- Owen J. Roberts School District
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The Owen J. Roberts School District is a school district located in northern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The school district comprises five elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school. The student population for the entire district is around 4,800 students.
The school district, which is located in Bucktown, covers an area of 110 square miles (280 km2) in 7 townships. Recently the district completed construction on a newly renovated middle school and a new elementary school.
Contents
Notable alumni
Sports
During the 2008-2009 school year, Owen J. Roberts got to celebrate many Pac-10 Championships:
- Boys Basketball-Pac 10 Champs (First Ever)
- Boys Track-Pac 10 Champs (First Ever)
- Baseball-Pac 10 Champs
- Softball-Pac 10 Champs
- Boys Soccer-Pac 10 Champs
- Boys Lacrosse-Pac 10 Champs
- Girls Tennis-Pac 10 Champs
- Girls Swimming-Pac 10 Champs
- Girls Soccer
Although the Football team ended the season in second place, they were able to advance into the second round of districts through a wild card spot.
Summer of the Fab 5
During the summer of 2009, the Owen J. Roberts school board made headlines when they decided to fire former superintendent Dr. Myra Forest in a late night split decision vote. The firing caused a summer of controversy, anger and frustration that will most likely never be forgotten in the community. The local newspaper had an article on the school board's activities almost everyday and new state legislation was also introduced to prevent another school board like Owen J.'s. The school board's actions broke its own policies almost every meeting.
School Board Members
- Edward Kerner (Board President)
- Debbie Bissland
- John Dutton
- Eugene Endress
- Karen Zelley
Board Minority:
- Barbara McMeekin
- Eric Scheib
- Rosemary Billinski
- William Lacoff
Controversial Events February- The board voted 6-3 to eliminate the district newsletter, The Advocate.
March- Edward Kerner makes a motion to hire five new girls lacrosse coaches, none of whom appeared on a list of coaches recommended by administrators. After an executive session, the board approved 3 of those coaches. Later that meeting a motion in the agenda called for the stop of videotaping board meetings. March also saw the school board clash with former superintendent Dr. Myra Forest over superintendent goals dealing with budget. The board voted 5-4 to lower the budget increase from 2-2.7 to 0-2.7.
April- The school board voted 5-4 to approve the 2009-2010 school year calendar. However, the calendar scheduled all teacher in-service days before the school year even began. This drew strong opposition from the teacher union. The board also voted to keep the renovated middle school closed during the 2009-2010 school year, even though it was expected to be completed in October 2009. Forest objected to the decision.
June 22, 2009- The most controversial vote of the summer came towards the end of a meeting on the night of June 22, 2009 when Board President Edward Kerner made a surprise, end of the meeting motion to fire Superintendent Dr. Myra Forest. The board voted 5-4 to terminate Forest without cause and become effective immediately. Kerner released a statement saying that the firing would save taxpayers money. However, the board still had to pay for Forest's 2009-2010 salary as well as the new superintendents salary for that year.
The days following June 22, 2009- The vote sent the community into shock and outrage. Students and residents participated in protests and rallies. Petitions were circulated, parents held meetings, Facebook groups were started and other internet forums were created in preparation for an "emergency" school board meeting to find a new superintendent 7 days later.
June 29, 2009- Before the 7pm meeting Bucktown was buzzing with every media outlet in the region, rallies and marches. A student rally was held in Warwick County park where students preparing to show up at the meeting gathered. At the rally, t-shirts, signs and banners were made to bring to the High School, a pep talk was also given by area residents leading the gatherings. The neighborhood across from the campus also held a rally where residents and students held signs up towards the cars passing by and eventually marched up to the school.
The meeting originally planned to be held in the high school's L.G.I, was moved to the auditorium. When the meeting began an estimated 1,200 people were crammed into the auditorium. When Dr. Myra Forest entered the auditorium, she was greeted with a 7 minute standing ovation. The board, that originally planned on discussing options for a new superintendent, were bombarded with students, parents and relatives pleading the board rescind their vote. Throughout the meeting that spanned nearly 7 hours long, school board members were harassed for their actions, tears were shed, board members fought amongst each other, and accusations were brought to the public of the "Fab 5's" secret agenda. After several failed motions by McMeekin, the meeting ended at 1:30am.
July- The board announced plans to hire a new acting superintendent, however, the meeting was cancelled when a resident from East Coventry township filed for a temporary injunction of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. The injunction was later declined. Myra Forest also filed a federal lawsuit against the school district and the five members who voted to fire her. Her lawsuit included page upon page of new details about the "Fab 5", especially Edward Kerner who was accused of being racist and sexist.
August- The school board voted 5-4 to hire former North Coventry Elementary principal and popular resident, Dr. Barry Flicker as acting superintendent. Both the public and board minority objected to the decision. However, 9 days later, Flicker resigned following a board meeting where he and the board were questioned on the hiring. Flicker donated his $600 per diem to the Roberts Education Foundation.
Towards late August, the board voted in former Pottstown superintendent, Ray Feick, also earning $600 a day.
September- Feick began advertising for a new superintendent to begin in late October 2009. New drama increased in September as parents and residents questioned Feick's experience in the modern education setting. The board minority also complained that they have not received knowledge of information that the "Fab 5" has learned. This was often displayed during meetings when the 4 member minority would be furious over the lack of communication between the "Fab 5," solicitor and the "minority 4." Residents and community members also spent September pleading with the school board to let the new incoming board hire the new superintendent.
October-The personal committee selected 6 out of the 15 applicants for the superintendent's position. The applicants went through several session's with the board, students, residents and the public. The fighting continued throughout the month of October between both sides of the board.
November-Six new board members were elected. This election served as a light at the end of the tunnel for residents who have been fighting a war since the beginning of the year. However, the "Fab 5" continued on its path, naming Dr. Joel DiBartolomeo as new superintendent. The board also voted 5-4 to award Feick with an 8,000 dollar bonus for conducting the superintendent search. Feick stated that he was promised the bonus when he was hired but this was never voted on and once again the board minority was not aware of this.
December-December was the first positive month the school district and community saw in nearly a year because the new board members replacing the "Fab 5" were sworn in. Dr. DiBartolomeo presented an entry plan for the transition between board members and invited all interested citizens to become involved with the plan.
In May 2009, the board did come through with their goal and approved a budget that was only a .62% increase. However, the cost of the legal fees, emotional damage and loss of reputation after that was far greater than any would believe. Throughout this span of events, www.thefactsaboutojrsd.com was the headquarters of information for parents and residents. Since 6-24-09, the site has received over 94,000 hits.
Senator Andrew Dinniman created new legislation to help prevent any future "lame duck" school boards in the state.
External links
Categories:- School districts in Chester County, Pennsylvania
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