The Pennsylvania Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee is scheduled to convene on March 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST to hold hearings on the recent discovery of issues related to the use of messaging apps and personal devices with features that automatically delete messages within 24 hours. Pennsbury residents can tune in to PSD411 to WATCH LIVE as Lower Makefield resident Tim Daly testifies before the committee. His testimony will highlight Right To Know requests that exposed Pennsbury’s use of Google Chat to auto-delete records.

PA Senate Live Feed Begins at 11AM

Background On Pennsbury’s Use Of Google Chat

In late August, a whistleblower informed PSD411 contributors about growing concerns regarding the increased use of chat messaging tools by Pennsbury administrative staff. This issue was reportedly a factor in Regina Rausch’s unexpected departure from her role as Director of Special Education. According to prior reports by PSD411, Rausch accused colleagues of misconduct in an email, citing failures to meet legal obligations for fulfilling the IEPs of special education students. In her communication to Dr. Tom Smith, she claimed that 11 emails to her colleagues went unanswered, obstructing the district’s ability to comply with Federal and State regulations.

Following the receipt of Regina Rausch’s revealing email, PSD411 contributors filed an additional RTK request seeking SMS text messages and Chat Application communications to supplement email records received. Pennsbury staff complied within RTKL’s five-business-day response requirement. In an email response from Jen Neill, Pennsbury acknowledged that Google Chat communications were being auto-deleted within 24 hours. This auto-deletion practice was also officially confirmed in their denial response, citing the absence of any responsive records.

PASBO Guidelines Disregarded By Pennsbury

Pennsbury is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), an organization dedicated to fostering leadership in school business operations across Pennsylvania. Membership for larger districts like Pennsbury costs approximately $6,400 annually, with additional fees for services and events. This month, Pennsbury allocated $5,000 for staff to attend the Annual PASBO Conference, held at the upscale Hershey Lodge resort. Among its resources, PASBO offers guidance on developing record retention schedules. According to the Sample Records Retention Schedule on the PASBO website, school districts are advised to retain correspondences, including SMS text messages and chat application logs, for a minimum of three years.

Delaware Valley Journal Exposes Pennsbury’s Auto-Delete Efforts

In December 2024, Delaware Valley Journal columnist Linda Stein brought the Pennsbury story to light, nearly three months after the discovery that Google Chat messages were being auto-deleted. Board President Dr. Joanne Steere declined to comment on the matter. Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, emphasized the implications of using ephemeral messaging apps, stating, “Using an ephemeral messaging app raises not only Right-to-Know Law issues but Sunshine Act compliance issues as well. The Sunshine Act requires that quorum deliberations of agency business take place only at a public meeting. The messaging app would allow those discussions to take place outside of public meetings, in violation of the law, without evidence, making public accountability impossible.” Melewsky is set to testify at the upcoming Pennsylvania Senate hearing, appearing alongside Lower Makefield resident Tim Daly.

Following the revelations about Pennsbury’s use of messaging apps, another exclusive investigative report by Linda Stein surfaced a month later, highlighting concerns raised by Melissa Melewsky over potential Pennsylvania Sunshine Law violations at the Central Bucks School District. In a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of two Central Bucks residents, attorney Chadwick Schnee of Schnee Legal uncovered, through the discovery process, that at least five Central Bucks school board members had been using the Signal app for private communications and were auto-deleting messages within 24 hours. A request for summary judgment has been filed in the case. For purposes of transparency, Schnee also serves as legal counsel for PSD411 contributors.

Pennsbury Refuses Invitation To Testify

In late February 2025, Pennsbury School Board President Joanne Steere was contacted by Chuck Erdman, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, with an invitation to testify under oath regarding the district’s use of Google Chat. Echoing Pennsbury’s earlier refusal to not comment on the news story, Erin Aronson of Eastburn & Gray declined the invitation to testify on Steere’s behalf. In her carefully worded response, Aronson clarified Pennsbury’s current practices concerning Google Chat, stating that the district continues to auto-delete records while awaiting new legal guidance from the State Legislature.

Why Is The Auto-Deletion Of Records Important?

Under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law (RTKL), school districts are legally required to retain records related to school business operations. According to PASBO guidelines, these records—including business-related correspondence—must be preserved for at least three years under state law. While school districts are permitted to delete communications unrelated to business activities, they often refrain from doing so due to challenges in identifying such records. RTKL grants school districts a five-day window to respond to responsive record requests. In cases where Google Chat communications are auto-deleted within 24 hours, a requestor would need specific knowledge of the sought-after communication five days in advance—a nearly impossible task requiring extraordinary foresight.

The implications of these practices extend far beyond undermining government transparency. The use of auto-delete features to destroy records has the potential to obstruct criminal investigations into serious matters such as sexual assaults by staff on students, facilitate coordinated financial misconduct and to avoid creating a paper trail that could result in violations of Federal and State laws, such as failing to comply with IEP requirements. From a civil litigation standpoint, the use of auto-delete applications directly contradict court rules and the obligation of lawsuit parties to preserve records essential for the discovery process.

The post WATCH LIVE: PA Senate Hearing To Focus On Auto-Deletion Of Records With Pennsbury Under Review first appeared on Pennsbury411.

What Are Title I Funds?

Title I funds are federal financial assistance provided to schools and school districts with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families. These funds aim to close the achievement gap by supplying additional resources to schools that need them the most. Distribution of Title I funds is based on the number of low-income students in a school or district. Schools with at least 40% of students from low-income families are eligible for school-wide programs. Title I funds can be utilized for various purposes, including:

• Engaging parents and families in their children’s education
• Providing additional instructional support
• Hiring additional teachers and staff
• Implementing programs to improve academic achievement
• Supporting professional development for teachers
• Purchasing instructional materials and technology

What Are IDEA Funds?

