Divided Norwin board can't agree on school district pick
The two factions of the eight-member Norwin School Board could not agree this week on any of four candidates to replace a school director who died this month, setting up the possibility the decision could go to a Westmoreland County judge.
The school board failed to give any of the four candidates five favorable votes.
The board’s two factions were evenly split on appointing Emily Gindlesperger and former directors Fran Bevan and Robert Perkins, in the attempt to replace Joanna Jordan, who died Aug. 1. An appointed board member would only serve the remainder of Jordan’s term, which expires in December.
Directors Christine Baverso, Alex Detschelt, Shawna Ilagan and Robert Wayman supported Bevan and Gindlesperger, while Darlene Ciocca, William Essay, Raymond Kocak and Patrick Lynn opposed them. Perkins, a school board president who retired from the board in 2019, got the support of Ciocca, Essay, Kocak and Lynn, but was opposed by the others.
An attempt to reconsider Bevan also failed to get five votes. Wayman argued for Bevan, saying she is a former board member, a former township commissioner and a friend of Jordan’s. He said it would be appropriate to replace Jordan with another woman.
Gindlesperger, who has a vision deficiency, told the board she tried to apply for the opening but was stymied by an incorrect email on the school district website. Ciocca said she had disqualified Gindlesperger because she had not applied by the Aug. 18 deadline, but the board decided after a discussion to permit her candidacy to go forward.
Following the meeting, school officials said Gindlesperger’s email was submitted after the deadline for applying for the opening.
Former Norwin High School Principal Timothy Kotch was opposed by five members. He is running for a seat on the board in the November election.
Solicitor Russell Lucas said the board can reconsider trying to appoint someone at the Sept. 11 meeting, but a resident can petition Westmoreland County Court to select a board member. If that occurs, the court would advertise for candidates, giving anyone 30 days to apply for the appointment.
The last time the court appointed a Norwin School Board director was when Essay was selected in 2019.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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