Parkland School Board President Rob Cohen sat down with The Press Nov. 6 to talk about his time on the school board. He chose not to run for reelection this year.

Q. What prompted you 28 years ago to run for school board?

A. That is a good question. I have always been involved with volunteer work in my adult life. I was in between volunteer activities and in February of 1997 I read in The Morning Call the Parkland School District had three petitioners and five openings. That inspired me to commence with a write-in campaign, and I successfully got my name through the primary to be on the general election ballot.

Q. What was the biggest issue facing the school district when you first started 28 years ago?

A. It’s difficult to say one specific issue because Parkland School District has been a very good school district. A little bit before my time Parkland had transitioned from a more rural school district to a suburban school district. I was part of continuing that effort. I also saw the growth from 6,000 students to 10,000 students.

I was involved with the creation of the new position of the director of visual and performing arts which was a highlight. Dr. McCartney took my suggestion and turned it into a reality. That program in our high school is literally one of the best in the state.

I’ve been involved in expanding our kindergarten program to full day. I’ve been involved in helping the creation of the Parkland Educational Foundation as a fundraising arm to our district. I’ve seen wonderful changes. I’ve been involved with many of them and that has been a very gratifying experience.

Q. How have things changed in the school district and student learning during your time?

A. We’ve seen some tremendous changes on both sides of the spectrum. On the real positive side, we’ve had tremendous administration, wonderful teachers, incredible support from our parents and we’ve been able to adapt to the times with curriculum and programs that are appropriate for our kids.

On the other end of the spectrum our challenges have been involved with a changing demographic. Many people in Parkland School District don’t realize there are more people in need. The demographics who one thinks of are the Parkland students when I started on the school board. Twenty-eight years ago, we had 7% free and reduced lunch population. We now have 32% free and reduced population. They are very good learners and excellent students, but their circumstances at home have changed and we need to and have been adapting our programming and our offerings.

Q. What’s been your best experience while serving on the school board?

A. My best experience is the people I’ve gotten to work with. I have crossed paths with some incredibly bright people, incredibly dedicated people and the common thread is people who want to make improvement for our kids in our community – whether it’s the superintendent and the executive team or whether it’s the custodians and the bus drivers and the cafeteria workers. I have been privileged to work with so many people with a common goal.

Q. What has been the worst experience while serving on the school board?

A. I’m going to change that word to challenging. I look forward to the challenges because that’s where one can try to show off how one meets the challenge that’s presented to them. The COVID-19 pandemic comes to mind; I don’t think that would be a surprise to anyone. There was an awful lot of knowledge to be gleaned at the beginning of the pandemic. So many organizations, our own included, we’re working with a minimal amount of information and needed to make extremely difficult decisions affecting many in our community. I was very impressed how Superintendent Rick Sniczek and then Superintendent Dr. Mark Madsen rose to the occasion and showed incredible leadership.

Q. If you had the power to change how school districts are funded what would you do?

A. That is a perplexing question. The system we have in place now leaves a lot to be desired. That being said, for the life of me, I haven’t been able to come up with a more effective system. I leave it to our legislators, to our economic advisers to hopefully sharpen their pencils and come up with intelligent suggestions on how we can approach this perplexing problem. I feel especially sensitive to our senior population, myself included, that I know what it is to live on a fixed income. I see that schools need to be properly funded. It should be a community effort. We all are affected by how our kids are educated. I would hope there’s a better and more equitable way to perform this necessity and I would be supportive of any legitimate and decent idea.

Q. What do you say to senior citizens who say they paid their taxes while their children were in school and they believe they shouldn’t have to pay taxes now because their children are gone?

A. I would hopefully, in a very kind way, share with them my perspective which is educating our children is for the benefit of our entire society. When I walk into the Giant (grocery store) and go to the pharmacy, I want to make sure the person behind that counter is handling my prescription properly. And, if I’m having an air conditioner repaired at my home, did that repair person go through the program at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and learn his skills in a very efficient fashion? So I really see educating our children is a responsibility of our community and I would share that perspective with our seniors.

Q. How important is the role technology plays in learning today?

A. It’s a useful tool in our environment. Quite often I’m asked, “Are we still teaching penmanship to the kids? Can the kids read cursive and do we have classes and requirement for that subject matter?” And I facetiously also add that we’re not teaching hieroglyphics anymore. We do have to move with the times.

I never learned keyboarding when I was in elementary school and now that is an essential skill, as is the future use of artificial intelligence. It’s what our society is going to require from our educated children and it’s important we are immersed in that as a school district. However, our curriculum drives technology, it’s not the other way around.

Q. Why did you decide not to run for school board again?

A. I’m 75 years old. It surprises me when I say that number. I’m healthy and am still going to be making contributions. But I will be taking on a less active role with respect to myself and my capabilities. With respect to the next generation, they will have the latest bright ideas to help us move into the future.

Q. What will you do with all your extra time?

A. I love playing golf. I love being with my friends. I will find another volunteer activity. Probably not in a leadership role but in an active on the ground role where I can contribute.

Q. What would you like to say to all the voters who supported you over the years?

A. Well, one I say thank you; it’s been an honor and a privilege to represent the community with our capable administration. To be part of this team has been one of the highlights of my life. I’m obviously going to say my family and my friends, but my contribution to the community and working with incredible teachers, support staff and superb administration has just been a highlight of my life.