IDEA funds are provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support special education and related services for children with disabilities. These funds ensure that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to their individual needs. IDEA funds can be used for various purposes, including:

• Supporting transitional services after educational services are complete
• Providing individualized instruction for students with disabilities
• Offering related services such as occupational therapy and speech therapy
• Purchasing assistive technology
• Conducting professional development training
• Developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

Where Is Pennsbury At With Compliance?

The answer is that we have no clue. Despite calls at committee meetings and action board by community members to come into compliance and revise its policies, Pennsbury administrators and the School Board have refused to respond to and address public concerns about complying with the Executive Orders. In contrast, when the Biden Administration proposed Title IX changes that were challenged in the courts, injunctions were issued to block those Federal guidelines from implementation, and those changes were eventually pulled by the Biden Administration prior to leaving office.

The Title IX changes were initiated by Biden on April 19, 2024, with the expectation that school districts would implement these changes by August 1, 2024. Discussion around these changes began at the very first Policy Committee meeting chaired by School Board member Jeannine Delwiche on May 9, 2024. Discussions around these Title IX changes begin at 5:50 of the May audio file below:

May Policy Committee Audio

The Policy Committee continued its discussions about implementing the new Title IX guidelines at the June Policy Committee meeting held on June 13, 2024. During this meeting, it was discussed that the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) would issue new guidelines to update Policies 103 and 104. Notably, on June 11, 2024, just two days prior to this Policy Committee meeting, it made nationwide news that the first court challenge to the Title IX changes by the Attorney General of Texas resulted in an injunction against the Biden Administration’s implementation in Texas. Discussions around these Title IX changes begin at 20:55 of the June audio file below:

June Policy Committee Audio

During the August 1, 2024, Policy Committee meeting, it was noted that they had received the update from PSBA and that a Solicitor review of the updates was in process. Committee Chair Jeannine Delwiche shared that the changes went into effect on the day of their meeting. However, Delwiche did not mention the injunctions by six district circuit courts that spanned across 22 states. On August 5, 2024, the injunctions expanded to a seventh district circuit court covering 26 states. Additionally, Delwiche failed to share that on July 2, 2024, Moms For Liberty had won an injunction that would have direct impacts on Pennsbury. Discussions around these Title IX changes begin at 5:00 of the August audio file below:

August Policy Committee Audio

The conversations around Title IX changes continued at the next Policy Committee held on September 12, 2024. On the Agenda, changes to Policy 103 and 104 were presented for a first read. Public comment centered around why the District was moving forward with making changes that had been repeatedly blocked across the country due to their unconstitutionality for sidestepping Congress. After the completion of Public Comment, Committee Chair Jeannine Delwiche invoked her desire to push forward with the Title IX changes while delivering a public statement that Pennsbury had the authority to move forward because “school districts follow local law”. Discussions around these Title IX changes begin at 18:00 with Delwiche’s statement at 26:30 that incorrectly states injunctions don’t apply to Pennsbury which can be heard in the September audio file below:

In the September Policy Committee meeting, a motion and vote were held to approve the First Reading of the policy changes, sending them to the full School Board for consideration. At the subsequent October meeting, the Committee again voted to approve the Second Reading of these changes to the full School Board for consideration. However, the November Policy Committee meeting was abruptly cancelled. During the November 21, 2024 Action Meeting, Donna Ahrens faced criticism for her centrist stance on Gay Pride Flags. Since then, the Title IX changes have not been revisited.

What Can The Community Do To Encourage Compliance

Educational institutions have responded differently to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders. Some have confirmed their compliance, others their non-compliance, while some continue not being transparent about whether DEI will be effectively removed by March 21, 2025. Pennsbury falls into the “not being transparent” category, as they have not communicated their plans to their constituents. The lack of proactive efforts, as seen with Title IX, suggests that Pennsbury may not comply, potentially risking $3.4M in federal funds.

On March 1, 2025, the Federal Government launched a new portal on the Department of Education’s website. This portal allows concerned citizens to report violations of DEI elimination compliance to the Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights, initiating investigations against educational institutions receiving federal funds. If you are concerned about DEI persisting in the classroom and want Pennsbury to comply with federal laws, you can submit your complaint at https://enddei.ed.gov
.

The post Pennsbury Still Mum On Executive Order Compliance Despite Guidance By DOE first appeared on Pennsbury411.

https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/education/2025/02/26/bucks-county-school-districts-omit-key-details-about-staff-leave-pa-sunshine-law-transparency-cb/80005207007

What Are The Latest Allegations?

Bucks County Courier Times journalist Jess Rohan’s recent article highlights allegations of potential abuse in a Special Education classroom at Central Bucks School District. The two staff members involved have taken leave and the district has chosen to protect their identities. This decision has sparked multiple headlines in the newspaper, which has revealed confidential information about the staff members under investigation.

Rohan expanded her focus to examine how other Bucks County school districts handle their communications regarding administrative leave. In this broader context, she alleges that Pennsbury School District appears to be in violation of the PA Sunshine Law.

For the article, Rohan sought expert legal opinion from Melissa Melewsky of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Melewsky asserts that the spirit of the PA Sunshine Law is to “give the public enough information about what the board is voting on for people to give ‘meaningful input’ on board business.” She further emphasized that “Boards should provide enough information that the public understands what officials are voting on; I shouldn’t have to question what happened after the board voted.”

Melewsky concluded her legal opinion by stating, “There is no ‘bright line’ in case law that determines exactly how much detail should be included on leaves of absence lists, but an anonymized list is a problem, especially in situations where there’s little risk of violating employee privacy.”

What Is The PA Sunshine Law?

