Job turnover alarms some in Phoenixville district

Someday, the Phoenixville Area school board will name a new superintendent - the district's sixth since June 2008.

First, David Noyes retired. Maria Schwab then was superintendent for four months. Then came a series of "acting" and "interim" superintendents.

There's more.

The district also has lost an assistant superintendent, a business manager, a high school principal, an athletic director, a human-resources director, a special-education supervisor, and a technology director. Most recently, the basketball coach and an outreach supervisor were fired.

As the first day of school - Aug. 31 - approaches, residents voice concern about the turnover in the 3,300-student district and its causes.

"Some of it is coincidence, and some of it is cleaning out the fallout from less-than-forthright practices in the district," said Lisa Starczewski, the school board vice president.

Many of the moves stemmed from the Chester County district's aborted effort to build a new elementary school. That has cost the district at least $4.8 million and has led, to the alarm of many, to a tangle of lawsuits.

But some residents wonder whether there is some hidden board agenda, whisper about rumored vendettas, and worry about what the exodus will mean for the education of their children.

"They're running quality people out on a rail," said resident Bruce MacLelland. "It's alarming."

Karen Johns, a former Phoenixville council member, said she thinks the board is in "damage control mode right now and is manifesting controlled chaos."

"I've been happy with the school system, but now things have reached a rough patch," parent Elliot Levine said. "I'm concerned, if they don't address these vacancies, they might slip backward."

Board President Mark Casaday said the district's environment of "instability" was a result of "interim leadership," adding, "When a leader leaves, it creates a situation where other members of his team will also leave."

The roots of the district's troubles appear to go back to 2004, when the district approved an agreement to purchase an 18-acre site for the new school in East Pikeland Township for $1.85 million.

The undeveloped parcel was across the street from a Superfund site and had environmental problems, including contaminated groundwater. The district spent an additional $2.95 million for testing, cleanup, architectural fees, and preparation of the site for construction.

But the project was scuttled in June 2008 amid public opposition.

Shortly afterward, Noyes, who had been superintendent since 2001, retired at the end of his contract.

After an investigation, the board alleged that Noyes and the district's business manager had failed to fully inform the board of the site's environmental problems.

Noyes acknowledged that he should have, but had not, told the board that the problems were so severe that a termination of the agreement of sale could be considered, according to a statement from the school board.

Noyes has declined to comment on the matter.

Business manager Michelle Diekow was dismissed, Starczewski said. She could not be reached for comment.

The controversy's next phase involved actions that triggered the lawsuits that have led to growing legal fees for the district.

The board filed insurance claims to recoup some of the project's expenses and initiated a labor arbitration proceeding against Noyes, contending the former superintendent failed in his duties.

The district also sued the construction company that sold the property, C. Raymond Davis & Sons, accusing it of "illegal dumping" on the site and failing to clean it up.

The School Boards Insurance Co. of Pennsylvania - a district insurer - has filed a civil complaint against the district and Noyes, arguing that it should not be held liable.

A suit filed by Noyes against the district seeks an injunction to stop the arbitration proceeding. The suit argues that members of the board were aware of the environmental problems but did not act to stop the sale.

Attorneys for Davis & Sons and representatives of the construction firm did not return calls seeking comment.

The entanglements have cost the district $923,693 in legal fees through May and will likely cost at least an additional $75,000 for June. The district is represented by Ronald Williams of Fox Rothschild L.L.P.

In the midst of the district's legal wrangling, there has been a series of high-profile changes at the top.

Schwab, an assistant superintendent who was picked to succeed Noyes, lasted four months. Schwab declined to comment, and Casaday, the board president, said, "It just didn't work out."

From there, former Assistant Superintendent Maryjane Richmond served briefly until Terry Mancini took over. He stayed until June, and Barbara Burke-Stevenson is serving as acting superintendent through at least the end of the new school year.

Burke-Stevenson, who retired as superintendent of New Hope-Solebury School District in Bucks County, was approved to serve in the interim post by the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System. The approval allows Burke-Stevenson to collect her pension while working for Phoenixville.

In the cases of former high school principal Richard Kaskey and former athletic director Ray Jenkins, Casaday cited concerns about "financial" irregularities that surfaced after an audit. He declined to elaborate. Kaskey and Jenkins resigned at the end of the school year. Both men deny wrongdoing and say they adhered to district policy and procedures.

Kaskey, in a statement, accused the school board of making "contrived allegations" to get rid of employees whom the board associated with Noyes. Jenkins said in a statement that every decision he made was in the best interest of the students and the community.

The most recent departure occurred last week.

Basketball coach Bill Detweiler and outreach supervisor Ken Winston, who also volunteered as a freshman basketball coach, were fired because of alleged recruiting violations, according to a letter that Burke-Stevenson and the school board sent to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Detweiler said, "I flatly deny all charges, and the truth will come out. This is a bigger issue than just the firings of two coaches. The fact that there are so many people leaving, resigning, getting fired, makes you scratch your head."

Winston said in a statement that "these allegations are based on contrived stories weaved together with untruths."

At a board meeting Thursday, about 75 residents packed the high school library to voice their discontent, some vowing to vote board members out of office.

Winston "is one of the best coaches we've ever had," said Jennifer Smith. "How can you do this to him? He's an awesome role model."

Board member Jill Slawecki covered her head with her hands through much of the meeting, but eventually spoke through tears.

"Mr. Winston has been a tremendous help to my family," Slawecki said. "Do you know how hard this is? . . . But laws were broken."

Some administrators have left on their own for new positions. The board has made several hires and might be close to naming a permanent high school principal. The superintendent search will resume in the fall.