Board vice president criticizes ELANCO contract

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During Thursday's Columbia Borough School Board meeting, Vice President Kathy Hohenadel read from a prepared statement detailing her frustration with the board's handling of Columbia's contract with ELANCO. The statement garnered enthusiastic applause from an audience of about 85 citizens.

Statement by Board Vice President Kathy Hohenadel


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Comments

Sharon said…
I am still shocked at the part about "fellow board members resorting to name calling." That is a form of intimidation. Also surprising that there isn't more concern over the possibility of job cuts to "show" cost savings in the district.
I wonder how the board will feel if someone close to them is "furloughed" because of this new shared deal.
August 18, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Kathy should be president not Cole I am sure that was done.for reason.and not a good.one I want to know why.Mr Stckler did not.say.one word at.the meeting if he is not going to say.anything then why are we paying him.$94.000 a year











a year


August 18, 2016 at 10:54 PM
Anonymous said…
Tell it like it is, Kathy
August 18, 2016 at 10:54 PM
Anonymous said…
Great letter! This was a letter of concern and respect that all citizens in Columbia should be proud of. Thanks Kathy Hohenadel for being a Columbian with integrity and pride!

TidePride!
August 18, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Anonymous said…
I am sure that Hollister and Strickler convinced other board members to elect Cole as president. Kathy is well educated and being a former teacher, she knows this deal may not.work.Remember board, Manheim Township board is being investigated for Sunshine law violations that may have happened, you could be next.
August 19, 2016 at 4:56 AM
Joe Lintner said…
It's obvious why he was installed into this position.
August 19, 2016 at 5:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Klawitter said "It was a board decision." When did the board decide this? Obviously prior to the meeting where the motion was made by Schwert.
August 19, 2016 at 5:51 AM
Sharon said…
The fact that we can disagree with each other makes this a free society. Name calling leads to suppression. Why would board members want to suppress anyone elses opposition to their majority ideas? The answer is simple: CONTROL.
August 19, 2016 at 5:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey, we are paying $165,000 for no comments and then Hollister implicates that this is a moneymaker for ELANCO. The taxpayers of Columbia are watching how their dollars are spent,obviously some board members are not.Thankfully, Kathy H. is.
August 19, 2016 at 6:35 AM
Anonymous said…
THANK YOU KATHY!!!!Thank you for having the courage to do what is right. Your professional approach speaks wonders ! A perfect example of REAL leadership! You have my upmost respect.
August 19, 2016 at 6:39 AM
Anonymous said…
THIS IS THE LETTER THAT THE LNP NEEDS TO PRINT, THE LETTER THAT ALL ELANCO BOARD MEMBERS MUST READ, THE LETTER THAT PA.STATE OFFICIALS NEED TO SEE. IT IS A STATEMENT OF TRUTH IN AN OTHERWISE SLIMY SITUATION. THANKS YOU KATHY!!!
August 19, 2016 at 6:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Mr. Knighton is not smart enough to recognize that he was only put in that position as a pawn.
August 19, 2016 at 6:48 AM
Anonymous said…
Little Columbia is becoming a lot like the big corrupt cities of Philadelphia and Chicago. Hats off to Hohenadel for speaking up. Would like to know more who is contacting who and who all is involved at the state, county and local levels. A good reporter would investigate farther and name names and if they are elected officials throwing people under the bus for their own gain, Columbia people should know and they should be asked to resign.
August 19, 2016 at 6:48 AM
Anonymous said…
thank you Kathy.
August 19, 2016 at 7:00 AM
Anonymous said…
Great letter, Kathy. Thank you for speaking the truth.
August 19, 2016 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous said…
It is very important to continue to attack this agreement...end it ...start over if it is a good idea, be totally transparent...lift the curtain on back door deals ...hold these people accountable for their inappropriate and unethical actions.
August 19, 2016 at 7:26 AM
Anonymous said…
Agreed. Don't forget about this in 2017, it's time to vote for new leadership all over the borough.
August 19, 2016 at 7:41 AM
Anonymous said…
Our real pride is starting to show. Columbia people honor disagreements but not backdoor , unethical job procurement schemes that are hatched in private, attempted over and over by the same person and that lead to this really stupid situation. Many people are working to correct this situation and will continue to do so until this is resolved in favor of the good of our town.
August 19, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Anonymous said…
Cole, Thanks for all your time and effort to provide us with the free press that Thomas Jefferson knew was so valuable in a free society.
August 19, 2016 at 8:52 AM
Anonymous said…