The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, also known as the Open Meetings Law, mandates that government agencies conduct their business in an open and public manner. Enacted in 1986, the law requires that meetings where official actions are taken or deliberations occur must be accessible to the public. This includes providing prior notice of such meetings and allowing the public to attend, participate, and comment2.

The primary purpose of the Sunshine Act is to promote transparency and accountability in government operations. By ensuring that the decision-making processes of government bodies are open to public scrutiny, the law aims to foster trust between citizens and their government. It applies to a wide range of entities, including state and local agencies, school boards, and municipal authorities3.

In addition to promoting transparency, the Sunshine Act also encourages public participation in government affairs. Citizens have the right to observe and comment on the actions of their government, which helps to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the community. The law also includes provisions for executive sessions, where certain sensitive matters can be discussed privately, but these sessions must be properly announced and limited to specific topics.

Why Do Government Agencies Consistently Violate Sunshine Laws?

In her remarks for the news story, Melissa Melewsky pointed out that “Districts could face court injunctions or have to pay attorney fees from civil lawsuits for violating the act.” She further added that “there are also criminal penalties, but those are rare.” To better understand the implications, here are the consequences a government agency may face for violating components of the PA Sunshine Law:

Civil Penalties

• Fines: Government agencies can face civil fines if they are found to have violated the Sunshine Act. These fines are typically imposed by a court following a legal action brought by an individual or organization.
• Legal Actions: Individuals can file a civil action against the government agency within 30 days of discovering the violation, but no more than one year after the violation occurred.

Criminal Penalties

• Summary Offense: Intentionally violating the Sunshine Act is considered a summary offense. Public officials found guilty of this can face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 for a first offense, and up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses.
• Court Costs: In addition to fines, the court may also require the defendant to pay the costs of prosecution.

Individuals can file a private criminal complaint with the county district attorney, who will decide whether to pursue criminal prosecution. Below you will see what happens when you file a complaint with Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn even when there is irrefutable evidence caught on video that a quorum was met at PHS Building Community Meeting that would require Pennsbury to offer Public Comment.

So when you are at risk of a minimal fine that requires proof of intent and your District Attorney has no interest in enforcing the law, the result is that School Districts are simply regulating themselves….therefore why should they comply?

How Do I Find Information About Leaves At Pennsbury?

Details about Pennsbury staff members on leave can be found in the Board Docs within the Agendas at the Board Agenda Meetings. These documents provide information about the individual taking leave, including the start date and the expected return date. Below are the details from the most recent Board Meeting held on February 20, 2025:

Why Is Regina Rausch’s Leave Not Found On Board Docs?

On May 14, 2024, Patch.com released an exclusive news story revealing that Regina Rausch had been placed on administrative leave. Email communications obtained by Patch showed Superintendent Tom Smith informing staff of Rausch’s leave and requesting that her privacy be respected. District spokeswoman Jen Neill confirmed to Patch that Rausch was on administrative leave but declined to provide further details.

A search of Pennsbury Board Docs indicates that Regina Rausch’s administrative leave was never presented to or voted upon by the Pennsbury School Board. This lack of official reporting raises questions about the circumstances surrounding Regina Rausch’s departure.

Could this be another violation of the PA Sunshine Law?

The post Pennsbury Accused Of Violating PA Sunshine Law AGAIN!!!! first appeared on Pennsbury411.

Respect is often the first casualty in contentious settings like Pennsbury School Board meetings. The wisdom in sayings like “Respect is a two-way street,” “To gain respect, you must first give it,” “Respect is earned, not given,” and “Treat people how you want to be treated” seems to be forgotten. When one side controls the rules and applies them unevenly, it undermines community trust. This abuse of authority and misuse of taxpayer funds for retaliation can erode respect from both directions.

The Pennsbury School District has unfortunately become known for its legal entanglements here in Bucks County. Since COVID, the district has settled three EEOC lawsuits totaling around $1 million, a First Amendment lawsuit for $300,000, a settlement with the Director of Special Education for a cost of $100,000, and an LGBTQ discrimination lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. Additionally, there have been millions in Special Education settlements that have occurred under the Pennsbury School Board’s oversight that result in taxpayer funds being diverted to other schools. Despite these repeated losses in court, their aggressive tactics persist as a State Senate Committee Hearing commences to reviewing record retention activities of Pennsbury and other school districts.

RTKs Uncover Disturbing Issues

The recent increase in threats began in September 2024 when Tim Daly and Robert Abrams informed the Board members and its Solicitor about a complaint being filed with the Auditor General’s Office and our digging into workplace hostility issues. The Auditor General complaint stemmed from RTK findings related to questionable financial records activities and the workplace hostility inquiries delved into the departure of Regina Rausch. Emails obtained regarding Rausch’s departure indicated a lack of response from staff to email communications concerning IEP compliance, which subsequently led to the filing of an RTK request for Google Chat communications. On September 24, 2024, the Pennsbury School District responded via email after emails revealed the potential use of Chat Applications confirming destruction of records within 24 hours.

SAMPLE RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE

Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), an education industry non-profit advisor, recommends that correspondences/email communications regarding school business must be retained for a minimum of three years. However, the law in PA has not caught up with “new technology” as to whether SMS texts and chat applications should be retained for the same period. These regulations were established before the widespread use of SMS texts and chat applications. Nonetheless, in the spirit of the law, it is evident per the guidance of PASBO on Records Retentions that SMS texts and chat applications are forms of correspondence. On March 24, 2025, the actions of the multiple School District will be under review by the PA Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee.

First Attempt Made To Have Community Members Arrested

After a flurry of emails exchanged on September 23rd and 24th, Falls Township Police officer Christopher Iacono reached out to Tim Daly on the 25th regarding an open investigation initiated by Pennsbury School Board member Chip Taylor. While the specifics of Taylor’s allegations to the Falls Township Police remain unclear, the only interactions between Daly and Taylor were through email communications on Pennsbury servers, wherein Taylor repeatedly responded back and removed fellow Board Members from the thread in his retorts. As a result of these actions, the following cease and desist letter was sent to Pennsbury.

