Over the past month, two members have resigned from the Susquenita School Board, with at least one alleging misconduct by other members.
Directors Stephanie Dorman and Leanne Eichelberger tendered their resignations Sept. 9 and Oct. 5, respectively, which the board approved at its Oct. 13 meeting.
“There are currently board members that appear to be heroes, but are actually spreading misinformation and twisting reality to cause fear and panic in the community, just so they appear to be doing what’s in the communities best interest at meetings,” Dorman said in an email. The newspaper had reached out seeking a reason for her resignation last month.
“I was not sleeping at night out of anxiety over what new lie would be told and what consequences would come from that,” she said.
Dorman declined to mention names of individuals, and what specific lies they told.
The district has been having many discussions around its educational models, technology, and how best to teach students during the coronavirus pandemic. A large group of parents want students to remain in classes, but the district has been faced with at least one instance of going all-virtual at the beginning of the school year.
According to Dorman, at least one incident should be considered serious misconduct on the part of a board member when that person passed around a photo of another board member’s child at a public event. Dorman said that member then questioned whether the child’s parent should be allowed to vote on the school board. She did not say who the board members were.
That was her breaking point, she said.
“My children did not sign up to be bullied by adults, and unfortunately that’s the reality of this school board,” she said.
Dorman noted the child’s photo being passed around was of them attending a public event and adhering to Covid precautions. But the board member who distributed it to other community members never reached out to the child’s parent, who was their fellow board member.
Dorman said that’s unconscionable and she could no longer be a part of the board after that incident.
“That was my very last meeting because no matter what your thoughts, feelings or political views are in these current times, it is completely inappropriate to engage in such behavior, especially if you hold an elected position that is meant to support the students in our district,” Dorman said.
She said she will miss working as part of the joint operating committee with the Cumberland-Perry Area Vocational Technical School, where she felt real progress was being made for students.
Dorman, who represented Duncannon, New Buffalo and Watts and Reed townships (Region 3), ran for election in 2017′s primaries. She received enough votes to move on to the general election but wasn’t being challenged. The board appointed her to a vacancy on the school board that year.
Eichelberger, who represented Marysville and Rye Twp. (Region 1), was elected to the board in 2019. She said it was unexpected but necessary to step away from the board for personal reasons at this time.
“It’s something I didn’t take lightly,” Eichelberger said. “I really enjoyed being on the board. I’m sad to go.”
The school board can appoint new members from those regions to fill the vacancies until the next election. The Region 3 seat will be up for election in 2021 and the Region 1 seat will be on the ballot in 2023.
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Susquenita School Board members quit; one says others are bullying, ‘spreading misinformation’ - PennLive
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