CASD superintendent’s campaign gift draws fire

(Chambersburg) – A contribution to his favored slate of school board candidates this spring by Chambersburg Area School District Superintendent Joseph Padasak did not go unnoticed by the opposition.

The superintendent’s contribution of $250 to the “Committee for Excellence in Education” is not likely to impose any great stress to his checking account. However, since the candidates he supported all lost their primary election bids, his support may color the future picture. One candidate says Padasak’s contribution was illegal.

While comment from Joan Smith and Alexander Sharpe were incisive and bluntly critical, others reflected lesser degrees of disapproval. None were supportive of the superintendent’s perceived judgment.

Padasak’s gift to the “Committee for Excellence in Education” political action committee was the second largest contribution the group received and represents 13 percent of the PAC’s total fund raising.

William Lennartz, Mark Schur and Alexander Sharpe are all on a course to join the board in 2016. Another newcomer will be the winner of the general election between Kevin Mintz and Bill Fosnot. Padasak backed incumbents Stanley Helman and Kim Amsley-Camp and candidates Stephen Gaugler and Darrell Snyder — all of whom lost to candidates of the opposing group, “Committee for Common $ense.”

Board members Dana Baker and Smith attended “Committee for Common $ense” campaign events and endorsed the PAC’s agenda.

“Common $ense” candidates campaigned on increased transparency and more conservative spending — frequently leveling criticism at Padasak for his style and performance. Defeated incumbents Helman and Amsley-Camp backed Padasak in most cases.

Sharpe said Padasak’s financial support violates state law and that CASD is a district “run amok.”

Sharpe said Pennsylvania’s School Code Section 2-217 says “(i)t shall be unlawful for any member of or any board of school directors to demand, request, or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift or donation from any teacher or supervisor within its employ. “

The clause suggests incumbents Helman and Amsley-Camp are the guilty parties for accepting, but Sharpe puts the blame at Padasak’s feet.

“I am appalled at the behavior of those charged with leading this district,” Sharpe said. “Whether or not it was unlawful for Padasak to give the money, he should know the School Code and know that directors can’t receive money from him. He teaches school law — he should know better. Needless to say, this wasn’t a good idea.

“Poor judgment runs amok at CASD,” he added. “The chief executive violates the law he is charged with keeping and the second-in-command (Assistant Superintendent Billy Hodge) is arrested for DUI with a BAC of .214. What is a district to do?”

Helman said he had no knowledge of Padasak’s contribution until he read it in the newspaper. He said it would have made no difference in any event.

“My decisions are made only on the basis of what I believe is right,” Helman said.

Sharpe said it’s still possible for the incoming board members to work with Padasak.

“His present actions have given me reason to question his judgment,” Sharpe said. “But, if he recognizes that he works for the board, and is willing to execute the duties of his office with integrity, including valuing people, then there will be no problems, at least for me, in his working for the board in the future. Only he really knows why he campaigned for four (candidates) at the expense of cordially working with a new five.”

Lennartz said Padasak supported the losing ticket in an effort to maintain the status quo.

“His motives are simple, he doesn’t want the ship to turn around,” Lennartz said. “He wants to maintain the status quo and he knows he’s not going to have it with the new board members coming in. He won’t have the same influence or control as he does with the current board.”

Lennartz said change is inevitable.

“Our (Candidates for Common $ense) job is to turn this ship around, so it doesn’t matter if he contributed to the other side or not,” he said. “We are going to start treating people better and we are going to have better oversight of the budget just for starters.”

Kevin Mintz, a Democrat who is opposed by Republican Bill Fosnot for the Region 9 seat being vacated by Anne Boryan, said he respects Padasak’s right to choose, but questions his approach.

“I respect the right of a private citizen supporting whomever they wish to support in an election,” Mintz said.

But, he added, “Public figures should consider the message that may be sent by their support of a candidate.”

Mintz said his work as a board member, if elected, will not be influenced by Padasak’s preference of candidates.

“I do not wish to speculate on his motives and would rather focus on the needs of the students of CASD,” he said.” “My working relationship with Dr. Padasak will not be impacted by whom he supported in the primary, the needs of CASD are my primary concern.”

Smith, who is in her first term on the CASD board, is less forgiving.

“There is no way that I can trust the superintendent and his thought process. What possesses a man of his stature to think that laying (money) out to the ‘Committee for Excellence in Education’ would be a good idea unless he truly has an agenda that can only get passed by the other side?”

She went on say the superintendent would have been wise to keep his preferences to himself.

“Did he not realize that he would possibly have to work with the team for ‘Common $ense’ and what the upcoming board might feel as a result of this,” she asked? “I believe Dr. Padasak should of remained neutral in this matter.”

Like Lennartz, Smith suggested change is in the wind.

“December will be a time of cleaning house on the board, no more back door deals,” she said. “The teachers and other administrators and community should feel like it’s an early Christmas.”

Schur prefaced his remarks with a reference to the much-criticized CASD board decision in May to rehire the legal firm of Black and Davison, citing Baker’s comment, “This may not be unethical, but it sure is inappropriate.”

Schur attached that observation to Padasak’s choice to contribute to a particular slate of candidates.

“The decision makes me question his judgment,” Schur said. “To be clear, my concern is not about his selection of supporting one candidate or another, rather the decision to participate publicly or actively or not. This same question of judgment applies to all in higher levels of administration who actively participated, be it attending one PAC rally, going door to door, or (displaying) a campaign sign in their yard.”

Schur said during his campaign he met CASD employees who declined to put signs in their yard.

“Their decision may have been driven by ensuring an appearance of public impartiality, policy, or out of fear of retribution, but regardless of their reason, I applaud and respect their judgment,” Schur said.

He insists he will not be swayed by the superintendent’s electoral position.

“School board directors need to work objectively and without regard to which candidate a person wanted to win. I will not allow my objectivity to drop to the same level that I hear exists within various areas of the district. A person cannot be labeled as not being a team player and marginalized because they have a different opinion. Culture change is key to improvement.

Incumbent directors Carl Barton, Rob Floyd Jr. and Ed Norcross, who are not up for election this year, were the least exorcised.

Barton said, “I’m not particularly concerned about it. I think it’s up to the public to form their opinion. I’m sure there will be those on each side. I don’t see anyone being vindictive about it or trying to get him fired or make his life terrible.”

Floyd said, “I have nothing to say.”

Norcross said he can’t be sure how the community will process the news, but added, “The perception this could create is my concern. I’m ready to move past the election and work with the new board.”

Other candidates and incumbent directors could not be reached for comment. Despite attempts to reach Padasak over the phone and through emails, he did not respond to a request for comment.

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This article comes to us through a partnership between Public Opinion Online and WITF.