Former board member Fran Resch
About 100 citizens convened at the district administration building for Thursday's Columbia Borough School Board meeting, largely in response to a recently released video of a classroom assault at the high school.
Bullying among students was not the only topic discussed, however. Bullying is alleged to have occurred among board members themselves. At Thursday's meeting as at previous meetings, allegations surfaced regarding political scheming by some on the board.
Fran Resch, a former board member, brought to light incidents he says occurred during his tenure:
Number one: Back in May, when I was still on the school board, I was approached at home by a current board member and in the course of the conversation I was told we must do what Ken and Tom want. I said I would do what I thought those who voted me into office wanted. No one was going to tell me what to do. I was not doing anything wrong. I could not believe that I was actually approached in this manner, and I ask the board members before me, were any of them approached by anybody on the board?"
"Part two: When I gave my resignation letter to Thomas Stickler - my resignation - he asked me if Kathy [Hohenadel] had got to me. I was shocked, I said, no, absolutely not. Tom then asked me if I knew anybody that I thought might be a good replacement for me on the board, and I suggested Iris Garrido since she had received the second highest number of votes in the November election. At this time Tom looked at me - and this is the truth, I'm not a liar - and said, 'No, I don't want her.' And these are the things that have been eating at me for the longest time. I plead for Dr. Hollister to make sure these things are straightened out. Please give some thought to what I just said. I'm not looking for anybody to lose a job. But I'm finding out now that I'm off the board, I have a better chance to express my views and express them the way I want, because when I was on the board I really did not have a chance to say what I wanted to say."
Director of Operations Tom Strickler
Thank you Fran, I'm sure this was difficult for you, but you did the right thing.
ReplyDeleteMr Stickler does not look to Happy
ReplyDeleteStrickler has a problem when someone steps, truthfully, on his ego and exposes the long planned method in which he ,unethically , got his dream job. He and that other board member must resign. Wonder how they will pay their fines for ethics violations. Go... State Ethics Committee!
DeleteGuilty people rarely look happy when they are exposed.
DeleteIf you dress a monkey in a suit , what do you get?
DeleteMaybe his problem is the fact that even he knows that Mr.Fran Resch is well respected, well liked and a man of unquestionable integrity. Everyone of us in that room knew that Fran was telling the truth. Everyone. People cannot hide, in public, from the truth or from ethics violations.
DeleteThis picture is of little tommy trying to figure out how he is going to make the messengers into bad people who are picking on him.
DeleteNot surprising at all. Anyone care to hear about my & my Motherless children's treatment by the Old Maid Schoolteacher referenced by Mr. Resch?
ReplyDeleteI do
Deletethis needs to be on tv
ReplyDeleteTo the school board member who Fran had the decency not to mention by name ..this time.
ReplyDeleteDo you have the courage to admit that it was you who came to his house? Well, do you?
Do you have the courage to admit that you, the good part of you, was used and bullied by another person? Well, do you?
You know who you are ...and so do we.
Admit that it was you, and resign. Do not embarrass or yourself us any longer.
Maybe you could become immune from violations by having the courage to tell the truth about this whole scheme.
We also know where you were and who you had lunch with just before you visited Fran to deliver your unethical message or advise on how he should vote. You need to resign without being embarrassed.
DeleteGood job, Fran . As I said before, this mess stinks and it sounds like Strickler is behind it.Come on school board, do not be bullied into voting for programs wanted by the DOO.If you vote, vote to disband Strickler's position.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Hollister protecting Strickler?
ReplyDeleteHow are they connected?
Is Hollister a victim or a pawn?
Doesn't Hollister get it that from the time he installed Strickler that the whole agreement was soiled ? Is he now learning from good people that Strickler was a poor choice above and beyond the fact that he is not certified or qualified? The University of Birdland, DOO DOONY Birdland! Give us a break.
DeleteThen, if he does get , he must remove Strickler, be honest with the board and start over with a real educator .
Or, is his connection to Strickler more than we know?
Is he willing to damage his own reputation or risk his boards disapproval over this agreement?
Victim or pawn. Good Question.
To Barry Ford:
ReplyDeleteYou are a good person and well liked by many .
Do not harm your reputation by being part of a scheme that was only devised by one person to create a job for himself.
Be Columbia Proud. Do what is right for all...not what benefits only one person.
You are a better and stronger man than that.. and you just took an oath.
Please do not allow yourself to be used or bullied. Get the facts and listen, you had a preview of the facts at your first board meeting.
Barry, do not give in to Strickler. He only wants people that agrees with him for personal gain.He is not qualified for the job. He created this job.That is why he had so many jobs,because hr could not dictate.
ReplyDeletePresident John Adams quote:
ReplyDelete"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
Facts are coming out about the backdoor, unethical dealings of certain members of this school board. The facts and evidence of how people were bullied and used will be the downfall of this ugly scheme by one person for the sole purpose of getting a job.
When Mr. Resch resigned, and Mr. Strickler said that he did not want Iris Garrido, suddenly a former board member who was on the board 4 years ago applied and was granted the school board seat that Strickler did not want Garrido to fill. Facts and evidence of inappropriate dealings.
The drama is unfolding and this perfect,ugly deception is about to see the light of day.
Not mentioned here is the fact that we lost the high school principal to another district. Why any administrator or teacher would want to work under Strickler or why any parent would want Strickler to be in charge of their child's education is beyond belief.I knew him in high school and he has always been all show and no go.
ReplyDeleteWas told that so far this year , we have lost 3 good teachers, 1 principal, and 2 custodians.
I predict more good people leaving this district unless drastic changes are made.
A lot and I do mean a lot was done and said at the meeting on September 15.
DeleteThis is what Tom (DOO) wants to happen to slim the budget and show how much money he has saved for the District.
DeleteMr. Resch's speech had me so angry at this unethical crap that when I left the meeting I decided to call a private investigator on Friday. If the cost is not out of line I'm in. No one should get away with this creepy way of getting a job or bullying and controlling a school board for his own self gain. THIS STINKS! It will be stopped!!
ReplyDeleteHope you find out who first contacted Elanco and what connection strickler has to Elanco. Set up a go fund me site to oust Elanco, Hollister, and strickler. When they are gone, the remaining money should be enough to run the district for 2 years.
DeleteHollister forced someone on us who was already disliked and not trusted by many, many people. Now ,with him being called out, in public, and proven to be guilty of unethical actions, in public, Hollister should fire him immediately.
ReplyDeleteso now i hear strickler has contacted the boro to paint the cross walks at the high school on the tax payers dime we pay enough school taxs that this should had been done before school started. so why should our boro tax dollers be used to pay for this to be done.
ReplyDeleteStrickler and the board members who allowed him this much power should be removed from the district.
ReplyDeleteFran did a great thing that took courage that other board members need to show. The board member who talked to Fran about how he should vote should resign immediately and admit to ethics violations and tampering. Strickler should resign.
ReplyDelete