Tom Strickler to be named new district superintendent?
The Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting agenda for this coming Thursday, November 2, includes a motion to approve the hiring of Tom Strickler as District Superintendent effective January 1, 2018.
Strickler was hired amid controversy in August of 2016 by the Eastern Lancaster County School District as director of operations for the Columbia Borough School District. ELANCO Superintendent Dr. Robert Hollister has been acting superintendent for Columbia since 2016.
In a recent email, Hollister stated that he fully endorses the decision to consider Strickler as the next superintendent, citing his commitment to the Columbia Borough School District.
In a recent email, Hollister stated that he fully endorses the decision to consider Strickler as the next superintendent, citing his commitment to the Columbia Borough School District.
Tom Strickler
[Columbia Spy file photo]
Comments
https://columbianewsandviews.com/2012/09/21/education-degree-no-longer-needed-to-be-school-chief/
Since when does Hollister get to pick the next Superintendent?
A school director who has served two (2) consecutive terms may be elected to the position of attorney or solicitor for the Board of which s/he was a member by unanimous vote of all of the other members of the Board and, after resigning as a school director, shall be entitled to such pay as solicitor as the Board shall determine."
A school director may, after resigning from office, be elected to the position of teacher by the Board of which s/he was a member by a vote of a least two-thirds of all other members of the Board and shall be entitled to such pay as a teacher as the Board shall determine.
In other words, if you were elected to the school board yesterday for a four year seat and you resign tomorrow, you cannot be hired as a janitor, secretary, etc. for at least four years. Same is true for the two year seat. Now consider something...if he ran for the four year term...it is my interpretation that this is a clear violation of the Ethics law. Any lawyers out there want to refute it? If he ran for the two year term it is not a violation and well, we are screwed once again by the yes men. However, if he ran for the two year term...Don't you think that is awful suspicious? Everyone claims this idea of a shared Superintendent only came up during the 2016 school year about 3 months after the election. You need to file your intentions in February of the year of the election. In this case, February, 2015. So if Strickler, always having run for a 4 year term, all of sudden decides to only run for a two year term.. Hmmmmm...Makes you wonder when this idea was really concocted and kept under wraps until the right time, doesn't it? This also bought him time to complete his masters. And lastly, wow he gets voted in officially just after the two year term is up!! How convenient! If I was a sitting school board member, I would vote no until someone showed me definitive proof that all is well with the Ethics Act. If not a violation, I'd still vote no. Why ain't I on the board to do this? Well... I work 2nd shift or I would. But I will let you decide.
Please talk to your friends , people that you trust, and find out the truth before your vote.
This is a setup like playing away from home with bad officiating.
Please do not allow one person to use you for their personal gain at the expense of our town and many of us who also bleed crimson and gold.
Am so glad my children go to Catholic High and that Strickler will never have power over their education.
Is there any other Superintendent in the State who has a degree from Big Bird online university???
Did this policy change for Strickler or does the current board not know there own policy?
Who were the other candidates who were less qualified than Strickler, if that is even a remote possibility.
Were there any interviews or was Strickler the only candidate?
We keep shooting ourselves in the foot...one step forward and 2 steps back.
This is embarrassing to our town, our schools ,our teachers , and our entire community.
I feel sorry for board members who are that easily manipulated by one person for personal gain.
Well I think on average his jobs only last about a year...
I'm not defending him, nor do I agree agree with this decision, however, ignorance is bliss and majority of Columbia is choosing to remain ignorant on this.