By Steven Hoffman

Staff Writer

When voters in the Kennett Consolidated School District go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, there will be plenty of familiar names on the ballot. Incumbent board members Doug Stirling, Heather Schaen, Janis Reynolds, and Joseph Meola are all expected to be reelected on Election Day.

Stirling, the board president, represents the Borough of Kennett Square’s Region A. He has served on the board for five years. He was initially appointed to fill a vacancy and then was elected for a full-term four years ago.

“I’ve always enjoyed serving the community,” Stirling said. “Being a Kennett High School graduate, I have a vested interest in seeing that Kennett continues to provide the best education possible to the diverse community.”

Stirling said that he is proud that, despite the financial challenges that the district has been facing in the last four or five years, the school board has been able to make the difficult choices necessary to maintain the academic programs.

“That’s always the paramount thing,” Stirling said. “We haven’t eliminated any educational programs. And I think people see that we’re doing our best to keep the taxes low.”

Schaen is seeking a third term on the board after serving for eight years in the district’s Region C, which includes Kennett Township and East Marlborough Township. She is the current vice president. Also seeking reelection in Region C is Reynolds, who won the seat when she was unopposed in 2009.

Joseph Meola was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board last November. He will be on the ballot to win the unexpired two-year term in Region B, which includes New Garden Township. Meanwhile, Kendra LaCosta will likely win the four-year Region B seat that is being vacated by incumbent George Drake. After serving for eight years, Drake decided not to seek a third term.

“We will have at least one new face on the board,” Stirling said of the upcoming election.