Ken Honick announces candidacy for EF School Board
Elizabeth Township police Chief Ken Honick announced his candidacy on Tuesday.
For the MVI
Elizabeth Township Police Chief Ken Honick announced his candidacy for the Elizabeth Forward School Board.
In his campaign announcement, he explained he has no negative thoughts or feelings in the current boards’ operation, but decided to seek a seat to be an integral part of the upcoming school consolidation.
“When I first took my position here in 2021, the Elizabeth Township Police Department only serviced five of the seven EFSD campuses. Now, in 2025, we are not only servicing all seven, but now servicing a community in the West Jefferson Hills School District (West Elizabeth Borough) and also continue working with — and adjacent to — neighboring South Allegheny School District.”
Honick further explained that both of the adjacent districts have very similar campus safety and security operations. His ability to network with their leadership is a positive way to access information that will allow for the formation of the best possible safety and security practices in the new campuses being constructed in Elizabeth Forward.
“In 2021, the EFSD conversations with the board were more public input and board input for traffic safety in and around the EFSD campuses. The school also already had a very robust safety officer program in place that is very effective in the multi-campus setup. Now, in 2025, we see a continued increase from national events for active shooter plans, building and special event entry security, emergency mitigation, and surveillance technology. All of these matters should be discussed, considered, and implemented in the new campuses, and done so in the privacy of executive communications.
“Although, not a popular thing to hear, similar to the police departments deployment, public advertisement to deployment measures can negatively impact the security effectiveness and efficiency. I will do my part with an already active board to make sure our students have the best possible safety and security measures in place,” he said.
Honick also shared that not only does he consider the student body in the schools some of the most important stakeholders in his community, he is also the father of four children, three of whom are elementary students. This role will allow him as a father to also play an additional positive role in their own educational success as they navigate through the EF campuses. Honick himself is an EF alumni.
“Since working in the township, I have been so incredibly fortunate to make relationships with a lot of the community,” he said.
In my decision to run for the board, Honick acknowledged his influence from current board member Dorthy Wycoff, whom he met in his current Rotary role. He also attributed board member Ryan Hemminger, who Honick graduated with in the Class of 1996, and current candidate Joshua Giran, a recently retired Pennsylvania State Police trooper.
“This is definitely a great community to live in and raise your children in. The EF School District and its staff, teachers, and administrators are a large part of that success label,” he said. “I hope my fellow community members feel I am someone, who can add to that success in this new role.”
The primary election is May 20.
Honick
