By ROBERTA SLANINA O’BRIEN

Dr. Timothy Makatura of Bellevue was selected by the Northgate School Board at its July 19 meeting to replace board vice president Chuck Miklos, who recently passed away.

Three candidates were interviewed for the position. All three candidates were asked the same seven questions and then were able to provide additional information if they wished.

When asked to define his personal and professional background and to explain why he wanted to serve on the board, Makatura stated that he was interested in the position as a taxpayer, as a father of Northgate students, and generally, because he was someone interested in youth. His daughter is a Northgate graduate. His son is a senior this year.

Makatura is a psychologist who did post doctoral work in neuroscience. He has experience in hospital settings, brain damage, and cognitive functions, and he has extensive experience dealing with children who have behavioral problems. He has performed school-based mental health services for the South Allegheny, Steel Valley, and Wilkinsburg school districts.

“I can put things into context because of the work that I have done in other districts. I offer a unique perspective because of my personal and professional experience. As a taxpayer, I have watched the district for a long time,” said Makatura.

When asked about his special interests as they relate to the board, Makatura said that he is interested in all the board issues, including academics, sports, activities, and health, but he noted that finance was his biggest interest.“I am sensitive to the fact that the financial health of a district dictates what a school can do. Everything flows from the status of the district finances. Those with no money are forced into decisions they don’t want to make.”

Makatura said he would like to see the board look at school choice as a critical issue. “Positioning is important in education.In today’s world there are more choices, and these choices must be considered when budgets are formed. It used to be that there were only two choices – either public or private school. Now, there are many more...cyber schools, charter schools…I believe that in the next three to five years, these are some of the financial issues that will be critically important.”

“I believe there are more state and federal mandates coming down the road and we will need to address them,” he added.

Generally speaking, Makatura said that he believed the Northgate School District was good. He noted that many of the students go on to college.

He said that the success of the district should be measured by several criteria, including the Pennsylvania School System Assessment (PSSA) scores, how many students go on to college, and how many students who enter at ninth grade make it to graduation.

Makatura said that the educational landscape will be changing significantly over the next 5 to 10 years. The amount of money necessary to retain teachers and administrators should figure into the picture he said, as well as the growing list of educational alternatives.

Makatura was appointed to the board in a 6:2 vote, with members David Natale and Anthony Barbarino opposed. He will serve until December 2011.