Pocono News Section

First Meeting Held by New North Schuylkill School Board

First Meeting Held by New North Schuylkill School Board - Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 9:45PM EST

Reported by: Candice Kelly
Thursday, Jun 25, 2009 @ 09:45pm EST
ASHLAND, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- There's a new school board in Schuylkill County in a "first of its kind" controversy in Pennsylvania.

Nearly all of the North Schuylkill School Board members were removed this week. A judge ordered them to step down. Thursday night four of the new members had their first meeting, and are already hard at work.

It was a school board meeting unlike any other in the state. Four people, appointed by a judge, became the newest members of the North Schuylkill School District board.

They were seated two days after the entire board was practically wiped out by order of a judge.

The one person left, 22-year-old Robert Orth, is left to pick up the pieces. "To be thrust into that position is nerve-wracking, overwhelming as you can imagine. And it's compounded by the fact that I'm already, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one of the youngest school board members," said Orth.

Tuesday, a judge ruled eight members can no longer serve on the board after serious allegations.

Some people in the district are upset over the placement of Interim Superintendemt Mark Semanchik, who was the School Board Solicitor.

They say he's unqualified and that the board destroyed qualified candidate applications. "For them to leave, I'm very sad to see it happen, but that's a judicial action, it doesn't concern me at all," said Orth.

He met with state Department of Education officials to map out an immediate plan of action. The district still has to pass its nearly 24-million dollar budget by July 1st.

Adding to the complication is an incomplete school board. "If it's a five member board you would only need three as the majority, but if it’s a 9 member board you would only need 5 as a majority but since there are four vacancies you would need a unanimous vote," he said.

Even with many questions still up in the air and time running out, Orth vows to keep the community in mind.