Hermitage School Board members Jessie Hull, Jim Lumpp, and Carol Rich announced plans to run for second terms. The candidates ran as a team four years ago, advocating strong academic challenges, financial responsibility and accountability.

In a news release, the candidates said during their tenure renovations of the high school have been completed under budget, a new teachers' contract was reached, and new leadership has been brought into the district at all levels.

They said the district faces many challenges over the next four years, including revenues not keeping pace with the expenditures required by federal and state mandates, negotiating a new teachers' contract, and the conclusion and implementation of the district-wide curriculum mapping project.

With these and other on-going commitments of the district, the trio said they want to continue to make Hermitage School District an academically strong learning environment with excellent facilities for students, staff, and the community.

Mrs. Hull and her husband Jeff, have three children who attend Hermitage Schools; Chris, 12, Caitlin, 9, and Courtney, 7.

Mrs. Hull has been a legal secretary in Hermitage for the last eight years.

She has also been active on the Board of Directors of Children's Center of Mercer County, serving as President from 2001-2004. During her term on the Hermitage School Board, she has served on Special Support Services and Personnel Committees and on the contract negotiating team.

Lumpp and his wife Roslyn have three sons in the Hermitage School District.

Lumpp has been a director since 1999, serving as financial and legislative liaison for the board, and was one of the negotiators for the teachers' contract. He has also been active in the football, basketball, and baseball organization for the school district.

He is employed as a Sales Executive for Victor Printing of Sharon. Lumpp ran for the state House in last year's primary election.

Mrs. Rich has been a Hermitage resident for 30 years. She and her husband Bernie have three children who are all Hickory graduates.

Mrs. Rich is a graduate of Clarion University and is currently pursuing a masters degree at Penn State University.

She has been the Federal Relations Network representative for NSBA, contacting congressmen and senators about issues relevant to how federal mandates affect local districts.

With over 30 years experience in education, Mrs. Rich has been a teacher, tutor, preschool director, special education aide, and is executive director of the Children's Center of Mercer County.