If several school board members would retract their votes, based on their lack of knowledge of the unethical behavior of others, this agreement could be ended TODAY. You saw the courage of Kathy...WHERE IS YOUR COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING???????
August 19, 2016 at 10:04 AM
Anonymous said…
Thanks for calling the board out on this last night Sharon!!
August 19, 2016 at 10:38 AM
Anonymous said…
Yes I agree. Where was his report?
August 19, 2016 at 10:38 AM
Anonymous said…
What a debacle that agenda was. How many times did Kathy have to correct someone? Cole Knighton YOU should step down and step off, you are an embarrassment to this community!!!
August 19, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Anonymous said…
Columbia residents should never have to stay away from school board meetings because of fear of revenge motivated activities toward themselves ,their careers, their children, or their friends. Many more people would have been there but in this town somebody is always related to somebody and no one wants negativity among friends.
August 19, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Sharon said…
Thanks, I felt strongly about it and it was the right thing to do.
August 19, 2016 at 12:47 PM
Anonymous said…
ELANCO board,Holliste and Strickler thought they could pull this move off and no one would say anything. Thank you Kathy Hohenadel for voicing your disapproval of the deal.Noe hopefully your fellow board members change their minds and follow your lead.Certainly, Cole is not a leader.
August 19, 2016 at 2:59 PM
Anonymous said…
So you people went and said whatever and the outlook still is the same!!!!
August 19, 2016 at 3:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Does our school board president.. know that he is being used?... like being used? for the personal gain of someone else?
August 19, 2016 at 3:45 PM
Anonymous said…
Why did the board not follow Roberts Rules???? Here again all orchestrated so that Mr. Knighton becomes president. WHY? Because in the "Statement of Work for Executive Administrative Services" it states that the school board president, evaluates the Director of Operations (Tom Strickler)to the Elanco school board every three months. You think that Tom wants Kathy to evaluate him, I think not!! So to restate what Kathy said in paragraph two above, this was all an unfair process from the get go!! An inside job. Why was information not shared/discussed, digested, and rushed through the process? Sounds like a lot of unethical things going on with this board
August 19, 2016 at 4:31 PM
Sharon said…
No, we didn't say "whatever," we stood up for what we believe. Regardless of the outcome,one must at least try. How do you know that the "outlook" is still the same? Change remains a possibility. Perhaps this is not over.
August 19, 2016 at 4:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Since Mr. Hollister likes our new director of operations so much , he should assign him to Elanco , and assign someone from Elanco to Columbia. We could even offer them 2 future draft choices.
August 19, 2016 at 4:50 PM
Anonymous said…
Not for long!!!!!
August 19, 2016 at 4:51 PM
Joe Lintner said…
The outlook has changed. The issue is far from over.
August 19, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Anonymous said…
The present may be the same but the outlook is going to be so much different. Just a sample....more people at all meetings ....elections....more contact with Harrisburg....my guess is that you have not seen anything yet. Let's hope the embarrassment for our town can be minimized.
August 19, 2016 at 5:16 PM
Anonymous said…
Mr. Hollister stated that it was his decision to pay the higher salary to the director of operations partly based on the strength of the person's resume....WOW! Were any real background checks done?
August 19, 2016 at 5:42 PM
Anonymous said…
AGREE. This issue is far from over!!!!
August 19, 2016 at 5:50 PM
Anonymous said…
Thank you! Pride for Columbia residents should not depend on following their leaders like sheep. Pride is in holding those accountable that have been granted leadership roles. Just because you elected them does not mean they will do what is best for all.
August 19, 2016 at 7:14 PM
Anonymous said…
They didn't follow "Roberts Rules" because they were uncertain as to whether or not they had to.
August 19, 2016 at 7:19 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes as he will soon gain employment by CBSD as Maintenance Manager. You haven't connected those dots yet?
August 19, 2016 at 9:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow, a master's degree from University of Phoenix. Really, give me a break.
August 19, 2016 at 9:32 PM
Anonymous said…
We have been told that , when departing Columbia on Thursday night, Mr. Hollister mentioned , through his lowered car window. to people who spoke forward at meeting, in a somewhat derogatory tone.... Thanks for my welcome to Columbia. Not exactly a leadership quality remark.
August 19, 2016 at 9:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Good! It's not going to be as easy as he expected. HA!
August 20, 2016 at 6:31 AM
Joe Lintner said…
He might have underestimated the people of Columbia.
August 20, 2016 at 6:33 AM
Anonymous said…
Right?! Online degrees are a sham.
August 20, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Anonymous said…
consolidate the school NOW.
