00:28:58,470 --> 00:29:02,570 is it your role or responsibility to go and sell the 450 00:29:02,750 --> 00:29:07,250 superintendent's plan, uh, to the constituents and, you know, 451 00:29:07,350 --> 00:29:10,530 to hear them out and, and to see, um, you know, 452 00:29:10,630 --> 00:29:14,770 why it is that maybe they don't support, uh, this agenda or this plan? 453 00:29:19,460 --> 00:29:24,320 Oh, I, I, I, I, I, I, no, I don't, I feel that you, 454 00:29:24,380 --> 00:29:27,270 um, I feel that you're, i I, 455 00:29:27,990 --> 00:29:30,670 I feel that your responsibility is to work with your, 456 00:29:30,860 --> 00:29:34,790 work with your fellow directors to, to, um, 457 00:29:35,570 --> 00:29:40,030 you know, to, to, to vote, to vote on the, the plan, or, you know, 458 00:29:41,180 --> 00:29:44,760 to vote yes, to vote no to vote, you know, to, to, to, 459 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,540 to think independently and to, uh, you know, it, it, it's, 460 00:29:49,610 --> 00:29:54,060 it's to, to react as best you can. Um, I, I, I, 461 00:29:54,220 --> 00:29:58,100 I don't know that your, that your role is to go out there and, 462 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:03,540 and sell, just sell the plan to, to the members of, you know, 463 00:30:03,540 --> 00:30:08,260 to the members of the community. Um, I think that's gonna be, once again, 464 00:30:08,260 --> 00:30:13,260 that's gonna be part of a learning process where you, um, you know, where you, 465 00:30:13,670 --> 00:30:16,980 where you learn the proper bo boundaries and you, you know, you, 466 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:21,740 you learn what's, um, you know, what's acceptable and, uh, 467 00:30:21,740 --> 00:30:25,940 what's acceptable to share, what's, what's acceptable to discuss and, and, 468 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,180 and what isn't. Um, but I, I, I feel that your, 469 00:30:29,180 --> 00:30:31,780 your job is to work with your fellow directors to, 470 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:36,460 to make the best possible decision and, um, and, and go from there. 471 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:42,100 So kind of my, my final question then we'll get our last break in, 472 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:46,180 and then we'll come back for final thoughts and some contact information. Um, 473 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:50,940 but my last question before we go to break is, uh, sometimes called the, 474 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,940 the magic wand theory. So, um, 475 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,260 you go to bed tonight and, uh, and you say tomorrow, 476 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,100 um, or when you wake up tomorrow, 477 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:07,180 you say everything is perfect in the world of education in Brownsville School 478 00:31:07,420 --> 00:31:11,300 District. Um, what does that look like? And, uh, 479 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,060 and maybe to simplify, um, you know, 480 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:18,460 what's your vision for education in the Brownsville Area School District? 481 00:31:21,610 --> 00:31:24,450 I think the, the, I think the, um, the, 482 00:31:24,550 --> 00:31:28,370 the magic wand is that, uh, 483 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:35,300 you know, Brownsville, it's, it's tough. It's, you know, we, you know, we, um, 484 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:42,100 we are, are, you know, we're not, um, you know, we're, it's, 485 00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:44,140 it's a district that's, that's, that's struggling in, 486 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:48,060 in a lot of different ways. Um, we're, you know, on the lower end of, you know, 487 00:31:48,060 --> 00:31:51,180 this, um, you know, economic 488 00:31:53,180 --> 00:31:57,770 level, so to speak. Um, I, I think, I think the magic wand is gonna be, um, 489 00:31:58,190 --> 00:32:01,330 is, is prob probably starts with, with morale. Um, 490 00:32:01,750 --> 00:32:05,250 the magic wand probably starts with the morale of our, of our staff and our, 491 00:32:05,250 --> 00:32:09,170 and our educators. And, um, and that's, you know, 492 00:32:09,550 --> 00:32:14,450 that's probably where it starts to, to, to get the district, you know, 493 00:32:14,470 --> 00:32:18,690 to the best place it reasonably can, can get to, um, 494 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,410 that, that's where I would say the magic wand is. 495 00:32:24,460 --> 00:32:28,590 Well, we have to get our final break in for today's episode. When we come back, 496 00:32:29,010 --> 00:32:33,750 uh, we'll be talking with Patty about, uh, ways that she, uh, 497 00:32:33,890 --> 00:32:37,590 you can contact with her, with you can, how you can engage with her campaign, 498 00:32:38,130 --> 00:32:41,760 and we'll give her a chance to give her final thoughts. So stick with us. 499 00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:43,680 We'll be right back on commonalities. 500 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:51,360 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 501 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:52,880 uncommon conversations. 