Todd Hernandez has announced his intention to run for a seat on the Northwestern Lehigh School Board.

He has been serving since being elected in 2009, and he seeks re-election after this difficult year.

“The administration, teachers, staff and parents have worked collaboratively and have done an incredible job doing all they can to keep the students of Northwestern Lehigh safe, engaged and learning over this past year,” Hernandez said. “We have an incredibly talented, highly educated, engaged, dedicated and compassionate group of professionals putting the students of the district first each and every day in everything they do.”

Hernandez is a CPA and controller by profession, and has been living in the district since marrying his wife, Sheri, in 1998.

They have two children, a son who graduated in 2019, and a daughter in the class of 2021.

“As parents and active community members, we understand the difficulty and emotional toll this past year has taken on all of us in the district, and the desire to return to in-person school is one of my top priorities,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez says he has been active in the community since moving here 23 years ago, serving as an officer for the NYAA for many years.

He also served on the Kutztown University Alumni Board, was a Boy Scout leader for many years, and currently serves on the Northwestern Lehigh Recreation Commission.

“It is concerning to me the amount of fake news and misinformation that is being promoted on social media groups related to the board not being transparent and being in it for financial reasons,” Hernandez stated. “By law, everything the board discusses is discussed ‘in the sunshine,’ meaning in public meetings, the agendas for which are publicly posted in advance and are broadcast live with opportunity for public comment

“Every decision we make has to be carefully considered, keeping in mind we serve the entire community of taxpayers and have a financial responsibility to be a good steward of resources for all while promoting academic and extracurricular excellence.”

Hernandez says education is a great equalizer, but only if all students are given equitable access to resources.

He also says taxpayer dollars need to be spent responsibly and used to prioritize equitable educational resources for all students.

“Many of the decisions we make are mundane and routine, but some of them are highly emotionally charged and need to be considered from all aspects, not emotion alone,” Hernandez noted. “I understand decisions on how to best allocate resources and utilize educational space taxpayers have already paid for can stir up emotions, but it is saddening to see how individuals in this community have been personally attacked and bullied for sharing alternate points of view.”

Hernandez says it is important to analyze data factually and objectively while considering community input from all stakeholders.

“Decisions impact families with school aged children along with every other community member residing in the district,” Hernandez said. “Decisions are often multifaceted and emotionally charged.

As a board member, Hernandez says he ensures his decisions always put student welfare and success first, while remaining financially responsible to all stakeholders.

He reiterated his support for the incredible teachers in the Northwestern Lehigh School District who want to see their students succeed.