Members comfortable with hiding should resign
Folks who are new to the Coatesville Area School District (CASD) may be wondering why the abrupt exit of the superintendent and the athletic director during the first week of school has spawned so much negative speculation: Regrettably, long-term residents have become accustomed to sudden departures shrouded in secrecy.
In 1999, former superintendent Louis Laurento left in mid-contract amid allegations of mismanagement; ex-interim superintendent Samuel DeSimone was dismissed in 2001 after a few months on the job and conflict over his state pension payments; after months of discord, former superintendent James Scarnati resigned in 2005 with an agreement that included a “nondisparagement clause” – a way to make sure no one talked.
So when former superintendent Richard Como staged a hasty retreat, one could hardly blame taxpayers for wondering what prompted the decision. Given the school district’s troubled history of leadership, the board should have anticipated the questions and concerns and been prepared to answer them. That was certainly not the case.
Instead, the board effectively worsened the situation by plastering Como’s lame resignation letter on its web site. The missive suggested that Como walked in one day the first week of school – the only day he worked that first week – looked around and decided the school district was in fine shape, creating an optimal time for him to leave. If the timing were ideal, Como would have floated the idea months ago, and the board would be telling residents that a transition plan had been in the works.
Solicitor James Ellison’s insistence that the board simply complied with Como’s request and posted the letter because he had a Constitutional right to express himself is equally bogus. Como had many other ways to disseminate that bizarre explanation, and by acting as Como’s courier, the board sanctioned the charade.
Then, to exacerbate taxpayers’ pain, Jim Donato, the athletic director, resigned. To date, neither the board nor the school district has issued an official statement on that leave-taking. A reporter for The Times, following up on information that Donato hadn’t been seen in the building for days, decided to try and separate fact from fiction by making an appointment to see him, an effort that ultimately led to the disclosure that he was no longer employed by the district.
It’s hard to believe that this was a coincidence, particularly because the board, which is supposed to serve the public, continues to avoid comment. Not only does that posture fuel rumors – some of which have proven to have credence – but it also creates an unwelcome distraction from the education the district is supposed to provide.
The public deserves information, and it is justified in its anger over not getting it. Even if the board has to be terse for legal reasons, it can – and should – offer some assurances to its residents who are being overtaxed in more ways than one. Hiding behind closed doors isn’t the way to do that, and board members who feel no responsibility to be held accountable should go the way of Como and Donato.
Don’t forget about Henry H. Hoerner, who preceded Laurento in getting a very fat going away present for doing a terrible job. And he had similarly bilked a school district near Hershey, PA the same way before Coatesville the CASD welcomed him with open arms. Someone needs to do a full investigative report going back at least that far.
The CASD is rotten to the core, and has been for a long time, The hardest working people get treated like crap and the shysters make out like bandits.
No comment from school board do to an ongoing criminal investigation by chester county district attorney.
Cville life: Connect the dots: How many Board members have close relatives working in the district? ASK them! Even if they didn’t participate in THAT hiring, did the other Board members agree that we’ll agree to hire each mother’s relatives. Admin and the Board are scratching each other’s backs. The Board NEVER questioned Como’s many appointees without the Board’s approval because Como made sure Board members’ employees got jobs.
So you do not know anything but your, fill in the blank, said it so must be true. Lets wait for it to fall instead of throwing false accusations out there. If you know something say it if you do not stop the slinging. False accusations can hurt many innocent people. Let the system do their job then you can say told you so. OK
You again? I get it now, you’re one of the scumbags, or maybe a family member. It’s all coming out and there WILL be proof.
A letter to the Pennsylvania State Auditor and Attorney General are in order. Citizens of Coatesville have to DEMAND the school district REMOVE the current board members who have voted against educational programs for the children. Request an investigation of those members who were receiving favors being paid to conduct teacher in service presentations for the administration, staff and teachers in return for votes. Those board members using school property, rent free, for other non-educational activities, stealing at the expense of the Coatesville Area School District children’s education and this city’s future. Take a stand people!!
Try googling James Ellison, attorney, and check out the article from the Patriot News, May 2012. There is an interesting little article about Mr. Ellison being brought up on ethics violations. He’s great at making no comment for top dollar. A perfect match for CASD. And have you ever noticed how the School Board always votes 9-0 in favor of whatever Como & Ellison have presented to them in their secret meetings prior to any board meeting? The district spent nearly $15,000 last school year on warm up pants for the football team but my child, who takes Honors and AP classes, is unable to complete homework assignments because textbooks are missing so many pages and there isn’t money to replace them. No wonder the district is in the bottom 15% in the state educationally, yet we rank 5th in the state for football.
Sickened and Scot, great points! Whose interest is Mr. Ellison protecting? A member of admin, a board member, or the whole board? Any way you cut it more than 1 or 2 people had to know what was going on. Hope the investigation includes law enforcement beyond Chester county.
I agree with Scot, the Board members might not be saying anything because they could be involved as well. Think about it, the most popular rumor is misappropriation of funds. That would easily involve more then just one or two people.
Has anyone thought maybe the School Board may also be being investigated? If that is the case they as well as anyone else in authority can not and will not make statements.
Along with the school board needing to be looked at, believe me the solicitor, Ellison, is also directly involved in the charade. He has been the puppeteer advising human resources how to handle many personnel issues lately, and has played anything but fairly. I totally agree with a grand jury investigation and please make certain he is put on the stand. Anyone who is following the drama can put together how much the school board, Ellison, and many top players in central administration are in cahoots. You watch, the board and central administration will “fall on the sword” so to speak, and the solicitor will wash his hands and walk away. That is one part of the budget I would like to see….how much the district has paid him lately to try and hide stuff by railroading employees and former employees of the district.
sounds like someone with an unsubstantiated ax to grind
No, they sound like they they know what they’re talking about.
You, on the other hand, sound like an apologist for the racist scum superintendent, athletics director, and, I’m sure more we’ll soon discover.
Did you even read the article?? The district has a history of astonishing mismanagement going all the way back to Hoerner, who isn’t even mentioned in this piece, if not before.
First of all, good riddance! But more important, we give these people (the school board) thousands of dollars every year. They are supposed to be stewards but instead they are, for the most part, arrogant and anything but transparent. A grand jury should be convened to investigate the whole mess and if necessary, issue indictments.
Seems this is how more than just the school board operates. How about the Coatesville ‘Public’ Library board and the latest shakeup there?
Good article Kathleen! Please do your best to get more facts about what has occurred and what other Administrators are involved. We just want the whole truth and nothing but the TRUTH.