The Susquehanna Township school board votes to appoint a new acting superintendent, but not without controversy. The current acting superintendent's resignation takes effect Wednesday, and some board members think the district is rushing the decision. This superintendent vacancy happened because Jeffrey Miller, who has served as the district's acting superintendent since May, did not like the way school board elections went. Tuesday night, the board voted to appoint a new acting superintendent, Richard Daubert. But at one point it looked like the district wasn't going to have a superintendent going into the New Year.
Should the board vote to appoint a new acting superintendent Tuesday night or wait until winter break is over? The Susquehanna Township school board debated the issue back and forth. Ultimately the board voted 6 to 3 to appoint Daubert at a salary of $575.00 a day. But that didn't come without backlash.
"We're going down the wrong road. I will cut it there but we're going down the wrong road and I think that it's the wrong move to make," says Jesse Rawls, a board member.
Board member, Jesse Rawls, doesn't think Daubert is fit for the job.
"We in a crisis situation here. I think we need someone with experience," says Rawls.
At stake is the district's future. There have been a variety of issues in the district including academics and how the administration handled a sexual assault investigation involving a former assistant principal and special needs student. Some wanted to wait to make a decision.
"I think that there were questions still outstanding. From what I understand Mr. Daubert will do a fine job but there were just still some questions," says board member, Mark Sussman.
Board president, Carol Karl, says there's a short window to fill the position.
"Mr. Daubert, I am very confident, will be able to help us to move forward and lead us as Mr. Edwards said, in a collaborative way," says Karl.
Richard Daubert will serve as acting superintendent until May when the board is expected to appoint a permanent superintendent. But, in the meantime, former superintendent, Susan Kegerise, has a pending lawsuit in Dauphin County court. She's suing the district and three school board members claiming she was physically intimidated and verbally abused. In November a judge ordered her to be reinstated with back pay. But, the school board appealed that decision.
Depending on what happens next, Kegerise could Daubert's term short and return to her position as superintendent. Both sides will state their case on a phone conference expected to happen on January 7th.