Strickler skips meeting without explanation; board grapples with questions

Tom Strickler dominated the conversation at Thursday night's Columbia Borough School Board meeting of the whole, even though he wasn't there. Despite questioning from residents, the board offered no reason for his conspicuous absence.

Not only was he absent, his name was absent from the agenda; that is, there was no mention of his name with regard to his appointment by ELANCO School District as "Director of Operations" for Columbia. The appointment was approved at ELANCO's August 8 meeting of the whole, where Strickler was present, along with ELANCO Superintendent Dr. Robert Hollister.

The Columbia board tiptoed past the issue on Thursday when it discussed the agenda item "Modification of Executive Service Contract date change 8/9/2016" without mentioning Strickler's name. In fact, his name was not uttered until later in the meeting when resident Frank Doutrich asked a series of pointed questions.

Hollister also was not present at the meeting. Ken Klawitter, who most recently had been Columbia's acting superintendent, attributed his absence to vacation. He added that Hollister had requested that Klawitter be at the meeting as an advisor. "Even I'm not here officially," Klawitter said.

Questioning procedure, Vice President Kathleen Hohenadel asked why both boards were not involved in the change of the "start date" for the director of operations position from July 18 to August 9. ELANCO reportedly made the decision independently of Columbia. Board member Charles Leader then asked if the board follows Roberts Rules of Order, but no one could answer definitively.

When questioned, Klawitter said several people applied for the director of operations position. "I think," he said, using air quotes, "there might have been a total of 12 that applied, and five were interviewed."

Klawitter announced that a $250,000 grant is available for the districts [Columbia and ELANCO] to pilot the new program because - according to Klawitter - they are the first ones legally to do it. He offered scant details about the possibility.

Frank Doutrich asked the amount of the director's salary, but no one offered a definite answer. Klawitter explained that Columbia Borough is responsible for paying up to $165,000 a year (pro-rated) to ELANCO for a contracted service, out of which Strickler's salary will be paid. "I'm just astonished that you don't know what the salary is," Doutrich later told the board. 

Doutrich also asked for Strickler's job description, and Klawitter told him to check with Hollister. Klawitter said he had only a general idea of the duties. "I find this hard to believe," Doutrich replied.

Asked by Doutrich who would take the superintendent's seat at meetings, Klawitter replied, "Anything that would require a commissioned officer would be Dr. Hollister." Hollister is expected to average a day a week in Columbia, Klawitter explained. Attendance at a board meeting can qualify as one of the required days.

Resident Kay Leader asked if Strickler will attend meetings. Board President Cole Knighton replied, "He'll be here, and I don't know that I can say anything more than that."

Leader also said that it appears as if Columbia has lost any control over the issue. "I think you as a board have a lot of work to do in this community to put out a positive feel. To the community it doesn't look good as far as what your decisions have been and what you have allowed ELANCO to control." 

Knighton explained, "Everything's going to function as usual, pretty much. Dr. Hollister will be here one day a week, I believe, and Tom will handle the day-to day operations." He added that Strickler's office will be in Columbia. He also said Strickler will attend future meetings.

Knighton downplayed a resident's perception of negative feelings among community members. He reported hearing positive feedback about the newly created position at a recent golf outing.

Former board member Fran Resch told council that he had resigned for more than just "health reasons," as was previously reported by LNP, based on Strickler's reading of Resch's resignation letter. (His letter implied that he did not totally agree with the direction the board was taking.) He said he had suggested a specific person to replace him but was told by a board member that they did not want her.

Resch asked why Vice President Kathy Hohenadel was passed over for the position of president when Strickler announced his resignation in June - and a second questioner asked why a motion was made to nominate, and subsequently appoint, Knighton as president. "It's a board decision," Klawitter said.

Doutrich asked if there was currently a full board and was told one seat remains to be filled.  According to Board President Cole Knighton, no one has applied for the seat. "We had that out there for letters to be submitted by August 1. We've received zero, so we're still looking," Knighton said. Knighton later explained that anyone can apply at the courthouse "and they're in," in regard to the open seat. He said the position was advertised on the district website and in LNP.

Knighton became defensive when resident Doutrich cited his spotty attendance record. Knighton said he is "looking to change jobs" to be able to attend all meetings. Later in the meeting, he explained that he had sometimes participated in meetings via telephone.

Klawitter suggested getting in contact with Strickler. "Somebody needs to call the director of operations and sit down and have a conversation with him," he said. "Somebody needs to communicate, because there seems to be a void of communication. You've got two camps, but nobody's talking." Kay Leader responded, "This is a public meeting, but he's not here, and we're not allowed to know, apparently, why he's not here." She said the situation seems secretive.