At the Columbia Borough school board’s committee of the whole meeting tonight to approve Tom Strickler, its current director of operations as the district’s next superintendent; please VOTE NO!
Assuming board approval, Tom Strickler would replace Bob Hollister, who has presided over Eastern Lancaster County and Columbia Borough school districts since the 2016-17 school year.
The move would go into effect Jan. 1, one month before the superintendent agreement between Elanco and Columbia officially ends.
“CBSD and the community are fortunate that Tom is willing to step into the role in a district that is fraught with challenges.” said Hollister. if you do not look for a more qualified candidate of course you will not find one. Bottom line qualification for this position is teaching experience and then administrative experience. This is not the way a functioning board hires a superintendent.
Sep 20, 2017, Holister said, “Columbia’s finances are more secure than they were a year ago. Columbia students have more technology at their disposal.”
Schools are not judged on finances they are judged on academic success. The Hollister/Strickler team is a failure as cited by Lancaster newspapers 2 days ago (chart).
Other failures:
Elanco, which was paid nearly $450,000 last year by Columbia,
Columbia high school principal leaving one month in
Business manager Amy Light's resignation,
Hollister described other concerns, such as Columbia's initial resistance to Strickler; this is not resolved it continues
Six board members stepped down in the past year
Hollister’s reinvigorated curriculum seems not to be working
Vickie Kronenwetter
According to the Elanco agreement, they will be paid a finders fee of $25,000 for finding Strickler for Columbia.
ReplyDeleteEven in today's wacky world of ethics violations...this one really stands out.
This is not over by any stretch of Strickler's imagination.
ReplyDeleteOUR DUTY AS CITIZENS IS TO FILE MORE ETHICS VIOLATION INQUIRES WITH THE STATE UNTIL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GUILTY ARE CHARGED.
CALL AND EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.. WEAR THEM OUT WITH COMMUNICATION UNTIL THIS FLAGRANT VIOLATION IS CORRECTED.... CALL PDE..TELL THEM THAT THIS MAN SHOULD NEVER BE APPROVED BY THE STATE....THIS FIASCO CIRCUMVENTS THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW.
CONTACT THE AUDITOR GENERAL.
THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PLACE.
Thank you Vickie for taking the time to write this. You words are the sentiments of many in this community on this subject.
ReplyDeleteEver consider the representatives may be part of the plan to install him?
ReplyDeleteThe whole Strickler situation stinks.It sounds like a underhanded deal.
ReplyDeleteWas this position ever advertised? If so, where. If Strickler is hired,it shows the board does not want to take the job seriously.Also, if the $102.000 is correct,how did board base the salary. People deserve answers.
ReplyDeleteWrite, call. email PDE....only PDE can stop this travesty before Jan 1st.
ReplyDeleteEmbarrassing vote tonight...Another reason Columbia pride has slipped away.....
Hope Strickler does not celebrate too soon.
ReplyDeletePeople are upset....legislators listen to upset people.
This is not over.
Merge with Donegal
ReplyDelete