KNOW YOUR SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBER
Eric Schmidt Safety Liaison on Board
S
chool Board member Eric Schmidt and his wife, Beth Ann
(Scalise) Schmidt, are both graduates of Fox Chapel Area
High School and chose to raise their own family in the
district. They own the home where he grew up in O’Hara
Township, and they have three grown children, Deric and twins
Abbie and Tori. Mr. Schmidt and his children all attended Kerr
Elementary School.
Mr. Schmidt has a special interest and concern for the safety and
well-being of students and families in the district, so it is fitting that he
would become involved in the schools – as a former member of the high
school site-based management team and then as a member of the School
Board since 2012. “I decided to run because our schools are probably the
most important public asset that we have and affect our collective future,
positively or negatively, by how they shape our children,” Mr. Schmidt
said. “With Fox Chapel Area, it’s always been incredibly positive, and a
chance to be part of that is a big honor.”
Mr. Schmidt has devoted his life to serving the community. He has been
working for the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) for 16 years and is
currently manager of the prehospital business development for LifeFlight
and prehospital care services.
Why did you choose to live in the Fox Chapel area?
Family is very important to Beth Ann and me and that’s the
primary reason. We were living in Philadelphia when we were
expecting our first child and I applied for a position at what
was then Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh. The timing worked
out perfectly, allowing us to return to the area with my parents
in O’Hara Township and Beth Ann’s in Sharpsburg. I can’t
imagine the family experiences that my kids would have
missed if we hadn’t moved home.
Why is school safety of particular interest to you?
First, students have to feel safe to learn and the staff has
to feel safe to do each of their respective jobs. I have been
a paramedic for 36 years, joining Parkview VFD during my
senior year at Fox Chapel Area. As I progressed in that career,
I became the volunteer chief of Parkview EMS, while working
18
FOX CHAPEL AREA
at various career positions as
a paramedic. Through all of
these roles and working with
other public safety professionals
in police, fire, and emergency
communications areas, I have
built relationships that translate
well to my current Board
position. Lastly, although there
are many people that do a great
job of focusing on our district’s
safety policies and practices, my
viewpoint is from a different
perspective.
Why is school safety important?
Both Fox Chapel Area School District and the Allegheny
Health Network/LifeFlight serve vital public functions,
although they are very different – but there is one very
significant similarity – and that is at the end of the day if we
can’t send everyone safely home to their families, we have
failed in our basic mission. In the school setting this includes
all of our students of course, but as importantly, all of our
staff.
What do you see as some of the other issues School
Boards and school districts face?
We are very fortunate at Fox Chapel Area that through
a combination of resources and a smart and dedicated
administration, we are in a good position from all perspectives.
This does not mean that we are without our challenges
though. Although school districts are largely locally governed,
it seems to me the areas where we hear the most concerns
or that cause our district the largest challenges, come from
the state or federal governments, including the PSSAs and
retirement expenses through PSERS. Additionally, the federal
government provides only a very small portion of our annual
budget, approximately 1.1 percent, but promulgates significant
regulations that we must meet. Lastly, we are in the midst of
an early retirement incentive and have so many fine educators
taking advantage of it. Although the financial benefits will
help to keep taxes down, we must strike a balance between
ensuring a high-quality education (and yes, I’ve heard the many
comments about classroom size not increasing) and managing
a very significant budget.
How would you describe your experience on the School
Board?
I feel lucky to be part of an effective Board of Directors, but
it’s very important to note that we are not the educational
experts. The expertise comes from literally everyone else who
works in our district. It’s common and appropriate to mention
our teachers first, but it really goes to everyone. In the six
years that I have served on the Board, and as importantly, the
many years my kids attended Fox Chapel Area, I have met so
many amazing people that serve a wide variety of functions
that I can be nothing but appreciative and impressed.