Pleasant Valley complies with grand jury

When a grand jury in Monroe County recommended charges against three former Pleasant Valley school administrators for misconduct and retaliation last fall, they also had recommendations for the school board.

At the board’s meeting last week, the board and Superintendent David Piperato made it clear that they’re taking the grand jury recommendations seriously, even if they can’t follow them to the letter.

“You may adopt some, you may adopt a few, or all, I think it would be the prerogative of the board — but I think you are filling the responsibility of the board to consider them, and consider them publicly,” said Mark Fitzgerald, school board solicitor.

The grand jury identified six areas.

It also recommended that the Monroe County District Attorney file charges of official oppression, threats in official and political matters, and retaliation for past official action.

The three administrators are Carole Geary, who retired as superintendent in May 2017; Christopher Fisher, who retired as assistant to the superintendent for pupil personnel in 2015; and Joshua Krebs, who retired as director of support services in December as part of a buyout with the district. Only Krebs has been charged.

Krebs is charged with recording audio in a staff break room in violation of wiretap laws. He was also accused of intimidating employees.

Geary and Fisher were accused of retaliating against employees, possibly because of their involvement in labor unions.

Piperato pointed out that the grand jury also found that the board was “hindered by overzealous legal representatives” — and has since changed law firms.

Board training

The grand jury recommended initial and continuing training for all board members on ethics, the Sunshine Act (regarding open meetings) and personnel issues.

Piperato said board members have complied with a state law which requires four hours of training for new members and two hours for re-elected members. He hired a consultant to teach them a seminar about governance. Board member Russ Gould said attendance at the seminars could be better.

“I know it’s difficult to get everybody involved. I would really somehow make sure everyone gets there,” Gould said.

The board has sought other training. Fitzgerald has conducted some. President Susan Kresge said she and others have attended new board member classes at Monroe Career and Technical Institute.

Board member Laura Jecker said she has completed 43 online courses from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and encouraged other board members to do the same.

Transparency

“School districts must operate openly, not in secrecy,” the grand jury wrote.

They said the board could be more transparent by advising the public of any agenda items three days in advance. They added that the board should avoid excessive use of closed-door executive sessions and adhere to high ethical standards.

Board member Dan Wunder said Fitzgerald has done a good job identifying what the board can and can’t do behind closed doors.

Piperato said the board has increased discussion and public input during meetings. He said all open positions are now posted. On top of that, the district now allows teachers to request transfers within the district if they want to teach a different grade level.

“We have a process in place, we’ll continue to follow that process, and that’ll allow us to hire the best candidate regardless of where they live, or what their last name may be,” Piperato said.

Piperato, who was hired in 2017, also presented the results of a survey he conducted at the end of last school year reflecting faculty members’ thoughts about how his administration was improving transparency. He said the results demonstrated that school personnel are encouraged by the changes.

“Your survey you did, it shows that it’s working. We never would have gotten numbers like this before,” board member Robert Serfass said.

Evaluations

The grand jury recommended the board develop a formal procedure for evaluating the superintendent. The evaluation should give administrators, teachers, parents and community members a way to provide confidential input without fear of reprisal.

The district has outlined performance goals it wants Piperato to reach.

Fitzgerald said that as elected representatives, school board members can be a conduit for input from the community.

Kresge suggested the district create an online survey so community members can be directly involved in the evaluation process.

Compliance reports

Fitzgerald said the board would likely not be able to adopt the grand jury’s fourth recommendation to the letter — the creation of a compliance officer position.

He explained that the district already has protections in place for staff, students and community members, where they can share issues with school board members.

“If there’s a question on a check of the administration, there are nine of you who will always be that check, directly, on any administrative action,” he said.

But Fitzgerald said the board could make sure that employees and students know what avenues are available to raise concerns, and ensure that they don’t face retaliation. He said his office wants to uphold strict prohibitions against retaliation against anyone who brings a complaint to the board.

Directors

The grand jury’s fifth recommendation was that the board terminate Director of Support Services Joshua Krebs, who was charged after the investigation. They also suggested that the position be re-evaluated because it “consists of varied and inconsistent areas of responsibility.”

The board reached an agreement with Krebs in December in which the district paid him $14,500, allowing him to retire.

The board has also approved four director positions, and they’ve filled two of them. The director of curriculum and director of technology are already on the job. The board is planning to interview candidates for director of pupil services and director of operations in the near future.

Board member Kenneth Cocuzzo said there are many aspects to the administration, and the board is doing a good job spreading the power among several people.

“There’s a lot of checks and balances built in with these directorships and with the board, and with the superintendent. I’m really comfortable with this structure, and I think it’s going to serve our needs,” Cocuzzo said.

Consultant

The grand jury recommended that the board hire a third party consultant to conduct an education climate survey. Board member Donna Yozwiak said the board will contact an independent party.

“I think it’s a very good idea to do the climate survey,” Kresge said.