Sunday, June 19, 2016

President and board member resign from Columbia School Board

Multiple sources have informed Columbia Spy that Columbia Borough School Board President Tom Strickler resigned his position at Thursday night's board meeting. The resignation is effective 11:59 p.m. on July 18, 2016. The board voted to appoint board member Cole Knighton as board president, effective July 19, 2016.

Board member Fran Resch also resigned recently. The board appointed Keith Combs to fill his position at Thursday's meeting.

The board also voted to accept the contract to share a superintendent with Eastern Lancaster County School District. The vote was not unanimous due to one absence, one abstention, and one "no" vote. Elanco will vote on the contract at its June 20 meeting.

Columbia Borough and Elanco school boards began discussing joint leadership in April, after Columbia’s former superintendent left halfway through a three-year contract to take a higher-paying job elsewhere, according to an LNP report.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe we can move forward now with meeting with state reps on a school consolidation. It sure wouldn't take much documentation to show the current system will never work.

Bob said...

Thank god, the ball is rolling!

Anonymous said...

With all the openings that may be happening on council and school board, maybe some of the people who are downing the elected officials all the time will decide to serve. They will find out it is not easy. Having served 8 years on council and 4 years on planning, I found out things are not cut and dried. Too many federal and state mandates you have to follow that cost the taxpayers money. Anyhow, who ever serves, good luck and weigh all possible outcomes before you vote.

Anonymous said...

In addition to the last statement, listen to the towns people, do what is good for all

Anonymous said...

thats the key....listen to the taxpaying homeowners in this town. then do everything in your power to stop rental properties. clean up the code dept. and remove and start over.

Bob said...

Get rid of ghetto abusing drug addicts!
They are sucking the system dry. Welfare is meant for those in need!

Anonymous said...

I rent and work 40 plus hours a week, you mean to get rid of section 8"sssss

Anonymous said...

They can decide to serve, that doesn't mean that they get to serve. Probably has already been decided as to who will get it.

Bob said...

Nope, , section eight is to help the people in need!
Stay tuned my property is trying to be approved for section eight rental. It won't be sectioned
Eight to an abuser of the system.
I've seen and lived to much in my ghetto.

Anonymous said...

This is not a step in direction of consolidation. This school is on the farthest East side of the county. We are the farthest West side. How could we consolidate? This is a bad move but it gets Strickler closer to a paid position with CBSD. And that is always his ultimate goal!

Anonymous said...

If Stickler was using his elected position to possibly gain a job with the school district then in my opinion he abused his position. I hope he resigned for other reasons and not for a job with the school.

Anonymous said...

indeed. welfare was NOT meant as a way of life BUT intended ONLY to help those in need to get back on thier feet and RETURN to the work force. Columbia has WAY too many on welfare.

Brian said...

From the Columbia Borough School District Committee of the Whole minutes, May 12, 2016: "President Tom Strickler recused himself from any discussions regarding ELANCO shared Leadership agreement because of his intent to apply for the Administrative position at CBSD."

http://www.columbia.k12.pa.us/sites/columbia.k12.pa.us/files/files/Private_User/dburke/May%202016/C.O.W.%20May%2012%2C%202016%20minutes.pdf

Anonymous said...

Taxpayers need to wake up and get it: most of us are paying about FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH TO THE BOROUGH in order to live here. If you purchased a car with a payment of five hundred dollars a month, I'm betting that you would expect it to run. At least the car can get paid off, but your obligation to Columbia Borough does not end when your mortgage us paid that five hundred goes on until you sell and move out.

Sharon said...

Thanks Brian.

Anonymous said...

Tom just because you are a board member you don't understand what it takes to run a district. I think it is very shady for what your doing. This is the same poly that you did the last time the superintendent position opened. I really hope Pde looks in to this and takes action against the district. If you really think Stickler recluses him self than your not paying attention to what is happening at Township. A shady very shady. Shame on CBSD for this.

Anonymous said...

I hope they consider all people that may apply for this position. Just because he served on the school board should not be seen as an advantage. If this was Wall Street, this would be seen as an insider trader move.

Anonymous said...

Right. Five thousand a year times a thirty year mortgage equals 150,000 for one house. Not counting that the working people living in the house have a payroll deduction that also goes to the borough. In my case that is about five hundred a year. And the per capita tax too. Taxpayer's have every right to know where THEIR money is being spent, after all they worked to earn it. They also have a right to complain if they don't agree with it.

Anonymous said...

i agree. he abuses his position. traitor. but the school consolidation MUST continue. Lets parents kids choose which school they'd like to attend-Eastern, Donegal, Hempfield, etc. from a pool of multiple choices.

Anonymous said...

And continue cuts!