502 00:32:53,610 --> 00:32:56,680 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 503 00:33:00,220 --> 00:33:02,880 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District attorney, 504 00:33:03,110 --> 00:33:06,960 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 505 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,760 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 506 00:33:09,950 --> 00:33:13,680 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 507 00:33:13,710 --> 00:33:17,200 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 508 00:33:17,260 --> 00:33:19,520 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 509 00:33:19,660 --> 00:33:23,840 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 510 00:33:24,340 --> 00:33:27,680 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 511 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:29,320 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 512 00:33:30,310 --> 00:33:32,280 Nestled in the heart of the Laurel Highlands, 513 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:37,000 the Christian W. Clay Winery and Ridge Runner Distillery offer handcrafted wines 514 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,960 and spirits using locally sourced grapes and ingredients. 515 00:33:40,190 --> 00:33:44,520 Stop by our Toki Pennsylvania tasting rooms located just across the street from 516 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,600 each other, or pick up a bottle at our wine cellar on Route 40, 517 00:33:47,660 --> 00:33:48,600 the National Road. 518 00:33:49,110 --> 00:33:51,360 Join Ridge Runner Distillery on Friday, 519 00:33:51,540 --> 00:33:56,480 May 5th at 3:00 PM to kick off their grand opening weekend with Free 520 00:33:56,550 --> 00:33:57,383 charcuterie. 521 00:33:57,940 --> 00:34:02,680 May 6th join us for s'mores by our fire and May 7th 522 00:34:03,130 --> 00:34:08,080 enjoy our bloody merry bar and live music by hollow point from two to 5:00 PM. 523 00:34:09,380 --> 00:34:12,240 For more information about the Christian W. Clay Winery, 524 00:34:12,430 --> 00:34:17,280 call 7 2 4 4 3 9 3 4 2 4. And for Ridge Runner Distillery, 525 00:34:17,310 --> 00:34:20,760 call 7 2 4 4 3 4 6 6 5 9. 526 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,920 Christian Clay Winery and Ridge Runner Distillery, 527 00:34:24,060 --> 00:34:28,520 the Laurel Highlands Premiere purveyors of Locally Made Wine and Spirits. 528 00:34:29,740 --> 00:34:34,000 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 529 00:34:34,580 --> 00:34:35,230 If so, 530 00:34:35,230 --> 00:34:39,840 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 531 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:43,840 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 532 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,720 expertise with a holistic perspective. 533 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:51,320 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 534 00:34:51,580 --> 00:34:56,280 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 535 00:34:56,310 --> 00:35:00,800 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 536 00:35:00,950 --> 00:35:05,920 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message and 537 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:10,720 share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 538 00:35:11,150 --> 00:35:15,000 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 539 00:35:15,420 --> 00:35:17,280 or visit us online at 540 00:35:18,140 --> 00:35:22,760 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 541 00:35:22,790 --> 00:35:24,000 Instagram, and Twitter, 542 00:35:24,460 --> 00:35:28,120 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 543 00:35:31,020 --> 00:35:32,080 Are you enjoying the program? 544 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:36,280 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 545 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:39,120 a donation of five, 10, or $25, 546 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:44,440 or any amount you feel comfortable sharing online@donate.commonalities.online. 547 00:35:44,770 --> 00:35:49,200 Again, that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web, 548 00:35:49,620 --> 00:35:53,840 buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 549 00:35:53,860 --> 00:35:54,693 online. 550 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:02,540 Thanks for staying with us here on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 551 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,900 My guest today is Patty Columbia. She's running for school director, uh, 552 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,260 on the school board in the Brownsville Area School District. Patty, 553 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:14,980 we have just about 90 seconds left in the program. If, uh, 554 00:36:15,040 --> 00:36:18,580 if you'd like, you can give some contact information, uh, 555 00:36:18,580 --> 00:36:22,700 to people that may have a question for you and, and be interested, uh, 556 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:27,300 in maybe helping with your campaign or, or becoming