In the weeks that followed, more community members began attending Pennsbury meetings, raising questions about the costs and poor process surrounding the new Pennsbury High School building. On November 7, 2024, a tumultuous meeting took place where the public was invited to hear presentations from the Architectural Design firm and the Construction Management firm. Numerous community members, led by Jennifer Metzger, expressed outrage that Public Comment was improperly scheduled before the presentations, alleging that the community was being silenced. The video of the meeting, along with President Joanne Steere’s hasty adjournment after Board Member Donna Ahrens engaged with the public to address their concerns, can be viewed below. The dispute begins around 1:21:37 within the meeting and those interactions were with three female attendees.

Second Attempt Made To Have Community Members Arrested

On November 14, 2024, Pennsbury officials canceled the Policy and Finance Committee meetings, citing a security concern. They claimed that an investigation by Falls Township Police was ongoing. As a result, all attendees, including students invited to receive awards, were required to go through metal detector screening. To date, no arrests have been made, and Pennsbury has not provided any evidence to the public regarding the alleged threat of violence. Unfortunately, investigations are exempt from RTK. However, the following legal letter from Solicitor Erin Aronson of Eastburn & Gray sheds some light on their actions.

As noted in the second paragraph, Solicitor Aronson alleges that a conversation was “overheard” between Tim Daly and Jennifer Metzger, suggesting that Daly made a threat involving gun violence. It’s important to note that the Falls Township Police have never contacted Daly or Metzger regarding these allegations. Additionally, Tim Daly has publicly confirmed that he does not have a gun registered in his name, has no access to a gun, and has never handled or fired a gun in his life.

You will also see in the second-to-last paragraph that Aronson denies knowledge of the physical incident that occurred at the June 2023 meeting when an attempt to physically assault was made. At the very next meeting in July 2023, Falls Township Police were present in the lobby at the cost of $750 per meeting, and a security rope was placed between attendees and the Board. Yet, in her legal response, Aronson adamantly claims that nothing happened.

As a result of this legal notice from Aronson, PSD411 was created to ensure that the public is fully aware of the behavior not seen at Board Meetings and unreported in the news.

Legal Attacks Target More Community Members

Pressure has been mounting on the Pennsbury School District behind the scenes, and PSD411 will soon be revealing more details. These issues include whistleblowers reporting a hostile work environment, the discovery of multiple lawsuits at Superintendent Tom Smith’s previous employer, two Office of Civil Rights complaints recently filed against Pennsbury for discrimination against Special Education and LGBTQ students, an Auditor General’s complaint, and the upcoming State Senate hearing on March 24, 2025, focused on records destruction activities. Additionally, there has been a chorus of attendees at the January 2025 Board Meeting calling on the Board to comply with Federal executive orders to remove DEI and Transgender policies from the District.

During the February 6, 2025, Facilities meeting, Pennsbury violated multiple provisions of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, which mandates that the district post a final agenda with all attachments for community review within 24 hours of the meeting. Pennsbury failed to post the KCBA presentation until just a few hours before the meeting, and an agenda item related to YMS Soccer lacked sufficient details for public participation. Despite the objections at the November 7, 2024, Special Meeting and the subsequent “mea culpa” by Board President Joanne Steere, pledging to stop disrespecting the community by placing Public Comment before presentations and agenda items, both Abrams and Metzger objected to these actions, leading to a brief adjournment of the meeting. Below is a link to listen to the audio from the Facilities Committee meeting held on February 6, 2025. The dispute around the violation of PA Sunshine Law begins as 56:56 as Abrams and Metzger express complaints that no information was provided within the agenda for them to address during public comment.

On February 18, 2025, during the Policy Committee meeting which failed to address the repeal of DEI and Transgender policies mandated by law to be removed by March 21, 2025. Pennsbury residents and meeting attendees Robert Abrams and Jennifer Metzger received threatening letters from Solicitor Erin Aronson. Copies of these legal notices sent by Pennsbury can be viewed below.

Abrams Legal Notice

Metzger Legal Notice

For those who listen to the audio, it becomes evident that the objections and complaints were centered around violations of the Sunshine Law Act, which Pennsbury has repeatedly breached. Public records with timestamps substantiate these violations. By law, school districts are required to produce a final agenda within 24 hours of the meeting and must provide sufficient details to ensure public understanding of the issues being discussed. Under Section 710.1(c), community members are afforded the following civil rights:

At the time this article was published, Pennsbury may be in violation of the Pennsylvania Sunshine Law despite the objections by refusing to provide written public details about the YMS Partnership with Pennsbury. The only information available is an audio file, buried on the website, related to these legal notices detailing the YMS Partnership. Under PA law, it is the position of many legal experts, including Melissa Melewsky whom is staff counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, that the PA Sunshine Law is “clear and unambigous about the standard” and that denial of basic information “falls well short of the transparency required of the government”.

Community Members Serve Notice To Pennsbury

Through their legal counsel, Pennsbury community members have issued a response to Aronson’s meritless legal notices as of this publication. The letter advises Aronson on the workings of the Sunshine Law Act, reminds them of their obligations to respect Mr. Abrams’ physical disabilities that affect his ability to speak publicly, and informs the District that Daly and Abrams are tentatively scheduled to testify as witnesses at the upcoming State Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee on March 24, 2025.

The post Pennsbury Issues Legal Threats At Public Meeting Attendees As State Senate Hearing Nears first appeared on Pennsbury411.

Did The School District Misrepresent The Metrics Again?

