Policy Change Proposal Causes Pushback At EC School Board Meeting

A suggested change to the Ellwood City Area School Board’s conflict of interest policy has some board members crying foul.

The board is set to vote Thursday on whether to accept the proposed changes introduced during the Board’s Monday Night agenda meeting, at which time District Solicitor John DeCaro, said the policy change could force board members to choose between maintaining their board position or maintaining their participation in leadership roles in other organizations such as boosters, clubs, and PTO.

This proposed change in policy came upon the heels of a suggestion by Board Member Erica Gray and was written by DeCaro.

Gray said her suggestion was just that. She said she did not write the proposed change and that it was made with no ill will toward other board members or based on any one situation, but a few board members disagreed.

“I’m just gonna cut to the chase, because that’s what I do.” said Board Member, Renee Pitrelli. “This is targeting certain board members. I’m not letting this go. It’s unfair, and I want it removed from the agenda.”

Her request to have it removed from the agenda was not supported by the majority of the board. Members Danielle Woodhead, Michael Neupauer, Gray, Board Vice President Leroy Cortez, and Board President Jennifer Tomon supported having the proposed change on the agenda for Thursday night’s meeting.

The decision by the majority was met with strong opposition.

Pitrelli said she believes this proposed change was specifically made following a motion by Board Member Barbara Wilson, who is the parent of a soccer athlete and serves on the boosters for that club sport.

Wilson told the board she felt like the proposed policy change was specifically targeted at her after her recent request for board support for $4,300 in soccer funding, which ultimately was approved by the board. She said after the president of the soccer boosters was “turned away” numerous times, she felt a need to push for the funding. She said the request was not to benefit herself but the student athletes that she felt were being “pushed aside” by the board.

“I will always do what I think will benefit our students,” she said. “I was representing those 31 kids.”

Wilson was not alone in her argument. Kathleen McCommons said she has served more than a decade on the PTO, and thinks it is unfair to assume that board members who have committed to an oath of office will not be able to make unbiased decisions because of their involvement in other school or community based organizations.

“I feel like this is an infringement on my rights to participate in other organizations,” said McCommons. “This has totally brought this board to a new low.”

Cortez, Woodhead, Tomon, Neupauer, and Gray maintained that the proposed change isn’t a target, yet a policy consideration without malicious intent.

Lisa Nardone, a visitor, stood up during the comment period at the end of the meeting and said she was happy to see the soccer program get the funding it needed. She said she is appalled at the suggestion to limit board member participation in other organizations specifically sighting the dedication of McCommons to the PTO.

“This is disgusting,” Nardone said.

The board will hold its voting meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.