HUGHESVILLE - East Lycoming School Board unanimously elected Randy Eddinger as the newest school board member, when the other candidate did not come for the interview.
Eddinger was chosen to fill the unexpired term of Renee Laychur after his interview held during the board meeting Tuesday night. He left before he could be sworn in.
During his interview, he said the biggest challenge that school districts face is cutting expenses. He said would fix that by looking at different contract negotiations, including alternate medical plans.
"The biggest expense now is the medical package," Eddinger said.
School districts also should receive more funding and he said he would talk to local representatives to find where funds are available, including investigating where money from the casinos is going.
"Where's all that money going?" he said. "It has not been going to property taxes."
A former policeman and now a sales manager, Eddinger said that the reason he sought the open position on the school board is so he can help get children more involved and prepared for the real world. He has a daughter in seventh grade and the feedback he has received from her is that sometimes in class she is done early because there was not much to do.
"The curriculum taught has to be something that keeps them engaged," Eddinger said. "Keep the curriculum up to their level."
Being involved with the borough for 20 years has given him experience in finances, contract negotiation, different aspects of government and grant writing, all which he said he could use in his position.
