Ellwood City School District Board Collides Over Ethics

Ellwood City School Board Directors passed a Board Resolution: “Principles for Governance and Leadership” during their recent meeting but not without a discussion regarding ethics.

Part of those principles, set by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), encourage board directors to “Act Ethically.” Director Jennifer Tomon challenged whether fellow board members appointed to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Negotiation Committee have a conflict of interest when it comes to their duties.

The PSBA Resolution, in its section regarding ethics, states that board members should “act to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest.”

According to Tomon, the three directors appointed to that committee by Board President Renee Pitrelli, have been endorsed by the SEIU either in the past or in recent elections.

Director Leroy Cortez agreed with Tomon and suggested that the SEIU now has a board committee that was “bought and paid for.” Cortez said that he was not accusing the committee members of taking money from the SEIU, but that there is a perceived conflict of interest that he referred to as Quid pro quo.

SEIU Negotiation Committee Director Members Kathleen McCommons, Jean Biehls, and Gary Rozanski all maintained that they were not given any funds from the SEIU.

“I funded my campaign myself,” Biehls said. “No one gave me any money.”

Biehls said that all campaign materials released by her were legally and properly filed with the elections office.

McCommons echoed Biehls.

“I never received any money from the SEIU,” McCommons said. “I am thrilled to be on the negotiation panel.”

Rozanski said he was disgusted by the accusation.

“It is their choice to support who they want,” he said.

Rozanski also said he did not accept any financial backing by the SEIU.

The board and the SEIU have been in negotiations for nearly three years regarding contracts for employees.

1 Comment on "Ellwood City School District Board Collides Over Ethics"

  1. Jennifer Thompson | January 27, 2020 at 6:38 am | Reply

    Why arent the lunch ladys saying..that cost extra instead of letting them walk away with as they charge them?

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