In recent years, we’ve discovered that Pennsbury’s data analysis can be misleading, attempting to polish the reputation of a once highly respected school district. Instances include censoring a community member who tried to address incorrect data and being caught red-handed altering students’ ethnicity classifications. This has made it difficult to trust any numbers being presented. Does anyone genuinely believe that disciplinary incidents decreased by 65% in just one year? In that same presentation, Pennsbury also released the PSSA and Keystone scores.

As you review the PowerPoint presentation above, you’ll notice that Pennsbury’s performance appears on their face quite impressive. The district continues to outperform state averages, which include Philadelphia’s scores and thus drags down the overall metrics. However, the district’s baseline comparison only goes back to 2022, when PSSA scores were still significantly affected by COVID-19 and had not yet recovered. Although Pennsbury possesses pre-COVID data, they consciously chose not to use it as a baseline. Let’s delve into the reasons behind this decision by Superintendent Tom Smith and his Administrative staff.

Comparing Against Pre-Covid Data Tell Different Story

Our team at PSD411 meticulously investigated Pennsbury’s Board Docs to reveal the true numbers by downloading past Annual Achievement Report presentations. We accessed public record data going back to 2017 to evaluate Pennsbury students’ performance on standardized testing, specifically the PSSA test scores. When we examine these baselines across a longer date range, a very different narrative emerges.

PSSA English Test Scores

PSSA scores in English have significantly dropped since COVID-19 and have yet to recover. Previously, proficiency scores typically averaged in the mid-to-upper 70% range, but they have now fallen to the mid-to-upper 60% range. Even more concerning is that 2024 test scores declined in 5 out of 6 grade levels compared to 2023. In two grade levels, 6th and 8th grade, Pennsbury students recorded their lowest scores since 2017. Remarkably, Pennsbury students performed better in English during asynchronous virtual learning than they did in the classroom last school year.

PSSA Mathematics Test Scores

PSSA Math test scores have been one of the few bright spots at Pennsbury, though the District has historically lagged in Math compared to other subjects. Consequently, improving these scores was somewhat easier since the initial metrics were already low. While proficiency levels in English hover closer to 70%, Pennsbury middle school students have typically been below 50% proficiency annually in Math. During COVID, proficiency levels declined to the mid-20% range but have since rebounded to pre-pandemic norms. For 8th grade, students raised their proficiency score to 38%, but this still classifies Pennsbury at a “Below Basic” designation by the Department of Education.

PSSA Science Test Scores

PSSA Science test scores present a slightly different picture compared to the metrics for English and Math. The state only tests Science proficiency at the 4th and 8th grade levels. For 4th graders, proficiency scores remained steady during COVID and consistently exceeded 90%, earning Pennsbury an “Advanced” designation. The concerning aspect is the significant decline in scores from 4th to 8th grade. During COVID, 8th grade scores plummeted to the lower-50% range but have since rebounded to the lower-60% range in 2024. Pre-COVID, proficiency scores typically hovered in the upper-60% range. While these Science metrics are solid compared to state averages, the data reveals that Pennsbury students drop from an “Advanced” designation in 4th grade to a “Proficient” designation by 8th grade.

What Is The District Doing About The Poor Scores?

If you watched the January 16th Action Board Meeting, you’ll see that very little is being done. Instead of focusing on improving the learning environment for students, Board Members Jeannine Delwiche and Donna Petrecco defended their political attacks on fellow Board Member Donna Ahrens. Delwiche, with the support of her spouse, even tried to portray herself as the victim. After the presentation of standardized test scores and disciplinary data, the Board remained relatively quiet, not asking many questions or challenging the data. When elected representatives don’t show much concern about declining test scores, it sends a message to Pennsbury administrators that education doesn’t matter. It doesn’t seem that the Gay Pride Flags that Delwiche and Petrecco aggressively support in every classroom are doing much to improve educational testing scores.

Below is the YouTube stream from the meeting, click to play and it will take you directly to the Annual Achievement Report presentation at the meeting and how the Board questioned the Pennsbury administrators.

The post Pennsbury’s Standardized Testing Scores Continue Its Struggle To Rebound first appeared on Pennsbury411.

Which Executive Orders Impact Pennsbury?

In the past week, the Trump Administration issued over 200 Executive Orders aimed at reversing policies from the Biden Administration. These orders will significantly impact the American education system, requiring schools to adhere to new Federal mandates or risk losing their Federal funding. Even if schools forfeit their funds, they must still comply with all related Federal mandates. The following are three Executive Orders that conflict with Pennsbury policy that will need to be addressed to avoid forfeiting $3.4M in funding that will have to be recouped in local property tax increases.

Gender Ideology Reversal

Trump rescinded an executive order from former President Joe Biden that directed federal agencies to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which applied to all laws prohibiting sex discrimination. In the 2020 case, a 6-3 ruling affirmed that discrimination against LGBTQ individuals is considered sex discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The new Executive Order aligns with the Supreme Court ruling and existing Title VII language, stating that the U.S. government will only recognize a person’s sex assigned at birth, limit the definition of “male” or “female” to their reproductive cells, and potentially withhold federal funding from programs acknowledging transgender individuals or “gender ideology.”

The new Executive Order, titled “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government” on the White House website, mandates the removal of any transgender policies enacted by school districts. Schools are instructed to reverse these policies within 120 days or risk losing federal funding.

Dismantling of DEI Programs

Last week, Trump issued an Executive Order to implement the language of the Dismantle DEI Act, which is expected to pass in Congress soon. This Order reverses Biden’s Executive Orders from his first day in office that expanded diversity training across the Federal government, created Diversity departments in all Federal agencies, and authorized significant grants for DEI and related social policies in school districts. A study by Parents Defending Education found over $1B in federal grants aimed at integrating DEI into the American education system.

