Gateway School Board member resigns; separate maskless section created for meeting

Gateway school board member the Rev. Scott Gallagher has resigned from his elected post to spend more time on his congregation.

Gallagher, 49, has served as the pastor of Garden City United Methodist Church for more than 20 years.

He was in the second year of his first four-year term on school board.

Gallagher submitted his letter of resignation Sept. 20.

The remaining board members accepted it Sept. 27. Gallagher was not in attendance.

Superintendent William Short read a statement on Gallagher’s behalf.

In it, the reverend said he ran for school board “under the umbrella of deep prayer and discernment” and in an effort to help district students.

He talked about the pandemic and its challenges on both the district and on his church, and how the ministry is moving forward.

“I have always worked diligently to keep my vocation separate from my work as a school board director,” Gallagher’s statement read. “Now as pastor, I have a greater obligation to help the congregation I serve. … I must fully invest in fulfilling my calling.”

Gallagher also commended Gateway administration, staff and his colleagues for the work they’ve done in his short term.

Prior to his clerical work, Gallagher served in the U.S. Navy, worked in construction and as a auto mechanic. He holds degrees in philosophy and history from California University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in divinity and doctorate in ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary.

“Scott served admirably,” board member Rick McIntyre said after the meeting. “It’s going to be a very difficult seat to fill. Scott’s one of the finest people I’ve ever met in my life.”

Board president Brian Goppman also thanked Gallagher for his service to the district.

“He’s been a very valued member of Gateway, a very valued member of the community,” Goppman said.

Whoever is appointed to fill the vacancy will serve through the first Monday of December 2023.

District Solicitor Bruce Dice said the seat will not be converted to a two-year seat in November because the resignation occurred within 60 days of the next municipal election.

The vacancy is expected to be posted on the district’s website. People can submit letters of interest to the district office, 9000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Gallagher’s resignation could have been accepted Sept. 20, but that meeting was adjourned prior to any action being taken due to a mask issue with the audience and several board members walking out.

Before that meeting, the crowd was reminded of the state mandate to wear a mask in Pennsylvania school buildings. A few in attendance pushed back, with one woman ignoring pleas for her to follow the mandate. Shouts of freedoms being overlooked were met with a chant of “Escort her out,” directed at the woman refusing to wear a mask.

The meeting was then adjourned after four board members left. It never officially began.

At the Sept. 27 meeting, there was a portion of the high school auditorium reserved for attendees who did not want to wear a mask.

There was also a separate microphone in the section.

Most of the attendees wearing masks sat closer to the stage and used the microphone closest to the board.

The meeting was also available via Zoom.

Masks and face shields were available as people walked into the auditorium.

Goppman said the district tried to make all accommodations possible in order to conduct business and avoid another rescheduling.