ATGLEN, PA — Octorara Area School District has become a battleground of power, politics, and legal complexities. At the heart of this controversy is board member Anthony Falgiatore, who broke his silence at a recent board meeting held on March 18, 2024.
Falgiatore read a public statement, addressing his concerns about a contentious email he received from a former board member, Brian Fox. According to Falgiatore, this email, which he asserts is now a public record, was not only directed at him personally but also contained legal interpretations and demands for responses.
The email apparently ties in with a private lawsuit involving various board directors and individuals. Falgiatore, who isn’t a defendant in this lawsuit, declined to respond to Fox’s email. Instead, he encouraged those seeking information to consult their private counsel. Furthermore, he urged anyone with knowledge of actions against him and his wife – which he classified as slander, defamation, libel, and witness intimidation – to contact Detective Juisti of the East Pikeland Township Police Department.
Falgiatore also pointed out his dual role as a commissioned law enforcement officer, which grants him additional legal protections. He referred to Section 2719a of Pennsylvania’s Crime Code but didn’t elaborate further. Falgiatore’s statement hints at a deeper board-wide issue involving legal entanglements and power struggles – the narrative just kept getting more convoluted.
Board member Jere Zimmerman, in response, suggested the inclusion of Fox’s email in the meeting’s minutes and questioned the lawsuit’s impact on the district’s resources. Zimmerman seems to support transparency and public understanding of the case’s nuances.
The controversy comes amidst numerous issues plaguing the Octorara Area School District. A federal lawsuit made headlines when John Ryan Miller alleged that board members and employees of the district had conspired to violate his constitutional rights. The district’s policy at school board meetings to require speakers’ names and addresses became a contentious point in this lawsuit.
Another point of contention surfaced when Falgiatore opposed the district’s payment of attorney’s fees for the lawsuit’s defense. He argued that the board members were being sued as private individuals, not representatives of the district.
Meanwhile, the district grapples with contentious transgender policies, potential violations of Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act, allegations of public notice requirements not being met, and a controversial 2023 school district election.
Adding to the district’s troubled landscape is the tragic loss of Sam Ganow, the school board president, in a plane crash on February 2, 2024. His demise led to a deadlock during a board meeting, reflecting a tense struggle between tradition and change within the board.
In the wake of these controversies, the community held its breath as Lisa Bowman withdrew her candidacy for a board seat on February 28, 2024. This move cleared the path for Daniel Jurich to take the reins. Faced with high taxes, controversies, and the hope for transparency and solutions, the community looks to Jurich for leadership and positive change.
In the succeeding months, the board’s actions will be under close scrutiny. Whether this will result in a resolution or further complication is a question only time will answer.
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