engaged in the campaign. Uh, 557 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:29,980 and if you have any final thoughts that we didn't go over, 558 00:36:30,370 --> 00:36:32,260 feel free to shoot those out as well. 559 00:36:34,110 --> 00:36:36,730 Thanks, Matt. Um, well, first of all, once again, I'd, 560 00:36:36,730 --> 00:36:40,130 I'd like to thank you for, um, for giving me the opportunity, uh, 561 00:36:40,150 --> 00:36:44,610 to be on the program and, um, my, uh, 562 00:36:44,670 --> 00:36:48,610 my cell phone number is, um, (724) 263-2638, 563 00:36:48,710 --> 00:36:53,410 and I'm more than willing to, um, to respond to any questions that, you know, 564 00:36:53,410 --> 00:36:55,650 that anyone in the community has. Um, 565 00:36:56,410 --> 00:37:00,690 I appreciate everyone's support so far, and, um, you know, I'm, 566 00:37:00,830 --> 00:37:05,650 I'm excited about the opportunity to, to possibly serve, you know, 567 00:37:05,780 --> 00:37:09,930 serve in, in, in this, you know, in this new role as, um, you know, I've, 568 00:37:09,930 --> 00:37:13,690 I've devoted a lot of time to youth in my life, actually, actually have divided, 569 00:37:13,710 --> 00:37:17,210 you know, devoted my, in my entire life to youth. It's, it's my passion. 570 00:37:17,470 --> 00:37:20,490 It always has been my passion, it always will be. And I, 571 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:24,770 I think this is just an opportunity to serve in a different role. And, um, I, 572 00:37:24,770 --> 00:37:29,010 you know, appreciate that, you know, everyone's support up until now. And, um, 573 00:37:29,630 --> 00:37:32,690 if anyone has any questions at all, I think, I think you've, you know, 574 00:37:32,690 --> 00:37:35,570 you've covered a great deal on here, Matt and I. You know, once again, 575 00:37:35,610 --> 00:37:39,210 I appreciate the opportunity and if anyone has any questions, I'm, you know, 576 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:40,810 more than willing to, um, 577 00:37:41,270 --> 00:37:44,490 to listen to what they have to say and to answer their questions and to make 578 00:37:44,490 --> 00:37:47,170 myself available, friend, anyone who wants to talk to me. 579 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:52,170 Well, we wanna thank you for taking, uh, the time out, not only to do the, 580 00:37:52,310 --> 00:37:55,850 the show and have a conversation with me, but more importantly, uh, 581 00:37:55,850 --> 00:37:58,970 for taking the time out to educate the voters about, uh, 582 00:37:59,460 --> 00:38:02,890 about what you stand for and, uh, your beliefs, uh, 583 00:38:02,890 --> 00:38:06,450 and how you would do things if elected as, uh, 584 00:38:06,670 --> 00:38:11,250 as school board director, uh, in the Brownsville Area School District. Uh, 585 00:38:11,250 --> 00:38:13,690 again, I'm your host, Matt Dowling, and, uh, 586 00:38:13,690 --> 00:38:18,290 my guest today has been Patty Columbia. Uh, you can visit her, uh, or, 587 00:38:18,350 --> 00:38:22,650 or give her a call, uh, via the cell phone number she put out there. Uh, 588 00:38:22,670 --> 00:38:25,330 and for more information about commonalities, 589 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:30,330 feel free to visit our website or find us on social media, Facebook, Instagram, 590 00:38:30,390 --> 00:38:34,010 and Twitter. Uh, and we thank you for tuning. 591 00:38:36,510 --> 00:38:38,360 This has been Commonalities, 592 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:42,880 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 593 00:38:43,150 --> 00:38:45,760 Copyright 2022, coordinated 360, 594 00:38:46,140 --> 00:38:49,440 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 595 00:38:49,510 --> 00:38:54,440 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 596 00:38:54,610 --> 00:38:56,840 Thank you for listening to commonalities. 597 00:39:00,460 --> 00:39:04,480 Are you looking for an adventure right in your own backyard? 598 00:39:04,860 --> 00:39:08,360 Do you crave delicious food, refreshing drinks, 599 00:39:08,660 --> 00:39:12,480 and luxurious accommodations than look no further, 600 00:39:13,020 --> 00:39:16,640 or listen, rather than all in a day's drive, 601 00:39:17,620 --> 00:39:21,240 the podcast that takes you on a journey through the great commonwealth of 602 00:39:21,240 --> 00:39:25,760 Pennsylvania history, the outdoors, hiking, skiing, 603 00:39:26,480 --> 00:39:27,180 shopping, 604 00:39:27,180 --> 00:39:31,560 and more from the stunning landscapes and historic landmarks to the world 605 00:39:31,560 --> 00:39:32,800 renowned attractions. 606 00:39:33,170 --> 00:39:38,120 We'll show you the beauty and wonder that Pennsylvania has to offer all of 607 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:41,640 this and more in just one day's drive. What are you waiting for? 608 00:39:42,140 --> 00:39:46,000 Hop in the car and join us for an adventure you'll never forget. 609 00:39:47,140 --> 00:39:48,760 Hi there. This is Matt Dowling, 610 00:39:49,100 --> 00:39:53,440 and I'm absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of my new podcast 611 00:39:53,900 --> 00:39:58,840 on Thursday mornings following the 11:00 AM News on Wmb s 612 00:39:58,840 --> 00:40:03,200 Radio five 90 am and 1 0 1 0.1 fm. 613 00:40:03,690 --> 00:40:04,523 Don't miss out, 614 00:40:04,930 --> 00:40:08,920 learn about tourism in Pennsylvania by listening on your computer, 615 00:40:09,580 --> 00:40:11,800 iPhone or am FM radio. 