Candidate Questionnaire - Michael Faccinetto
Candidate Questionnaire - Michael Faccinetto
Candidate Questionnaire - Michael Faccinetto
1. What do you value most about the municipality you’re running to represent and why do
you want to represent the people of that municipality?
I have been serving on the BASD School Board since 2009. I value the diversity of the district
and the opportunities we offer to all our students. BASD is one of the few urban/suburban
districts around that encompasses a city as well as wealthy suburban townships. It allows
students to experience other cultures and learn with friends who do not look like them. This
teaches them the value of respecting diversity and the differences between us. We have
focused a lot of resources on equity over the years and I look forward to continuing that work.
2. What do you believe are the biggest issues facing BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ constituents?
How does it fit into your campaign priorities?
I believe that the biggest issues for both of these groups in the BASD is the lack of equity when
it comes to educational programs and extracurricular activities. Students of color are often
disciplined more, left out of higher level classes, and passed over for student leadership
positions. They often are left without a voice in their schools. LGBTQIA+ students are also
often left without a voice when it comes to issues in the school. While I do believe the BASD as
a whole is very progressive and accepting of all LGBTQIA+ students they do still face
misunderstanding and bullying. Part of my work over the past two years has been to draft an
equity policy for the board to adopt that will draw a line in the sand and let the public, staff and
students know exactly what we stand for and expect for our students, regardless of background,
sexualtiy or personal belief.
3. How will you regularly use the power of your office to dismantle white supremacy and
address systemic racism in our local and municipal governments?
As I previously mentioned I have been advocating for an equity policy for some time and am
now part of a small team that is drafting this initial policy. It will contain a sub-policy specifically
addressing anti-racism. We as a school community must do everything we can to show our
students we are anti-racist. That starts at the top with the board and superintendent and must
include everyone associated with the BASD. The anti-racist policy will call on departments to
examine everyhting we do from currlculum to extra curricular participation to discipline referrals.
In 2017-2018 I was President of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and pushed for
the board of PSBA to finally adopt an equity statement. Now, the BASD will be one of the first
districts in PA to have not only an equity policy but additional policies that address anti-racism
and inclusion.
4. The 2 main campaigns for LVSU in 2021 are de-carcerating the Allentown school system
and protecting and expanding voting rights in the Lehigh Valley: In seeking our
endorsement, how will you support our campaigns?
As a teacher in the Allentown School District I see first hand everyday the need to treat students
with respect and dignity. I teach 5th grade at Central Elementary where all of my students face
Candidate Questionnaire - Faccinetto
When it comes to voting rights I fully support making it easier for everyone to vote. I will always
allow our schools to be used to keep polling places in our neighborhoods.
5. What is your vision for the role of police in our communities in the Lehigh Valley? Please
address how your elected office can take steps to accomplish your vision.
I believe that our local police forces must become immersed in our neighborhoods and build
trusting relationships. I generally do not support increased security measures in our schools like
metal detectors, armed security and bullet proof glass. However, I do believe we have a very
positive and successful SRO program in Bethlehem. The officers assigned to our middle and
high schools want to be there and work hard to build relationships with the students. Outside of
the school day they are visible in the community and at events. They know the families and
have built mutual respect. I believe that for many reasons, especially since 9/11, we as a nation
have respected law enforcement and wanted to provide them with the tools necessary to keep
us safe. However, there are some areas where funding has become bloated and is paying for
items and programs that are not benefiting the community. Many of those funds could be
reinvested into the community to help make our streets safer. Instead of purchasing armored
vehicles and high powered military style weapons we should be spending that money on proven
community policing measures that build respect and trust. It was not long ago that the
Bethlehem Police Chief was walking the streets in uniform daily and interacting with the
community on Twitter. We need to return to those days where law enforcement worked for the
people, not against them. It has to be ok to question law enforcement without it becoming a
political debate. I will do everything I can in my role as a board member to continue to have a
strong and prosperous relationship with the BPD and our SROs. I do believe both APD and
BPD have good community focused leadership right now and that is a positive for our
community.
Candidate Questionnaire - Faccinetto
6. According to a December 2020 report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center,
CARES funding for PA schools was distributed inequitably and underfunded the poorest
districts and those with majorities of students of color most. The state also failed to
distribute $108 million in rent and mortgage relief within the allowed period. With more
COVID relief available soon from the Biden administration, we need leaders that will get
relief into the hands of those that need it most.
If your elected body received a grant for COVID-related relief, what would be your top
spending priority? How would you ensure that COVID-related relief lands in the hands of
vulnerable people first?
The BASD has received 3 rounds of COVID relief to date. We have used the money equitably
across our district. We are investing in our IT needs and infrastructure to provide clean air and
safe buildings which is a good use of one time money. Additionally we recognize the huge
learning loss, especially for our most vulnerable populations, and are investing over $16 million
in remediation and enrichment programs to ramp up for the fall return to school.
7. Municipal and local budgets are notoriously cash-strapped. In a period of austerity how
will you prioritize the needs of our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities in the face of
budget shortfalls?
The BASD has been investing tens of millions of dollars in our reading by grade 3 program for
the past five years. Our data shows that many of our students of color could not read on grade
level and struggle significantly more than their white peers. The push for all our students to
read on grade level by the end of grade 3 has been an enormous investment in equity. Beyond
reading we continuously partner with community organizations to support our students and their
families who live in poverty or face tremendous adversity. A disproportionate number of
students of color live in poverty in the BASD and we are doing all we can to support them in the
classroom as well as outside in their home lives. Once again our equity policy ensures that all
students, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+, have access to the same programs and services.
8. What is your path to victory? How will you engage new voters and expand the electorate
in your municipality or body?
My work on the board has always been my strongest campaign advertisement. I have been a
vocal supporter of our students and teachers. I am active on social media and respond to all
citizen emails. School directors are volunteers and I do not fundraise. Word of mouth and old
fashioned canvassing have always been my pathway to victory.
9. Who is funding your campaign? Is there anyone from whom you are not taking campaign
contributions? Why?
Candidate Questionnaire - Faccinetto
I have never accepted money from anyone except PSEA, of which my wife and I are both
members.
10. For School Board Candidates Only: Given the difficulties K-12 education faced
throughout this pandemic, what are your preparedness plans for future pandemics?
This pandemic has taught us a lot about how to be better prepared for future challenges and
closures. A massive equity spotlight was pointed directly at our longstanding issues of personal
devices, connectivity and home environment. We have partnered with multiple community
groups as well as Northampton County to provide high speed internet access and devices to our
neediest families. We still are working to find new ways to support students on asynchronous
days when there is no parent or other adult home to assist. Our structure, unique from other
districts, of Tuesday/Thursday and Wednesday/Friday means no student will sit and struggle
with work for multiple days. Asynchronous work on Wednesday can be reviewed and reinforced
on Thursday in person rather than waiting an entire 3-4 days. Additionally, we have also
expanded access to meals and distribution sites to ensure students do not go hungry.
Specialists and counselors have been able to keep in contact with e-classroom students to
make sure they are emotionally and mentally ok in addition to academically. While the model is
not perfect it has taught us how to continue to support our families even in the most difficult
circumstances. This summer we will analyze the data to be better prepared in the future if this
ever happens again, or if the fall does not offer the hope we all anticipate.