The Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors voted down a motion to suspend Board Policy 304.2 Nepotism for the hiring of a Building Clerk at Perry Lower Intermediate during its May 9 Regular Meeting.
“Yes” votes came from Directors Jean Biehls, Dr. Claire Fauzey, and Director Robyn Nicklas. Directors Kathy Tillia, Kathy Galbreath, Norman Boots, and Kevin Boariu voted “No.” Director Erica Gray was not in attendance.
Board President Jennifer Tomon abstained from voting as the proposed suspension of the policy was for the hiring of her relative Elizabeth Tomon.
A majority of the “No” votes came as a surprise to Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, who had surveyed the board via email to gauge the perspective of the board before the official public vote. He said at the time of his survey, all of the board directors but one indicated that they supported suspending the policy and one board director did not respond to his inquiry.
Director Galbreath said she was the constant “No” vote from the start.
“This is a long-standing policy that has a purpose,” she said.
Director Boariu said originally, he was in support of suspending the policy, but changed his mind when the concept of retroactive hiring came into play.
“When you have to waive a policy to retroactively hire … I’m not OK with that.”
He also insisted that the Board decide on an official stance regarding nepotism.
Director Fauzey was disappointed in the vote.
“Don’t you think we should be hiring the most qualified candidates to do what is the best for our students?” she asked.
Director Biehls suggested getting rid of the policy entirely during Monday’s meeting where the agenda item was announced for the Regular Meeting.
The public also had a few comments on Nepotism both during Monday’s Committee Meeting leading up to and at the Regular Meeting before the official vote was tallied.
Lisa Nardone said there is a purpose for the policy, questioned the ethics of such a move, and said such action could appear to be an abuse of power by the board.
“It’s not an appropriate perk,” she said. “It looks dirty.”
Emily Denome questioned the board, “Surely some of you have worked for unions?” and suggested that nepotism is a slippery slope. “You should not do this.”
Lynn Jones said “This is a no-go.”
Despite the public’s question of legality and ethics, Board Solicitor, Christopher Voltz, Attorney at Law with Tucker Arensberg Attorneys, said that suspending the policy doesn’t go against law or ethics.
“This does not conflict with any legal requirements,” he said, and continued that according to the Ethics Act, “Jennifer Tomon has not used her position to benefit herself or a family member.”
Elizabeth Tomon was the preferred candidate for the position following a paper screening and an interview by Perry Lower Intermediate Principal Frank Kealy.
Shipley said there is a process for hiring support positions. He said those positions are advertised internally, in newspapers and media, and listed on job boards. Candidates are then paper screened, interviewed, and recommended by that position’s supervisor. He said because of the need to immediately fill those positions, candidates are sometimes hired retroactively.
He added that Board President Tomon was not involved in any of the steps of the process of Elizabeth’s interview or screening.
Ultimately, Elizabeth Tomon was not hired for the building clerk position as the vote to officially hire her came after the Nepotism policy suspension was voted down. She did receive “Yes” votes from Director Biehls, Dr. Fauzey, Director Nicklas, and Director Tillia. However, it requires five “Yes” votes (a majority of the board) to pass.
Again, President Tomon abstained from voting.
According to Solicitor Voltz, the board could have still hired her, but he advised against the board breaking its own policy.
This will not be the last time Nepotism is debated by the Board. The Personnel Committee was tasked with reviewing the policy and making recommendations to the Board for further consideration. The Board members remain divided on whether to amend the policy, abolish the policy completely, or to maintain the choice to waive the policy on a case-by-case basis.
In other Board news:
The Board did not have to vote whether to eliminate the soccer program as was discussed during the April 11, 2024 Regular Meeting. Twenty-one students signed up for the roster, a number that satisfied the board enough to continue the program.
Motions Passed:
- Motion to approve minutes from the April 11,2024 Combined meeting.
- Motion to Approve General Fund Accounts Payable Report.
- Motion to approve the General Fund Treasurer’s Report as follows:
- WesBanco Checking $ 931,103.22
- PLGIT GF Prime/Term $ 25,224,247.93
- Tax Accounts $ 1,794,705.43
- PSDLAF $ 1,453.01
- PA Invest $ 403.02
- Total Cash and Investments $ 27,951,912.60
- Motion to approve the 2024-2025 Lawrence County Career and Technical Center Budget in the amount of $7,484,155 and increase of $377,734 with operating costs for schools of $5,731,000 an increase of $235,755.00.
- Motion to approve the 2024-2025 Proposed Tentative General Fund Budget with revenues in the amount of $32,474,637 and expenditures in the amount of $36,470,849 with an allocation from the fund balance of $3,996,212.
- Motion to appoint Mrs. Erica Gray as Treasurer for the school district for the 2024-2025 school year beginning July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 in accordance with Section 404 of the School Code of Pennsylvania that requires the school directors annually, during the month of May, appoint a treasurer to serve for a one year term beginning the first day of July.
- Motion to approve 2024 Summer Academy elementary teachers and aides for the Summer Learning And Enrichment Program.
- Motion to approve the following secondary 2024 summer school teachers:
- ELA. Lori Hudeck
- Math. Kevin Dimeo
- Science Scott Timmerman
- Social Studies Rob Brough
- Health. April Vasbinder
- Motion to approve Department Heads for the 2023-24 school year.
- Brad Arbutina – Social Studies
- Mark Stanley – Math
- Scott Timmerman – Science
- John DiBuono – PE/Health
- Chrissy Walmsley – 50% Special Ed
- Tina Emerick – 50% Special Ed
- Cindie Friello – Technology
- April Thellman – Guidance
- Lori Hudeck – 33% Language Arts
- Rob Brough – 67% Language Arts
- Felecia Greco – Fine Arts
- Amanda Long – Foreign Language
- Motion to approve the Technology Department to hire up to 6 student Interns to work no more than 30 hours a week per student at $10.00 per hour to assist/learn technology implementation.
- Motion to hire Chris Wise as head girls basketball coach for a three-year contract.
- Motion to accept the Memorandum of Understanding between the District, the Ellwood Area Education Association and Laura Adams to waive the March 1, 2024 deadline for Adam’s application for the early retirement incentive.
- Motion to accept the resignations of Jeff Sainato, LHS custodian, for the purpose of retirement effective August 15, 2024; and Laura Adams, Secondary music teacher, for the purpose of retirement effective June 8, 2024.
- Motions to approve a change order request for LHS Asbestos removal at a cost of $1,500.00 per room, not to exceed $150,000.00.
- Motion to approve the agreement with Amergis Healthcare Staffing (formerly Maxim Healthcare). to provide personal nursing services on morning and afternoon bus runs for the 2024-25 school year at an hourly rate of $58 to $63 per hour.
- Motion to approve St. Stephens Lutheran Academy Agreement for the 2024-25 school year. There are currently three students in the program.
- Motion to approve the Flexible Instruction Day Program as required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Motion to approve the six-year purchase of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading for grades K-5 and Into Literature for grade 6 at a cost of $313,493.33 to be paid using ESSER Funds.
- Motion to approve the six-year purchase of SAVVAS myPerspectives for grades 7-12 at a cost of $196,446.50.
Announcements:
- The Board will hold executive sessions for hiring on Tuesday May 21 and Thursday May 23. A special public meeting will be held Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m. for hiring purposes.
Kudos to the soccer team!