616 00:40:14,550 --> 00:40:19,080 This has been all in a day's drive. Don't waste a moment of time. 617 00:40:19,650 --> 00:40:22,400 Start planning your adventure in Pennsylvania today. 618 00:40:22,780 --> 00:40:26,360 All in a day's drive is a production of Coordinated 360, 619 00:40:26,860 --> 00:40:29,800 all rights reserved. For more information, visit 620 00:40:30,780 --> 00:40:35,780 www.coordinatedthreesixty.comorwww.matthewddowling.com. 621 00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:42,280 Portions of today's program may have been underwritten in some way by the 622 00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:45,560 attraction location or venue discussed on the show. 623 00:40:46,070 --> 00:40:50,600 Rebroadcast of this program may be done free of charge for the use of promoting 624 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:52,720 tourism in southwestern Pennsylvania. 625 00:40:56,710 --> 00:40:58,480 When it comes to buying a home, 626 00:40:59,030 --> 00:41:01,760 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 627 00:41:02,260 --> 00:41:06,720 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling At Grandview 628 00:41:06,790 --> 00:41:11,680 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 629 00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:17,000 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 630 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,680 gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 631 00:41:20,150 --> 00:41:24,040 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 632 00:41:24,550 --> 00:41:25,600 dangerous wiring, 633 00:41:26,100 --> 00:41:31,040 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a home 634 00:41:31,070 --> 00:41:34,520 inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 635 00:41:34,870 --> 00:41:38,840 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 636 00:41:39,140 --> 00:41:41,080 should be your number one concern. 637 00:41:41,710 --> 00:41:46,240 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 638 00:41:46,470 --> 00:41:51,040 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds of 639 00:41:51,350 --> 00:41:52,840 inspections under his belt. 640 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:58,880 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk through 641 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:03,560 the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 642 00:42:03,950 --> 00:42:08,680 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you move 643 00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:12,160 in. Your home is one of your biggest investments. 644 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:16,360 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 645 00:42:16,830 --> 00:42:20,240 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 646 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:23,960 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 647 00:42:30,690 --> 00:42:33,270 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 648 00:42:33,500 --> 00:42:37,510 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 649 00:42:37,510 --> 00:42:40,310 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 650 00:42:40,500 --> 00:42:44,350 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 651 00:42:44,380 --> 00:42:47,710 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 652 00:42:47,770 --> 00:42:49,950 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 653 00:42:50,090 --> 00:42:54,390 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 654 00:42:54,890 --> 00:42:58,230 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 655 00:42:58,230 --> 00:42:59,910 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 656 00:43:00,900 --> 00:43:02,950 Nestled in the heart of the Laurel Highlands, 657 00:43:02,950 --> 00:43:07,470 the Christian W. Clay Winery and Ridge Runner Distillery offer handcrafted wines 658 00:43:07,470 --> 00:43:11,790 and spirits using locally sourced grapes and ingredients. Stop by our tall hill, 659 00:43:11,790 --> 00:43:15,430 Pennsylvania tasting rooms located just across the street from each other. 660 00:43:15,490 --> 00:43:19,150 Or pick up a bottle on our wine cellar on Route 40, the National Road. 661 00:43:19,700 --> 00:43:22,030 Join Ridgerunner Distillery on Friday, 662 00:43:22,210 --> 00:43:26,910 May 5th at 3:00 PM to kick off their grand opening weekend with free 663 00:43:26,940 --> 00:43:27,773 charcuterie. 664 00:43:28,250 --> 00:43:33,230 May 6th join us for s'mores by our fire and May 7th. 665 00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:38,190 Enjoy our bloody merry bar and live music by hollow point from two to 666 00:43:38,190 --> 00:43:39,023 5:00 PM. 667 00:43:40,050 --> 00:43:42,750 For more information about the Christian W. Clay Winery, 668 00:43:42,940 --> 00:43:47,630 call 7 2 4 4 3 9 3 4 2 4. And for Ridge Runner Distillery, 669 00:43:47,660 --> 00:43:51,270 call 7 2 4 4 3 4 6 6 5 9. 670 00:43:51,300 --> 00:43:54,470 Christian Clay Winery and Ridge Runner Distillery, 671 00:43:54,610 --> 00:43:59,230 the Laurel Highlands Premier Purveyors of locally made wine and Spirits.
01May, 2023