The new Executive Order, titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing” on the White House website, mandates the removal of any transgender policies enacted by school districts. Schools are instructed to reverse these policies within 60 days or risk losing federal funding.

Assisting ICE in Illegal Immigrant Deportations

The Trump administration issued an Executive Order titled “Protecting The American People Against Invasion,” which focuses on the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants. The order mandates that the Federal government and any grantee receiving Federal funding must “faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people.” Many interpret this to mean that even school districts must comply with the Executive Order and assist in enforcing immigration laws.

Administrators at Central Bucks School District in Doylestown, PA, have proactively started addressing their policies and informing the community about their obligations to comply with Federal law. Superintendent Steve Yanni has sent a communication to this effect. However, no such communication has been issued by Pennsbury, and there are no indications that Pennsbury is preparing any internal procedures to handle these Executive Orders, despite emails from PSD411 members to Pennsbury Solicitor Erin Aronson of Eastburn & Gray which have not received a response.

Will Pennsbury Comply Or Fight The Executive Orders?

Over the past two months, the actions of the Pennsbury “Mean Girls” and their attacks on Board Member Donna Ahrens for presenting a centrist viewpoint on Gay Pride Flags and other political symbols in the classroom have raised concerns about Pennsbury’s compliance. Board Members Jeannine Delwiche, Donna Petrecco, and Linda Palsky have clearly stated their political positions on Gender Ideology and DEI. At the December 2024 board meeting, the Bucks County NAACP showed strong support for a new contract for Dr. Cherrissa Gibson, which removed “Equity” from her job title but included “equity” in her job requirements and performance evaluation.

We will find out shortly if the Pennsbury School Board intends to comply with these new laws or forfeit the $3.4M in funding it receives annually from the Federal Government that is significantly earmarked to supporting Special Education.

The post Could Pennsbury Face $3.4M Federal Funds Forfeiture Due To White House Executive Orders? first appeared on Pennsbury411.

Efforts by Pennsbury School Board Liberal Bloc to silence those that disagree with their views has been a persistent problem within the district now for nearly a decade. From the “Save Gretzula” attack on Jacqui Redner to a First Amendment Lawsuit that led to an injunction and $300k and now the targeting of Board Member Donna Ahrens because she dared to speak with constituents and not toe the line. But one of the most serious abuse by the Pennsbury Liberals has often gone overlooked, the SLAPP lawsuit filed in 2021 to inhibit opponents from putting their message to the community forward

What Is A SLAPP Lawsuit?

A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuit is a legal tactic used by individuals or organizations to intimidate, silence, or punish those who engage in protected speech or activities, such as speaking out on public issues or participating in community activities. These lawsuits are often meritless and are designed to burden the defendant with legal costs and the stress of litigation, ultimately discouraging them from exercising their civile rights. SLAPP lawsuits can target journalists, activists, bloggers, or ordinary citizens who express opinions, report on matters of public interest, or protest against certain actions or policies.

The primary goal of a SLAPP lawsuit is not necessarily to win the case in court but to create a chilling effect on free speech and public participation. By dragging the defendant through a lengthy and costly legal process, the plaintiff hopes to deter others from speaking out or taking similar actions. This tactic is particularly effective when the plaintiff has greater financial resources and can afford prolonged litigation, while the defendant may struggle to cover legal expenses. In some cases, just the threat of a SLAPP lawsuit can be enough to silence critics or suppress dissenting voices.

Political Opponents Were Targeted in 2021

In early May 2021, the Lower Makefield and Falls Township Democrats grew anxious about the possibility of Republicans winning a few seats and disrupting the 9-0 Liberal-controlled Board. This concern arose due to the uproar in the community over Doug Marshall’s censored comments at the March Action Board meeting. On or around May 11, 2021, the Pennsbury School District issued cease and desist orders against Victoria Czechowski and Jennifer Spillane, accusing them of violating Policy 321. These accusations stemmed from a picture taken by Czechowski’s then 9-year-old daughter at the annual Food Truck fundraiser. RTKs confirmed, after a protracted fight at the Open Records Office, that Pennsbury taxpayer funds were used to send these cease and desist letters to intimidate the two candidates.

A week later, LevittownNow.com reported that a SLAPP injunction had been obtained against Timothy Watkins and Frank Cabanas. The actions of Jeannine Delwiche, Joanne Steere and Linda Palsky during the 2021 campaign received minimal news coverage, leaving most of the community unaware of their activities. This allowed their actions to go largely unnoticed. The injunction was sought over mailers featuring a Sample Ballot, a common Democratic tactic seen annually on voting day at the polls. Watkins and Cabanas had cross-filed as Democrats, which is legally permitted in Pennsylvania, and their ballot indicated “not recommended” for Delwiche, Steere and Palsky. In response to the SLAPP injunction, Palsky gleefully stated after she silenced her opponents, “I think it tells you a lot about the character of our opponents that we have to go to these lengths to get them to play by the rules. I find it truly disheartening to see lies and deception used in a local school board campaign”

And just a few days later in May 2021, Pennsbury Solicitor Peter Amuso silenced community members at public comment, leading to national headlines and the infamous Simon Campbell takedown video that received over 50M views and led to dozens of interviews that exposed the misconduct of the Pennsbury Liberals utilizing various tactics to silence members of their own community. Pennsbury and its Board was found to have violated Free Speech rights, had an injunction filed preventing them from silencing public meeting attendees and settled the case for $300,000.

