Brian McMullen is a Republican and East Rockhill Township resident.
Why do you think you are qualified to effectively represent your community on the school board?
I’m qualified to represent our community because I bring three things to the table: deep local roots, proven leadership experience and a commitment to transparency. My family has lived here for 16 years, with two children in the district, so I understand firsthand the concerns of parents and taxpayers. Professionally, I’ve spent over 26 years participating in and leading diverse teams as an IT systems engineer in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and municipal infrastructure; roles that required problem-solving, collaboration and accountability with significant resources at stake. I’ve also served for eight years as a Boy Scout leader, mentoring youth and working closely with families in our community. I believe a school board member’s job is not to micromanage, but to set clear policies that empower teachers, involve parents and keep the district accountable. My calm, solutions-focused approach and dedication to fairness will help ensure every decision we make truly serves the best interests of Pennridge students, families and taxpayers.
Over the past few years we have seen attempts by some school boards across Bucks County, as well as Pennsylvania and the country, to either unilaterally ban books or make it easier for community members to challenge and have books banned, often by usurping the authority of librarians and administrative leadership. What is your position on book banning, and how will you implement policies to support faculty and students?
The ‘book banning’ label is a false narrative. No one is burning books or stripping libraries bare. What’s really happening is a healthy conversation about the stewardship of innocent minds, providing age-appropriate materials and making sure parents remain partners in their children’s education.
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I fully respect the expertise of librarians and teachers, and I also believe families have the right to know what’s available to their kids and to raise concerns when material may not be suitable for a certain age group. Supporting faculty and students means setting clear, transparent policies that protect academic freedom and uphold community standards. This isn’t about censorship – it’s about balance, accountability and trust between schools and the families they serve.
Decreasing teacher and staff retention is a growing issue school districts are facing. What is your role in the recruiting, interviewing and hiring process and what role can a school board serve to reverse this trend?
Teacher and staff retention is one of the biggest challenges facing districts today, but it’s not solved by the board micromanaging interviews or hiring decisions. Our role is to create an environment where talented educators want to stay. That means supporting faculty and students by setting clear, transparent policies that protect academic freedom and uphold community standards. When teachers know the board has their back, that parents are engaged and that expectations are consistent and fair, they’re more likely to feel valued and stay in our district. My focus as a board member would be on building that culture of respect, transparency and accountability so administrators can successfully recruit and retain the very best.
By setting thoughtful policies, involving parents and respecting community values, the board can build both stability and success for our district.
What are the school board’s biggest challenges in the coming months; the next four years.
In the months ahead, the board’s challenge is to strengthen trust by ensuring our policies support all students, not just a small group. That means fostering parental inclusion as a natural part of the educational process and creating a welcoming environment where families feel engaged. Over the next four years, the longer-term challenge will be to maintain that trust while exercising real fiscal responsibility. We need to support academic excellence and safe schools, but also be careful guardians of taxpayer dollars. By setting thoughtful policies, involving parents and respecting community values, the board can build both stability and success for our district.
How will you work with administrators and fellow board members to address the district’s biggest challenges in the short and long term?
In both the short and long term, the only way a board can overcome challenges is by working together with honesty and respect. That means not villainizing someone for having a different opinion but also being willing to have our own ideals challenged. I believe genuine dialogue and not political point-scoring is how problems get solved. I will approach administrators and fellow board members with the mindset that we are partners in serving students, parents and taxpayers. By keeping conversations transparent, solutions-focused and respectful of different perspectives, we can move issues toward resolution instead of allowing them to linger or divide us. That spirit of collaboration is what our community deserves.
