Lehighton retains ban to keep director from high school
Bradley
By a 5-4 vote Monday night, Lehighton Area School District’s board opted to keep in place a one-year ban that restricts one of its directors from the district’s high school and administration building for a year, with the exception of attending a school board function or a preapproved meeting.
David Bradley, the director in question, called the restrictions “unlawful” during Monday’s meeting.
“It’s illegal based on school code, state law and our own school policy,” Bradley said. “That’s my opinion. I’m asking for it to be rescinded to save the district thousands of dollars in litigation costs.”
The restriction, approved June 25, also prohibits Bradley from having direct contact with any district employee while they are on the job unless previously scheduled and approved through the superintendent or business manager.
According to an investigative report filed by Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver, a copy of which was posted on Facebook and circulated by Bradley before Monday’s meeting, Bradley was accused of harassing/bullying a district employee on June 1.
“Mr. Bradley began to berate an employee over the fees associated with his right to know request,” Cleaver wrote in the report.
A second incident, Cleaver wrote in his report, occurred June 7.
According to the report, Bradley and fellow Director Joy Beers were present at a parent-principal/assistant principal meeting.
“This followed an incident earlier in the day dealing with student discipline and searches of other students that complied with both state and federal law,” Cleaver wrote.
In June, Bradley denied the accusations and criticized the district for failing to interview additional witnesses.
“I was targeted as a means of public embarrassment,” Bradley said. “This investigation lacked due process. There is no proof of video, audio or additional testimony to back up the claims.”
Gloria Bowman, past board president and a Lehighton taxpayer, said during Monday’s meeting that she doesn’t see the restrictions as unlawful.
“I think it put parameters around Mr. Bradley, and he has to go through certain hoops to get into the administration building and the high school based on past experiences with employees,” Bowman said.
Larry Stern, Wayne Wentz, Andrew Yenser, Steve Holland and Rita Spinelli voted to keep the restrictions in place, while Bradley, Gail Maholick, Joy Beers and Richard Beltz voted to rescind them.
“I think we should strike it,” Maholick said. “I think it opens the district up to a lawsuit.”
Comments
Good afternoon. Ponder this. The report did not include due process, or interviews of the others that attended the meeting in question.
Then, realize that the parent, student, and other Director present at the meeting in question all testified that I DID NOT say anything about, or related to, the comments in the report. Specifically, ones about our vice principal's behavior or emotions referring to the searching student(s). The Superintendent's report that documented a comment 'gets excited' and searching student(s) is questionable at best. And since the Principal did not publically testify in support the vice principal's claim of such statements being said by me, I am eager to ask in open court. Also, eager to hear the courts opinion on clothes removal related to such searches. Who did make these outlandish statements? And who put them in the report?
The Superintendent published the report to a citizen and I only released it publically after it was published. Transparently. So ask yourself, were they hoping that only the accusations and not the facts would be made public?
The thin air comments listed in the report were not made as affidavits, nor were they sworn statements like those needed for legal proceedings. Just published by the Superintendent.
I am eager to see what happens when the legal proceeding of such accusations are presented in an open court. Due process is a constitutional right we should all have, even our students. Retaliation against whistleblowers needs to stop. Just another thing to fix from the inside for the benefit of our entire district.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.
Prior to taking the first vote, Gail asked to see the security footage that would have shown what occurred at the first incident. The superintendent told her that the footage had been erased. She asked why it was erased when it contained evidence.
A report written without talking to witnesses. Evidence destroyed. Then five members of the board voted to take action on this basis.
The number of people that have told me of similar retallatory actions only reinforces my resolve and the need for someone to stand up to the bullies. Please join me if you can, they count on your silence. Just document your history with the actions of those leveraging their power. If you are safe, consider submitting them to the Attorney General. Look at other districts experiencing similar abuses of power. The Attorney General is taking action. Lehighton is not immune to abuses of authority. But the good ole boys never had to deal with me, a man of his word.
Our community, in time, will remove and dethone those that act with willful disregard for the law, those that harm our students, or abuse their authority. The light of transparency disinfects governments.
Shine it bright, it is time we clean house.
Sincerely,
Citizen David F. Bradley Sr.