1. education
2. school

New Hope - Solebury School District School Director
4-year term (Vote for 5)
JOB DESCRIPTION: The School Directors shall equip and maintain the public schools in the
district. Principal duties include appointing and/or dismissing superintendents, principals and
teachers; levying school taxes; purchasing land; locating new buildings; adopting textbooks and
courses of study; fixing salaries of teachers and other appointees of the Board.
Term: 4 years
QUESTION: What concerns or issues prompted you to run for School Board? How would you
address your issues and/or concerns?
DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN
Cross Filed
Jeffrey Kearney
(No response received)
Jonathan Adar
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: NOT REPORTED
EDUCATION: MBA, Finance, The Pennsylvania State University, Smeal College of Business
OCCUPATION: Senior Director, External Manufacturing, Teva Pharmaceuticals
QUALIFICATIONS: 17 year Resident, Current School Director, Chair Facilities Committee,
Former Chair Finance Committee, Former member Curriculum Advisory Committee, PSBA
New School Director Training, PSBA School Board President Workshop, Negotiated Collective
Bargaining Agreements
ANSWER TO QUESTION: I am dedicated to providing our students, families and community
with a premier school district that is academically on the cutting edge and that is physically safe
and appropriate to educate our students. These goals must be met in an environment of fiscal
responsibility. We have been modernizing our curriculum technology and educational methods
and have recently begun implementation of a critical campus revitalization plan that does not
require an additional annual tax obligation.
Mark Cowell
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: 12/15
EDUCATION: Masters in Educational Administration
OCCUPATION: Retired Public School Superintendent
QUALIFICATIONS: Forty year career in public education as a middle school teacher,
curriculum supervisor, business administrator, superintendent and finally a state fiscal monitor
working for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education in fiscally and
administratively struggling school districts.
ANSWER TO QUESTION: The New Hope Solebury Board currently has seven of nine
members who have been on the board for less than two years. This inexperienced board will be
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making financial/educational decisions pertaining to: $28.5 million construction project,
escalating pension costs, state testing/staff evaluation, declining enrollment, budget
development, taxes and the replacement of the Business Administrator. My educational/career
experiences, especially as a former business administrator/fiscal monitor, can assist in making
these critical decisions.
Douglas J. McDonough
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: 1/72
EDUCATION: BA-Psychology; JD-George Mason School of Law
OCCUPATION: Attorney
QUALIFICATIONS: Two children in school, one child about to enter the District. Licensed
Mediator and arbitrator. Previous president of two homeowners’ associations. Well versed in the
“sunshine laws”, Robert’s Rules of Orders and other procedural requirements.
ANSWER TO QUESTION: As my youngest prepared to enter kindergarten, joining my two
children already in school, I plan on seeing the District maintains its stellar reputation for
decades to come. I would promote an air of civility and transparency on the board while
promoting fiscal responsibility and engaging in a more open dialogue between the board and the
community. I would meet our children’s educational needs for the future while holding onto the
traditions of the past.
Jennifer C. Gormley
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: 6/1977
EDUCATION: Master of Education in the Foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis,
University of Cincinnati. BA, Shippensburg University
OCCUPATION: Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Specialist
QUALIFICATIONS: Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Consultant for Neshaminy School
District); Behavior Specialist (BCBA, LBS); Itinerant Autistic & Emotional Support Specialist
ANSWER TO QUESTION: I’m running for school board because I feel that “education”
needs a strong representative at this Board’s table. I believe every child's educational journey is
important and it’s the board’s job to ensure that the school provides an education that provides
data-driven successful results. I believe I’d bring this currently missing piece to the board. As an
education/behavioral health professional, and importantly, a mother of “typical learners” and a
child with Autism, I am the voice for many.
Maria Povacs
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: 3/1977
EDUCATION: MBA
OCCUPATION: Manager
QUALIFICATIONS: MBA, experience with contractor qualification/selection for NJ
School.Construction Program
ANSWER TO QUESTION: Given our school district is seeking to engage in over 28MM
addition/renovation project in the next school years and in light of the cost of this project, I am
offering my expertise in the area of contractor selection/qualification and budget evaluations in
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an effort to curtail cost and scope increase, ensuring fiscal responsibility so that the community
as well as the school prospers. My involvement with New Jersey’s $6B school construction
program provided me
John J. Capriotti
HOMETOWN: New Hope
DOB: 6/1966
EDUCATION: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
OCCUPATION: Owner/CEO R&P Technologies, LLC
QUALIFICATIONS: I own and operate a DoD engineering services company which
specializes in U.S. Navy new ship construction. I manage a multi million dollar business with
more than 70 employees and offices throughout the U.S. giving me strong financial experience.
ANSWER TO QUESTION: I strongly believe our High School requires extensive renovations
but the currently approved $28M project is triple what should be the cost of renovation. The
increase is due to the expansion of the campus which is a questionable decision considering the
declining population of students in our district. In addition I have concerns about the increase of
debt without plan for supporting PSERS. If elected I would provide leadership with a fiscally
conservative approach.
Kathy Feehan
(No response received)
Scott H. Kelley
(No response received)
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