But where the real controversy erupted over a mailer that the Liberals found offensive, which was related to concerns about a new attempt at a Morrisville-Pennsbury merger. The mailer brought back bad memories from a decade earlier when the school district redrew lines for bus routes, resulting in more African American students being bused to Makefield Elementary on a route that Pennsbury employees later referred to as the “Soul Train.” By filing the SLAPP lawsuit, the Pennsbury Liberal candidates drained Watkins and Cabanas’ campaign funds and effectively silenced their efforts to alert the community about the merger plans. The attempts to merge with Morrisville ultimately failed miserably, as the financial models were riddled with formula errors and unrealistic forecasts, leading to their demise at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Anti-SLAPP Legislation Now Protects Pennsylvania Citizens

In July 2024, the Pennsylvania legislature took action to protect citizens from the types of justice system abuses seen in the 2021 election involving Delwiche, Steere, and Palsky. The legislation, introduced by PA State Rep Ryan Bizarro (D-Erie) and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro, expanded the scope of Anti-SLAPP protections. Previously, these protections applied only to free speech related to environmental issues. The new legislation extends protections to all First Amendment expressions, allows defendants to file an anti-SLAPP motion early in the case, and mandates compensation for parties forced to fight frivolous suits. In a statement to PA Spotlight, Bizarro emphasized that “these SLAPP suits weaponize the system to penalize protest and silence free speech.”

In short, Delwiche, Steere, and Palsky’s past actions to silence their opponents have now been outlawed, unless they wish to drain their own campaign funds with frivolous legal actions. These new limitations will require them to shift their approach to silencing opponents, using new tactics to silence those that they don’t agree with. Perhaps attacking Donna Ahrens for daring to be a Moderate and engaging with all her constituents, regardless of their political affiliation is the start of a new campaign to silence objectors like they did so successfully in 2021.

The post Pennsbury “Mean Girls” Previously Silenced Opponents Using SLAPP Lawsuits first appeared on Pennsbury411.

On December 21, 2024, this blog website was the first to report a planned political attack by Pennsbury Board Members Jeannine Delwiche, Donna Petrecco, and Linda Palsky against their colleague Donna Ahrens. The progressive “Mean Girls” confronted Ahrens with aggressive bullying after she suggested moving political symbols out of classrooms and into a highly visible display case, so classrooms could focus on education rather than activism. Despite polling showing that the majority of Americans support removing political symbols, Ahrens was targeted for proposing a sensible, centrist solution. The original story included video-recorded comments that showed the vitriol directed at Ahrens. RTKs revealed that intimidation efforts began before the staged events to publicly attack Ahrens in front of the cameras.

Ahrens Targeted By Colleagues Prior To Her Public Statement

In early December, RTKs were submitted to investigate the activities leading to the installation of metal detectors at Board Meetings. Often, RTKs reveal unexpected incidents. The District delayed their response for 35 days, a common tactic when unflattering misconduct is involved. The response revealed that Ms. Ahrens received five emails critical of her conduct: two from Board colleagues, one from a Board Member’s spouse, and two from external community members. To respect the privacy of the external community members, their emails will not be released.

The first communication shows that the targeting of Ahrens began prior to her making the political symbolism comments at the November 21st meeting:

This email suggests that Ahrens is being targeted by fellow members for engaging with the community and being respectful to all constituents. It appears to be an attempt to intimidate her from upholding her governance role and meeting with her constituents. It is worth noting that her husband, Dave Ahrens, is a military combat veteran and a decorated police officer in Falls Township. The accusation of “confidential leaks” occurred shortly after Pennsbury implemented metal detectors for school board meetings due to a perceived threat of violence reported to Falls Township, which has not resulted in any criminal arrests.

The Former Eagles Cheerleader Shows Her True Feathers

When Donna Petrecco, an unelected political activist from Fallsington with close ties to Senator Steve Santarsiero, was appointed by Democratic leadership to replace James Prokopiak, she took an oath to serve the community, including those with differing views. However, like many political activists, her focus seemed to shift towards imposing her ideologies with her newfound power. Petrecco’s tenure on the Board has been tumultuous, with multiple public commenters accusing her of bullying a Pennsbury employee for engaging with public meeting attendees who held opposing views, even instructing the staffer to leave.

In the email, Petrecco confronted Ahrens about her comments that evening out of public view, initially apologizing for her behavior after the meeting adjourned. Petrecco attempted to portray Ahrens as out of touch with children, despite Ahrens’ 30 years of service as a Pennsbury employee and her close engagement with children of all ages. Petrecco then revealed her true motivations, stating that her daughter is gay and that her experience as a parent of a gay student makes her an expert on matters Ahrens couldn’t possibly understand. However, Petrecco seems to overlook that, when acting in her official capacity, her personal experiences and challenges in raising her gay daughter have no relevance in decision-making on behalf of the community at large and the votes she is to cast in their interests.

Delwiche Casts The Next Stone At Ahrens

A few hours after Petrecco sent her attack email about her views on gay rights, an email followed from Michael Celec, the husband of Board Member Jeannine Delwiche. Celec regularly attends meetings and speaks, but he doesn’t publicly disclose that he is Delwiche’s spouse. In contrast, when Dave Ahrens spoke at a public comment session, he made it clear before speaking that he was the spouse of Donna Ahrens.

In this email, Celec personally attacks Ahrens for exercising her rights as a Board Member to share her views on how certain school policies might be counterproductive. Celec asserts that she had no right to do so because it was not up for a vote and not on the agenda. However, under PA Public Meeting law and adopted Pennsbury policy, Board Members have the right to address “New Business” matters at the proper section of the Agenda, rules for which Ahrens followed. It’s important to note that Jeannine Delwiche is the chair of the Policy Committee, and Celec regularly attends every meeting where Delwiche is present. Obviously, they are keenly aware that there is no restriction on what Ahrens would desire to discuss that may come before the Board at a future date. And given the pending Trump EO’s and the Dismantle DEI Act that will be up for vote in Congress. Ahrens was doing just that to protect the School District from potential future litigation should policies not be updated that could be in contradiction to new laws that will be going in place at the Federal level. You can listen to Mr. Celec present comments on the First Amendment while choosing not disclose he is the spouse of Ms. Delwiche.

