Holly Manzone -- one of three candidates for school board from Region B of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District -- is bothered that the renovation project for Unionville High School still takes the forefront in discussions involving the election.

“This is a primary election. The general election isn’t until November and whoever wins in November won’t take office until January. This train will have left the station by then,” she said.

Manzone is a registered Democrat who, like one of her opponents, Laura Shannon Maurer, is cross-filed to run in both Democratic and Republican primaries on May 19. The other candidate is Republican Jeff Leiser.

And like Maurer, Manzone thinks the fact that voters rejected two referendums on the project speaks volumes.

“I absolutely believe that public support is necessary,” she said.

In a written statement Manzone said, “It saddens me that the divisive atmosphere over the high school project has resulted in a civil war -like feeling in our district.”

She said what’s important now is for voters to look at the candidates and decide who can best lead the district forward.

While the high school does need some work, there are also curriculum issues to be considered over the long term to support the high quality of education residents have come to expect from the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.

“We need to achieve balance.”

She said that balanced can’t be achieved by focusing solely on the finances.

One of her ideas for curriculum is to have those who experienced certain aspects of history, such as WWII and Vietnam vets, speak to classes when those subjects are being taught.

Manzone – an 11-year resident of Pocopson Township -- said she’s been a long time activist within the district, attending regular meetings as well as workshops. She’s been involved with the Act 48 Committee and is the middle school representative to the curriculum council. She also founded the Community Outreach Committee.

And while adding she didn’t want to talk against any of the other candidates for the Region B seats, she’s concerned that she’s only seen Maurer at only one school board meeting “ever.”

That aside, however, Manzone said in a follow-up written statement: “I believe that all of the candidates in Region B have heard the voter's call for fiscal responsibility, and we all recognize the need to keep spending as low as possible. Achieving this goal will require difficult choices requiring consideration of not just the dollar amount, but also what the money is being spent on. We cannot determine whether spending is justified without an understanding of the needs at the schools. Distinction between 'wants' and 'needs' requires knowledge of the myriad of issues we are facing. I have regularly attended School Board meetings for years and am well aware of the challenges we face.”