August 21, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Anonymous said…
Has anyone reached out to the department of education? Has the board considered adding the removal of the position on the board agenda? People need to reach out to Kathleen and Charles to discuss options at the next board meeting. Also someone should contact Mike Grab to discuss use of an attorney to find out what options the borough has to disolve this agreement. Members of the board need to set a play in motion to disolve the agreement. You can call them and share your concerns if they dont listen vote them out or move for a recall vote on them. People have power and they need to use it.
August 21, 2016 at 3:12 PM
Anonymous said…
Columbia taxpayers are being forced , by 6 board members, to pay , after the director's salary and benefits, thousands of dollars... into Elanco's general fund...this means .... that our taxpayers are supporting the possibility of lower taxes for Elanco. Legal ...hardly. Truly unthinkable...a poor district supporting a richer district. This agreement must end...NOW !!
August 21, 2016 at 4:24 PM
Anonymous said…
Mark Twain said, First , God created idiots. That was for practice. Then he created school boards. Looks like some things never change.
August 21, 2016 at 4:46 PM
Anonymous said…
AGREE. This must be resolved . We Are better than this! More bad press is not needed. The 6 board members responsible for this must resign. We are one town and one school district. Do the right thing . End this agreement NOW.
August 21, 2016 at 4:57 PM
Anonymous said…
Note to the board members who caused or allowed this slimy situation. You may think that a majority in the board gives you unlimited power over the taxpayers. So soon , you will see that you are wrong. Hope you were awake during Thursday's meeting. That was only the beginning!
August 21, 2016 at 5:22 PM
Anonymous said…
So we now have Stricker as Building Director paid by Elanco, and we also have Dave Hughes as Building Director paid by Columbia Tax Payers. That must be close to $200,000 in wages and benefits or more. So much money to Graduate 80 kids if they show up. So out of control, Get while you can before someone gets smart I say.
August 21, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Auditor General , who lives in York County, can be reached at pa.auditor.gov or at 717 287 2543. One of his stated goals is to see that education money ends up in the classroom not in someone's pocket or the general fund of a separate district.
August 21, 2016 at 7:11 PM
Anonymous said…
Good thought but we cannot afford to wait until 2017. This agreement must be stopped NOW.
August 21, 2016 at 8:18 PM
Anonymous said…
My brother just told me that there is a Pa. case where the State took control of a school board when activities happened that were unethical and illegal. He feels that this would be the same and that the State would get involved if contacted in the right way.
August 21, 2016 at 8:24 PM
Anonymous said…
Absolutely unacceptable. This school district MUST consolidate with Hempfield, Donegal or Penn Manor NOW. We can NOT afford all this crazy bullsh-- anymore. Each board member SHOULD resign. turn the school over. hardworking taxpaying residents who are sick to death and tired of supporting all the lazy, nothing wrong with them people show up for these mtgs.
August 22, 2016 at 6:11 PM
Anonymous said…
Thanks much, appreciate the encouragement!
August 22, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Sounds like a plan for Columbia.
August 22, 2016 at 8:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Can someone educate me about this maintenance manger position that is to be filled by Cole? Was this job posted so others could apply? Is it a sure thing he has the job? I know someone more qualified?
August 22, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Kevin Smart said…
All these comments and only one or two of you have the backbone to add your names, the rest of you are like (COWARDS) and hide behind the Anonymous name.
August 26, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Anonymous said…
Not cowards, street smart, Mr. Smart.
Perhaps you'll reap what happens when being so out spoken and bold.
God knows I HAVE.
If anonymous is the safety net, use it.
August 27, 2016 at 8:05 PM
Anonymous said…
Did Mr. Smart read Kathy's letter? Name calling by "so called" professional people. So we're to feel comfortable putting our name to anything that differs from the board's decision.
August 27, 2016 at 8:54 PM
Anonymous said…
READ THE LETTER. Kathy wasn't a coward and look where it got her, being called names and made to look like this is all her fault. All because she had a difference of opinion. Shameful and childish behavior on the part of the board members responsible. Go call them cowards please.
August 27, 2016 at 8:59 PM
Anonymous said…
It is hard to feel for board members who were part of the shananigans and incompetence for the past 4 years. They didin't speak up before. NOW that the tables turnt on them, they want us to care. The whole lot of them should go. We've been played. Our kids are hurt by bad decisions watch and learn. Mr. Smart figured out a way to pay his mortgage. Not bad work if you can get it!
September 11, 2016 at 4:45 PM
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