Southmoreland School Board censures director, adjusts livestream policy amid controversial comments

Southmoreland School Board voted this week to censure a member and stop livestreaming its meetings.

The board removed comments made by School Director Catherine Fike from its Sept. 16 meeting recording.

Fike, a retired school psychologist and veteran member of the school board, “disclosed confidential student information about a district student without authorization,” according to a letter the board signed and approved Tuesday.

The letter said that Fike “made such disclosure in a false and misleading manner intended, by her own admission, to place another board member in a negative light to impact the upcoming municipal election.”

Fike made headlines amid the covid-19 pandemic in 2021 for wearing a paper bag on her head during a school board meeting in place of a mask.

Board Vice President Stephanie Geyer — who is running for reelection in November — said in a social media post Friday that her daughter was the subject of Fike’s comments Sept. 16. Geyer could not be reached for comment via email.

Geyer said in the post that she shared personal information about her daughter — including her mental health and decision to transfer to cyber school — during a committee meeting several months ago. The meeting was not recorded and fewer than 10 people attended in person, Geyer said.

“I never expected my statement to be saved for months and used in public comment in a livestreaming YouTube meeting to tell people not to vote for me,” Geyer said in the post. “I was appalled, shocked, outraged, angrier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”

Resident: Fike ‘jeopardized’ student well-being

The school board held a special meeting Tuesday to address Fike’s comments. Fike did not attend and could not be reached via email for comment.

Several residents spoke out against Fike’s behavior. Resident Kathy Brown echoed a sentiment shared in the school board’s letter, calling on Fike to resign.

“(Fike) jeopardized the well-being of one of our students because she prioritized political expediency, campaign rhetoric and a ‘gotcha’ strategy against her fellow board member above the health and safety of the one whom she swore to protect,” Brown said.

The board voted 7-1 to censure Fike’s comments. Only board member Samuel Accipiter opposed the motion.

Fike was removed Tuesday from the board’s personnel, policy and academics committees. She will no longer serve as the board’s representative for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit.

The district will file a complaint on Fike with the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office following a unanimous vote by the board.

Board debates livestream meeting policy

The board also voted to stop livestreaming its meetings in favor of posting a recording within 24 hours.

Geyer, board President Duane Frund and board members Richard Grabiak, Brian Shipley and John Eutsey voted in support of the change. Board members Accipiter, Nicole O’Rear and Scott Olsen voted against it.

Frund said he believes the livestream method “has been weaponized.”

“We’ve tried, we’ve had discussions, we’ve talked about ways that we can improve and we’ve talked to the folks who are guilty of releasing information,” Frund said. “We’ve been fooled now multiple times, so when it continues, it’s on us. I feel responsible for allowing it to continue.”

Geyer said she believes it is important to post a recording in the absence of the livestream.

“We’re all busy. We all have kids involved in 75 things and you can’t always get there,” she said.

The board plans to flesh out its meeting recording policy in its next policy committee meeting, scheduled for 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Southmoreland High School Student Union, 2351 State Route 981 in East Huntingdon.