At tonight's Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting, two candidates were interviewed for the still vacant board seat.
In addition, Board President Cole Knighton announced that another board resignation was submitted today. The name was not announced as the board has not officially accepted the resignation as yet.
Candidates Iris Garrido and Barry Ford answered questions from board members during simultaneous interviews. Garrido ran against Fran Resch in a recent election. Resch resigned in May of this year. Ford resigned from borough council in May due to health reasons.
At the conclusion of the interview there was confusion as to whether a vote could be taken at the meeting. Superintendent Robert Hollister said he thought the position had not been advertised correctly and advised the board to err on the side of caution and delay a vote until next week at the regular board meeting.
Three board members absent from the meeting - Ms. Mattern, Ms. Anspach, and Mr. Lutz - will need to abstain when the vote is taken, according to Hollister.
So it looks like Iris may just have a shot with (2) Pro Tom supporters abstaining.Was Barry Ford another "My Little Pony" to support Tom's crusade to shrink Columbia's deficit.
ReplyDeleteWho will be the NEW resignation? Could it be Cole ( just landed the job I wanted)? Could it be Vicki (We got it passed)? Could it be Leo Lutz Jr. (my Dad told me what to do what is good for Columbia)? My bet it is Kieth Combs for his dedication to his job, and the desicration of the Columbia Borough School District.
We should have ten theaters in Columbia with all the drama queens we have living here!
So Leo Putz, what is your sudden interest in the school board meetings. Are you there in support of your boy Tom? Or is it an attempt to intimidate Kathy? Or maybe by keeping your mouth shut and when this thing goes south really fast you can say you knew something smelled bad? Maybe you best get junior off that board before he goes down in flames with the rest of the unethical ones!!
ReplyDeleteWait, what? Barry Ford resigned from council for health reasons but now wants to be on the school board?! Is he another Strickler puppet?! I bet he was asked to run to block Iris Garrido who the board doesn't want because she won't follow their "agenda." Take a guess who they'll pick next week. I wonder who they'll recruit for the second opening?
ReplyDeleteIf little tommy Hartman (strickler) would resign.....
ReplyDeleteIf the ethics investigation would pick up speed...
If one school board member is there illegally....All issues that this person voted on would be nullified.....
If the good people of Columbia show their pride, this travesty would be over.
To Barry Ford.....You are a good person with good intentions.. please step back and look at the facts before you align yourself and your reputation with Mr. Strickler and this horrible, unethical , and illegal mini merger.
ReplyDeleteBarry was the reason Ryan was first team all state. Tom used Barry to lobby for him. Barry's house was foreclosed. He has had issues with CBAA. He should have never been a councilman let alone a board member. Columbia is in need of real leadership and not individuals who can pay their bills. I hope this is not the case and Barry sits this one out. Columbia needs a state take over and removal of the board. It's obvious they lost control and this whole situation is corruption at its best.
DeleteYou cant hold financial problems against someone... the only thing you should be questioning is whether or not he has the best interests of the students in columbia..
DeleteCan we guess who might have been behind the call to LNP, against Sharon's right to speak ,as a taxpayer, at a public meeting, against a corrupt group involved in this insidious plan to give one man his dream job????
ReplyDeleteThat person was seated at the meeting Thursday night.
DeleteShameful! Am glad you know the persons' identity. The plot thickens!!!!
DeleteOnly those people with much to hide are threatened by truth and openness. If they can suppress the truth they think they win. Not going to happen this time!!!
It is not who you think it was, not that obvious.
DeleteIs Hollister a co-conspirator, or a victim ??? Guess research will tell. When searching for the truth, the web is a great tool !!!
ReplyDeleteAs a retired investment banker, I can say , with great certainty , that top administrators who applied had their credit ratings checked. In addition, the office of the prothonotary in the county of their residence, was checked for civil actions and lawsuits. Credit ratings are private but civil records are public information.
DeleteIn following this questionable merger in my old home town, I would wonder if these same procedures were duly followed??
He looked distraught or frustrated over the confusion about voting last night. Almost like what have I gotten myself into!
DeleteSince we "stupid" people got word ,in early Spring, of this coming fiasco and the doo's identity, we have lost 3 very good teachers. A prediction is that we will lose more teachers and administrators who are dedicated, qualified ,certified, professional people who do not want to work under these conditions. Our children are losing since this farce has been started. Staff morale is, and will, continue to suffer.
