Karen M.S. Krieger is a Democrat and Warminster Township resident.
Why do you think you are qualified to effectively represent your community on the school board?
With responsible budgeting and lower taxes: A great education starts with smart financial choices. With decades of hands-on and leadership experience establishing budgets, monitoring spending and identifying and delivering cost savings on Wall Street, I know how to spend wisely, cut waste and find savings. As your school board member, I will work to balance our district’s budget and make sure we live within our means – so we can avoid raising property taxes every year.
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?
I oppose book bans – banning books hurt students. A strong education includes different voices, ideas and experiences. Book bans limit learning, silence important stories and make it harder for students to understand the diverse world around them. I will always stand for education that encourages curiosity and critical thinking – not censorship.
READ: Education Groups Highlight How Pennsylvania Budget Stalemate Shortchanges Students’ Education
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?
Support for our teachers and staff. Our teachers and staff deserve support – not burnout. If staff are leaving or feel overwhelmed, the school board needs to understand why and fix it. That may include new policies or finding funding for better support. I will work to create a healthy school culture where our team feels valued and students benefit. When it comes to hiring, the board’s job is to set the standards, define the need, approve each hire and choose the best people – most importantly, when recruiting, interviewing and hiring the superintendent. I will make sure every hiring decision is made with care, transparency and in the best interest of our students.
By working together for real solutions, I will bring the community back into the conversation. We need to listen – really listen – to students, parents, teachers, staff, and taxpayers.
What are the school board’s biggest challenges in the coming months; the next four years?
Our district is facing two big challenges: Restoring trust in the school board, and fixing our growing budget deficit.The community has lost confidence due to recent decisions – especially the hiring of Superintendent Dr. Abram Lucabaugh, whose leadership in another district led to millions in lawsuit costs and severance payouts as well as divisive policies and controversy. That history was ignored, and the future risks to our district were not addressed. Meanwhile, our district is spending more than it brings in. We have had to dip into savings and property taxes keep going up. We need better financial leadership, and I am ready to bring it.
How will you work with administrators and fellow board members to address the district’s biggest challenges in the short and long term?
By working together for real solutions, I will bring the community back into the conversation. We need to listen – really listen – to students, parents, teachers, staff, and taxpayers. Politics should never come before what is best for our schools. I support holding open forums, Q&As and sharing decisions with full transparency. That is how we rebuild trust.
To fix the budget, I will:
· Stick to a smart, detailed budget. We must track every dollar and be careful with new spending.
· Cut waste and improve how we work. If money is being used in the wrong place – or processes are not efficient – we can fix it and save.
I have done this work in my career, and I am ready to do it here – for our schools, our students and our community.
