Pleasant Valley board criticized about administrator on paid leave

During the public’s opportunity to address the Pleasant Valley School Board last week, former district employee Sandy Bartashunas told the board that she is “appalled” by the district continuing to pay Joshua Krebs, who is under indictment for wiretapping and perjury.

“It is time to stop paying this employee who is currently facing trial for wiretapping and perjury as a result of his own unlawful actions, while he continues to delay the procedures,” Bartashunas said. “I find the lack of district action embarrassing.”

Krebs, director of support services, is facing multiple counts of wiretapping and use of information related to an incident where Krebs is charged with placing a video/audio recording device in a break room at the elementary school to record actions by a custodial employee.

Wendy Serfass, lead detective on the case, sought to have his contact with certain district employees restricted since the employees were witnesses that might be called to testify against Krebs.

The district later placed Krebs on paid leave, pending an internal investigation.

Krebs has since been charged with perjuring himself in front of the grand jury empaneled to take testimony regarding the wiretap charges and other possible crimes that are being investigated.

All of the charges against Krebs have been held over for trial.

In a statement last month district board president, Len Peeters said that the district was taking the charges seriously and is cooperating with the district attorney’s office, but did not comment on Krebs’ involvement or his continued employment with the district.

Another bit of controversy during Thursday evening’s meeting centered on district superintendent David Piperato. Piperato has just completed his first year at the district’s helm and a motion was made to increase Piperato’s annual salary by 3.5 percent.

Director Laura Jecker amended the motion to 2.75 percent and that motion was seconded by director Donna Yozwiak. The revised motion failed by one vote.

The original motion for 3.5 percent increase passed by a vote of 6 to 3. Jecker, Yozwiak and Peeters voted no to the increase.