ReplyDeleteWe just need those in the know to do the right thing. To file a complaint with the state. PLEASE do it ASAP! PLEASE!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere are the investigative reporters from LPN who spent so much time bashing our district in an earlier multi segment negative report? Are they too busy, too afraid , or not interested because it's only Columbia?
ReplyDeleteNice picture of the back of the suddenly silent Mr. Strickler. Maybe you could get the same photo of him leaving town for good.
ReplyDeleteI have to wonder if Barry is seeking the open seat on his own initiative or if he was asked by certain members to apply in effort to block anyone with a different view point.
ReplyDeleteOperating as a shill?
DeleteSpending time on this issue is useful. Has anyone seen the video of the fight that went on in a classroom at CHS this week? Despicable!!! Out of control school board and NO control in the school!!!
ReplyDeleteWe have a resource officer at the school now.
DeleteIt does not make sense. Barry Ford resigns from borough council due to health reasons and now wants on school board. This whole deal stinks. Ms. Harrison ran for office, still has an interest in the school district and some board members still has reservations.Ford comes along and shows interest. This school board actions would make for a good soap opera.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant Garrido, not Harrison. I do believe that Barry Ford is pro Strickler and will be one of his puppets,if he gets seated.
DeleteVoting in Garrido would be the best possible thing. Problem is, they will probably do anything in their power to stop that from happening. They are threatened.
ReplyDeleteWas told today by someone who knows the truth, that Mr. Hollister did not tell the truth about why Mr. Strickler's hiring was delayed. Why would he feel the need to not tell the truth. What is he covering up? We now Know why this was delayed. Trust is earned. Hollister should transfer his valuable Mr. Strickler to Elanco and then stay there himself.
ReplyDeleteSharon is entitled to speak!!
ReplyDeletePeople hate hearing truth and the facts, I admire her determination!
Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil!
Keep up the good work girl!
And yes movie theaters are a good idea, we need revenue to offset the tax burdens felt by HOMEOWNERS.
I would like to see a posting about the fight that happened September 8th. I saw the video it was terrible. I'm thinking the teachers are afraid of the students and administrators are afraid of the parents. We pay a lot of money living in this school district and what does that go for? From what I saw kids standing around not doing anything unless that was free time. And from my understanding the kids who want to learn get harassed and beat up because of such and then they don't want to go to school. So once again what am I paying taxes for. There is a school board meeting Thursday the 15th everyone should show about the fights that constantly go on there and the innocent being punished along with the questionable DOO position and decision.
ReplyDeleteWe now are paying for a School Resource Officer.
DeleteYes Sharon does have the right to talk.she is a tax payer in this town and every tax payer has a right to talk
ReplyDeleteThanks I try to keep my questions brief and relevant. If taxpayers don't ask questions they aren't paying attention to where their money is being used. Yes, it is THEIR money. If I gave my kids $400./month I'd like to have a pretty good idea what they are doing with it. Now I'm giving it to a small group of basically strangers and why wouldn't I ask how it's being used?
DeleteAgreed!
ReplyDeleteMs garrido has now tried three times to be on the school board. She has been intervied twice. After her first interview the seat was given to the other person, within a week or two another seat became available. Why was ms garrido not contacted? At the school board meeting a few weeks ago a statement was made "no one has put in for it if someone does they've got it" they did have a candidate ms garrido to have her put in again be interviewd again with mr ford putting in for the seat after he resigned from the boro board for health reasons smells bad. Ms garrido will bring diversity to the board we have a large diverse student body. I do not believe that the community of columbia has a racial problem but i am beginning to wonder about the school board.
ReplyDeleteThe vote being stalled certainly seemed odd too. Looks discriminatory.
DeleteLittle tommy did not get his dream job 4 years ago. Mr. Hollister picked him out from all the rest, this time, even though he was unqualified and uncertified , and now he has his dream job and Mr. Hollister appears to be protecting him. It sure seems like they are connected in some way.... and that they are both benefitting financially at taxpayers expense. Hopefully this debacle for our town has a happy ending as these two characters leave town for good.
ReplyDelete