CASD board cannot agree on replacement member

Board split 4-4 between Beckershoff and abstention for Paul Johnson’s seat

By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times

Paul Draper speaks to the Education Committee about the JSMC as members present the colors behind him.

CALN – With four members voting for Robert Beckershoff and four members abstaining, the Coatesville Area School Board could not agree on a replacement for Paul Johnson’s school board seat during its special meeting on Tuesday night.

Beckershoff, as well as James Hill and former board member Dr. Tonya Thames Taylor were nominated for the position. School Board Members Diane Brownfield, Stu Deets, Kim Mammel, and Deborah Thompson voted for Beckershoff, who finished second in District One during elections last November while Neil Campbell, Jim Fox, Laurie Knecht, and Rick Ritter abstained.

The Board has until Sunday to fill the vacant seat; otherwise the position will be appointed by the Court of Common Pleas.

During public comment before the vote, Greg Wynn, who ran as a write-in candidate in November, claimed to have evidence pointing to nepotism on the part of Taylor during her previous stint as school board member. He said that her niece, Adrienne Shaw, a convicted felon, was illegally hired by the district. The district also hired Taylor’s nephew and contracted work to her husband’s company, Milestone Management Consulting. Wynn said that he sent e-mails to board members containing the evidence.

Jane Ventrilla said that she wanted to see Beckershoff take Johnson’s seat, as, had there been a second seat open during last year’s elections, it would have gone to Beckershoff.

Board Member Deborah Thompson motioned to pull Taylor’s name from the nominations, citing that she, too, had evidence of nepotism on Taylor’s part.

“Based on her criminal record, she should not have been employed by the school district,” Thompson said of Shaw.

With four members abstaining, and four members voting for Beckershoff, the tie meant that no one got the seat.

Campbell recessed the special meeting and said that the public will be notified if the board reconvenes to vote again by Sunday. If the board fails to appoint a replacement for Johnson by Jan. 19, the matter will fall to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, which will make the appointment.

Following the special meeting, the Education Committee met, voting to give credit to students participating in the Joint Service Military Corp program.

The program, which consists of a class and afterschool activities, educates students on the history and protocol of the U.S. military, focusing on a different branch each marking period.

During the meeting, JSMC members presented the colors, and School Board Student Representative Paul Draper, who is in the JSMC, spoke, saying that the program will give students discipline and leadership, as well as preparing them with military skills, should they choose that career path.

“The cadets involved in this program are dedicated to improving themselves, their community, and their country. The JSMC provides them the perfect opportunity to do just that. It has already and will continue to play a vital role in our students’ development as young adults,” he said.

During the finance meeting, the committee also voted to include funding for the Air Force Joint ROTC program in the preliminary budget for next year. Deets said that the program will cost the district $80,000. That money does not yet fit into the budget, but adjustments to make it fit will be examined in coming months.

During the Community and Student Relations Committee meeting, committee members approved the reading of a policy for behavioral management of students with disabilities. Deborah Thompson opposed the policy, raising concerns over allowing staff members to physically restrain students.

The original draft of the policy stated that only trained faculty members would be allowed to restrain students. However, that part of the policy was removed. One administrator said that should a student need to be physically restrained, trained personnel may not be available.

Thompson said that she would like to see more faculty members trained to deal with such situations so that untrained members are not put into this type of situation.