WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board on Wednesday agreed to set up a $33,000 educational fund to settle claims raised by the parents of a special education student.
The terms of the settlement were discussed in executive session before the board’s regular meeting and later released by Assistant Solicitor Raymond Wendolowski at the end of the meeting without comment by board members.
The names of the parents and the student were blackened out in the agreement provided to the public.
The fund will be used to pay for the student’s instruction, evaluations and consultations by certified psychologists, therapists and behavioral specialists, among other expenses. The fund is to be maintained by the district until the money is depleted or the student turns 21.
Under the terms of the settlement, neither the parents nor the district admitted being at fault. The district also agreed to pay up to $8,000 to attorneys Michael Dempsey and Harry McGrath of the Lenahan and Dempsey firm, which represented the parents.
During the public comment period Ryan Wojtowicz of Ashley and Steve Smith of Pittston raised concerns about the district’s seeking out minority applicants for teaching positions.
The two men said they objected to the Ron Felton of the NAACP speaking at last month’s meeting to push his “agenda” of hiring minority teachers.
In response to Felton providing the board with the resumes of what he said were three qualified candidates, Superintendent Jeff Namey said they would be at the top of the list when screening begins for the next school year.
“That’s completely anti-white,” said Wojtowicz of the priority treatment given to the minority applicants.
But Namey said that “if a minority applicant is not as qualified as any other applicant, they would not be considered.”
The majority of teachers in the district are white while the number of minority students continues to grow, Namey said. For that reason more role models are needed for the minority population, he added.
Smith was not sold on Namey’s explanation.
“Diversity is not a strength,” said Smith.
The board sat silent on the hiring of minority, however, it voted unanimously to send a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett expressing its opposition to his proposed cuts in basic education. The district is looking at a loss of between $7 million and $8 million in state funds under the governor’s budget.
“We know there should be some cuts, but not at this level,” said board member Gary Polakoski.
