Longtime head of Highlands School Board loses bid to retain presidency

Debbie Beale has been a member of the Highlands School Board for nearly a quarter of a century, with half of that spent as its president.

But the new school board that was seated on Tuesday ousted Beale from her post as president, and any other leadership position.

The board chose Misty Chybrzynski, 39, of Harrison to replace Beale as president.

In recent years, Beale has been the focus of ire from residents angered by issues including a reconfiguration of the district’s schools, the closing of the district’s elementary school in Fawn, the district’s budget and finances, and the change of bus contractor from W.L. Roenigk to ABC Transit.

Some residents also have been concerned about a perceived lack of transparency from the board and district.

Beale’s seat wasn’t up for election this year, but the nine-member board gained four new members.

Beale, 65, of Brackenridge also was nominated for vice president and treasurer. But those positions went to Bobbie Neese, an incumbent school director, and Laura Butler, one of the four newly elected this year, respectively.

District Judge Carolyn Bengel administered the oath of office to new members Gene Witt, Kelli Canonge, Kristie Babinsack and Butler, and to Judy Wisner, the only reelected incumbent.

Michael Masarik, Jeff Mundy, Heath Cohen and Michelle Peters left the board.

Peters had been vice president under Beale.

Chybrzynski was chosen as president on a 6-3 vote. Robert Betts and Wisner voted with Beale for her as president, and those three voted against Chybrzynski.

Those who voted with Chybrzynski for president and against Beale were Neese, Witt, Canonge, Babinsack and Butler.

Beale, who during the meeting addressed Chybrzynski as “madam president,” said she was fine with how the board reorganized.

“They know I’m here to support them,” she said.

Beale’s seat will be up for election in 2021, along with Betts, Chybrzynski and Neese.

Chybrzynski is a community development supervisor for the Allegheny Family Network and a former spokeswoman for the district. She said she’s excited to get started.

“I’m really excited to work with the new board members and the current board members,” she said. “Everybody is bringing a lot to the table.”

Among other appointments for 2020, Canonge was named the board’s liaison to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and Butler is the representative to the Forbes Road Career & Technology Center, with Beale as an alternate. Those votes were unanimous.

There was no change made to the board’s regular meetings. They will continue to be held at 7 p.m. on the second and third Monday of each month in the library at Highlands High School, unless that date falls on a holiday.

The board discussed moving the meeting to another room but ultimately decided to keep it in the library, which may be rearranged to better accommodate the public.