I was born in Waterville, Maine, my father’s hometown. After his passing, my mother—originally from Pittsburgh—moved our family back to the city. Before I entered 10th grade, we settled in Valencia Borough, where she worked for the U.S. Postal Service. I completed high school in the Mars Area School District, which has remained a central part of my life ever since.
Following graduation, I enlisted in the United States Air Force, where I proudly served for 20 years on active duty as an Avionics Communication and Navigation Technician working on various aircraft as well as being a master instructor of same. During my time in the military, I became involved in my stepson’s education and served as PTO President, which sparked my passion for community involvement and public service.
After retiring from the Air Force, I returned to the Valencia area and continued to serve my community in numerous roles:
- Twice elected Constable
- Three-term member of Valencia Borough Council (9 years total)
- Six years on the Mars Area Public Library Board
- Appointed by Butler County Commissioners to the Butler County Federated Library System (BCFLS) Board
- Currently serving as Vice President of both the Mars Library Board and the BCFLS Board
With deep roots in this community and a lifelong commitment to public service, I believe in working collaboratively to ensure transparency, opportunity, and excellence in our local schools and government.
The 228 Times: Why am I running for school director?
Rob Vigue: I’m running because I believe our public schools are the heart of our community, and they need strong advocates who will put students, families, and teachers first. Having lived here for many years, and having attended Mars High School, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to maintain quality schools as our area grows. I want to bring transparency, accountability, and a steady hand to the board, ensuring every decision is made with the best interests of students in mind.
The 228 Times: What’s your view on growth and development, and its impact on schools?
Rob Vigue: Our region is growing quickly, and has been for a long time, with that comes real challenges—more students in our classrooms, more traffic around our schools, and greater pressure on facilities. Growth can be a positive thing, but only if we’re proactive. That means careful planning, collaborating with municipalities, and making sure development does not outpace our ability to provide quality education. We have to ensure schools are prepared with the right infrastructure, teachers, and resources before we reach a breaking point.
The 228 Times: How do you see the role of the school board in community engagement?
Rob Vigue: The school board is the community’s voice in education, and that means open communication has to be a top priority. Parents, teachers, and taxpayers deserve to know what’s happening and why decisions are being made. I believe in transparency—I believe in holding forums, listening to concerns, and making information accessible. A good board doesn’t just vote on budgets; it builds trust with the people it serves.
The 228 Times: What are your top two priorities if elected?Rob Vigue: First, I want to ensure our schools continue to deliver a strong, well-rounded education that prepares students for college, trades, or the workforce. That means supporting both academics and extracurricular opportunities. Second, I want to keep our schools fiscally responsible while planning for the growth that’s already here. We can’t sacrifice quality, but we also owe it to taxpayers, especially our senior taxpayers, to manage funds wisely and plan for the future.
The 228 Times: How should the district balance academics, extracurriculars, and finances?
Rob Vigue: It’s all about balance and long-term planning. Academics are the foundation, but extracurriculars—sports, arts, music, clubs—are what help students discover their passions and build life skills. Both matter, and both deserve support. At the same time, we must stay disciplined with finances, making sure every dollar is spent where it has the most impact on student success. Careful budgeting and transparency will allow us to protect core programs while planning responsibly for growth.
The 228 Times: What are your thoughts on the financial impact of cyber and charter schools on the district, and how should the school board respond?
Rob Vigue: When a student leaves a public school district like Mars or Seneca Valley to attend a charter or cyber school, the district loses a significant portion of its funding. However, the fixed costs—such as maintaining buildings, paying staff, keeping up with utilities, and running buses—do not go away. These are expenses the district must continue to cover, even though it now has fewer students.
To make matters worse, the tuition the district is required to pay to cyber or charter schools for each departing student is often higher than what it would cost the district to educate that student in-house. These “stranded costs” create a growing financial burden for districts like Mars.
Over the past several years, the Mars Area School District has been forced to raise its property tax rate three years in a row to try to cover these losses. But this is not a sustainable solution. If funding shortfalls continue, the district will eventually be forced to delay necessary repairs and upgrades, cut programs, and reduce staff—ultimately hurting the students who remain in our public schools.
We must advocate for a fair and equitable funding model for cyber and charter schools—one that does not come at the expense of our local public schools. Our students deserve a strong, well-funded education, and that starts with protecting the financial stability of our public school districts.