Inspired by a desire to fix Manville's severe underfunding—which once forced students to learn from photocopied pages instead of textbooks—this Board of Education member successfully secured crucial funding and state grants to revitalize the district. Louis Petzinger is most proud of how these resources transformed community identity, turning "I’m from Manville" from an excuse into a badge of pride through boosted student success in academics and athletics. Believing in a strict student-first approach alongside a dedicated board, Louis loves witnessing this student growth firsthand. Outside of his service, Louis enjoys going to the gym and spending time with his grandkids, and he encourages local students to never give up, work hard, and cherish their school years.

Q: What inspired you to serve on Manville’s Board of Education?
Louis: When I was first elected to the Board of Education, my primary goal was to secure additional funding to elevate the educational experience in Manville. As one of the lowest-funded districts in the state, we lacked the resources to provide our students with the education they truly deserved. For instance, a shortage of funds meant students were learning from photocopied pages instead of actual textbooks. Throughout these challenges, our dedicated staff consistently went above and beyond to do the absolute best for our students.

Q: What is one goal you hope to accomplish during your term?
Louis: Looking back, I am most proud of our students' incredible accomplishments, both in the classroom and on the athletic field. We have witnessed a profound shift in our community's identity. Saying 'I’m from Manville' used to feel like an excuse; today, it is a badge of honor declared with absolute pride: 'I’m from Manville!' This transformation was made possible because we successfully secured increased funding, which the Board of Education and our dedicated staff responsibly leveraged with matching state grants to maximize every dollar for our schools.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?
Louis: What I enjoy most about serving on the Board of Education is witnessing the direct success of our students. It is equally rewarding to collaborate with my fellow board members, a dedicated team where every decision we make is entirely focused on putting our students first.

Q: Can you share a fun fact or hobby people might not know about you?
Louis: Outside of my work on the board, I enjoy staying active at the gym and spending quality time with our grandkids as they grow and excel as both students and athletes.

Q: What advice would you give to the students in our district?
Louis: Never give up! Set your sights high, work hard, keep pushing forward, and cherish every moment of your time as students.