Freedom HS senior Kyle Miceli has announced his candidacy for an open position on Bethlehem’s school board in the 2019 election.

Miceli decided it was time for a change after observing the effects the school board’s decisions have had on students’ lives over the last four years.

His focus for his Student First Campaign is to shift the board’s priorities to the students before any other issues.

He said, “The board is out of touch with our students’ needs. They haven’t even been to a high school in years. I believe I can fix these issues – I can be the one to make a difference on the board.”

Miceli has strategized a four-step plan to raise Bethlehem schools to higher standards.

His plan includes making schools safe from potential threats, competing with charter schools, motivating the faculty and staff to be enthusiastic educators, and protecting taxpayers’ investments by ensuring the budget is used to support students’ education.

He has personally experienced the lack of funding towards students’ needs during his time at the BASD. For example, he had a bus arrive 30 minutes late every day, due to the lack of staff running the transportation department.

Miceli directly addressed this issue to Director Craig Neiman, but nothing was done about it.

During his time at BASD, he believes the board is missing the point and is out of touch with what the teachers and students truly need to have a fulfilling experience at school.

He believes the board needs to communicate with its staff and students to truly and effectively support them. Teachers would be more motivated if they were given the necessary supplies to do their job, such as updated textbooks.

Above all, Miceli wants to give students a reason to want to go to school.

“I will not agree to any budget plan that neglects students,” says Miceli, “I would especially never agree to any plan such as outsourcing $100,000 on a new logo, when we are dealing with school lunch debt.”

He has faith that the students would enjoy the idea of school if they felt the board cared about them and gave them the tools to be successful.

Miceli has seen a great deal of support from his peers and teachers.

Many of his teachers have praised him for his maturity and passion for making a difference in his community. They claim they haven’t seen anything like his campaign in their years of teaching.

If he were to obtain a seat on the school board, he hopes to bring a fresh perspective as a young person that will bring innovations to become more in touch with the district’s needs.

In his campaign he has reached out to several organizations and departments in a “listening tour” to hear different perspectives and achieve a better insight into the needs of the people in the community. The driving force behind his campaign is his willingness to listen to sit down with the people and thoroughly what they need.

He has talked to groups such as the Bethlehem Education Association, Department of Student Resource Officers and his high school faculty to learn what specifically needs to change.

Miceli claims the force of positive responses he has received from the public in these listening tours is what inspires him in his campaign and gives him the motivation to continue.

After graduating high school, Miceli plans to study computer science and business at Northampton Area Community College.

“If I get elected, its going to be a lot of work, of course, but I am going to 100 percent maintain my position on the board,” Miceli said, “I don’t want to let anyone down and I want to make a mark with the board. Most of all, I want to make students first.”

Miceli will be holding his official campaign kickoff at the Madison Farm’s clubhouse at 3 p.m. Feb. 23. He will be giving his announcement speech, in which he will give a summary of his “listening tours” and a concrete platform on his policy positions.

For more information on Miceli’s Student First Campaign, visit his website at www.micelicampaign.com.