The North Penn Board of School Directors.
Editor’s note: the following is a joint editorial submission from the North Penn Board of School Directors regarding the current state of discourse at public meetings both locally and across the country.
The unintended effects of the pandemic on our schools have caused great frustration, not just in our district, but also across our neighboring communities. It is part of a wider nationwide trend of otherwise united communities now showing signs of increased incivility. This transition from unity to a stark rise in incivility, intimidation, and threats has sadly appeared in our own community meetings. Just over a year ago, we all rallied behind the hashtag #NorthPennStrong and were thrilled to see community members wearing our favorite North Penn Strong T-shirt.
Things feel different now, but we must unite and recommit ourselves to supporting our students and fellow community members.
Recently, a candidate running for the office of county executive in the Lehigh Valley even threatened to take over school board meetings with “20 strong men to remove school board directors” that have imposed mask mandates. There was another school board meeting in Tennessee where protestors threatened a medical professional who spoke in favor of a mask mandate. There have also been tension-filled, disruptive meetings closer to home, while some of our own recent North Penn meetings have mirrored a similar lack of civility.
Our own school buildings have been vandalized at the same time aggressive online comments and conspiracies have increased.
School board directors are elected to serve as unpaid, volunteer public servants. We have been called “scumbags,” “parasites” and “vermin,” told that we are child abusers, greedy, stealing public tax dollars, and so much more. We call on all of you to stand with us and demand that the demonization and dehumanization of public servants in communities nationwide is not something this community will accept. Because you know that while serving as elected school board members, we are also your neighbors — we are parents, grandparents, business owners, civil servants, educators and committed community volunteers.
We have served our country and our community long before we ran to serve on the school board, and we will continue to serve our community long after.
We value public education and advocate on behalf of all of our North Penn students. Some of our favorite moments are handing out diplomas and the commendations for student successes before board meetings. We jump at the opportunity to serve as guest readers or after school club speakers when invited by teachers and students. We happily dine out or do what we can to support our Home and School Associations when we are asked. We cheer with all of our might for our sports teams, our band, happily lead the standing ovation for our student thespians, and shake the hands of each of our graduates.
Any individual in the community has the right to speak at our meeting, and as representatives of this entire community, this board will remain dignified and steadfast defenders of decorum which reflects core community values of decency and respect for all. We have always valued parent engagement and open communication. This is how we define participatory leadership. But sadly, the current use of public comment has crossed a line and has moved from being productive to being threatening and hostile.
We must work together to restore productive, meaningful conversations.
It is important for the North Penn community to not fall into a downward spiral of incivility that demeans public service and, ultimately, degrades the strength of our community, which resides in compromise and consensus. Directors are here to serve the community, and we can respectfully disagree on critical issues while setting a better example for our children.
We would also ask those that are seeking to serve the community in public office to denounce this type of divisive rhetoric, especially when it is before you in the meetings you attend. We are confident we can all agree that such incivility has no place here in North Penn School District.
Signed,
North Penn School Board of Directors
Tina Stoll, Christian Fusco, Jonathan Kassa, Julianne Ramic, Elisha Gee, Ed.D, Tim MacBain, Wanda Lewis- Campbell, Ed.D, Cathy Wesley and Al Roesch
See also:
Editorial: Academic Facilities Before Sports Facilities — It’s Time to Reprioritize North Penn
Editorial: Redistricting Advocates' Priorities Remain Unclear
Editorial: Recognizing the Opportunities Presented by North Montco for Students, Community at Large
Editorial: Commissioner Gale Responds to Montco Employee Vaccine Mandate