Celec’s remarks then turn to his disdain for other public meeting attendees exercising their free speech rights, disagreeing with their viewpoints. He expresses disgust that these people applauded Ahrens’ patriotic remarks about the American flag being the only political symbol that should be present in a classroom, a viewpoint held by the majority of Americans. Celec then calls for the censure of Ahrens because she will not comply with the LGBTQ+ directives of the Democratic Party leaders who have controlled the Board’s actions for the last decade. Celec’s stance seems clear: he believes the rights of children he prefers should supersede the rights of children he doesn’t prefer.

Under Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), a person’s right to freedom of speech does not end at the school building doors. However, SCOTUS ruled that free speech is not absolute within a school, particularly when it interferes with educational operations and infringes upon another’s civil rights—the exact point Donna Ahrens was trying to make. In America, one person’s civil rights can supersede another’s. Political symbolism that becomes activism can disrupt educational operations; therefore, Policy 321 should address this issue. It is worth noting that Jeannine Delwiche, Celec’s spouse, chairs the Policy Committee, which has the power to prioritize policy updates. Despite the landmark Marshall v. Amuso injunction placed on Pennsbury for past free speech violations under Policy 903, Delwiche attempted in early 2024 to make Policy 903 changes that would restrict free speech, despite Pennsbury’s past misconduct.

Did Delwiche Write The Email Or Did Her Spouse?

For those unfamiliar with Jeannine Delwiche, she is a proud and extremely active Progressive political activist. The publicly visible social media accounts of Delwiche detail her efforts for social justice and other Progressive objectives. Additionally, Delwiche holds a PhD in Psychology from Cornell and has had a long-standing career as a professional content writer. Given the prose within the email sent from Michael Celec’s account, it is easy to infer that it was written by someone with strong communication skills and a good grasp of English vocabulary. We gave Ms. Delwiche an opportunity to respond to our concerns that she wrote the email to Donna Ahrens and sent it through her husband’s email account. The following is her response made on Pennsbury taxpayer-owned servers:

No matter how Ms. Delwiche frames it, her prepared statements against Ms. Ahrens’ position to abide by Tinker v. Des Moines and remove political symbols were a personal attack. Ms. Delwiche has shirked her duties in protecting all students in Pennsbury and has made it clear on multiple occasions that she either doesn’t understand Federal law or simply doesn’t care if she breaks it when it comes to the reverse discrimination of students caused by the harmful policies she oversees and protects.

So, was it Delwiche who sent the email to intimidate Ahrens from engaging with her constituents or was it her spouse? That’s for you to decide.

The post “Mean Girls” Attacks On Pennsbury Board Member Donna Ahrens Preceded The Staged Event first appeared on Pennsbury411.

The Save Gretzula Meeting

As public comments began, there were repeated attacks against the five School Board members who did not support Gretzula’s contract extension, leading to Gretzula hinting at his resignation. The majority of the vitriol was directed at Jacqui Redner. Redner’s personal character was attacked, along with her close relationship with Sherri Morrett, who eventually filed one of the EEOC complaints and received a $250,000 settlement. Perhaps the harshest public comment came from current Pennsbury Field Hockey Coach Traci Curtis, who accused Redner of using the recent suicide of two of her sons for personal gain, suggesting Redner had done so repeatedly and that it was not the appropriate time or place. The video of Curtis’ comments can be viewed below:

Public Comment Gone Wild

As public comments began, there were repeated attacks against the five School Board members who did not support Gretzula’s contract extension, leading to Gretzula hinting at his resignation. The majority of the vitriol was directed at Jacqui Redner. Redner’s personal character was attacked, along with her close relationship with Sherri Morrett, who eventually filed one of the EEOC complaints and received a $250,000 settlement. Perhaps the harshest public comment came from current Pennsbury Field Hockey Coach Traci Curtis, who accused Redner of using the recent suicide of two of her sons for personal gain, suggesting Redner had done so repeatedly and that it was not the appropriate time or place. The video of Curtis’ comments can be viewed below:

Deposition Reveals Another Side To The Story

After TR Kannan changed his vote to extend Gretzula’s contract, chaos erupted within the administration, leading to a series of EEOC lawsuits that Pennsbury eventually settled. Due to legal misconduct by Pennsbury lawyers, who illegally redacted Redner’s deposition from the Morrett case in the Shaffer case, the deposition became publicly available. It revealed disturbing details about that night and the blatant insensitivity of Board Members towards one of their own. Additionally, Redner described her conflict with Curtis, which involved her attempts to prevent Curtis from becoming the Field Hockey coach. A full copy of Redner’s deposition is provided below, where you can learn about her belief that this was a targeted and staged event aimed at her personally due to her firm stance against extending Gretzula’s contract.

The Need For Real Conversation

In her deposition, Redner described the staged actions as vicious attacks aimed at silencing and diminishing certain individuals. Due to FERPA laws, crucial information was withheld from our community, leading to significant misinformation by our school district leaders, seemingly driven by political motivations rather than the best interests of our children. Ms. Redner emphasized her efforts to protect the community from undisclosed information, suggesting that some were aware of Gretzula’s conduct and still encouraged attendance despite the allegations. President Joanne Steere has consistently voiced her support for the LGBTQ+ community, raising questions about her presence at the event to support Gretzula and her apparent joy in the video stream.

The post Pennsbury Board Meetings And The History Of Staged Public Comments by Democrats first appeared on Pennsbury411.

What Is All The Fuss Over The Contract?

While both Ricci’s and Gibson’s contracts were up for Board approval, community dissent focused solely on the Gibson contract due to its promotion to Assistant Superintendent—a title not held by any other Human Resource leader in Bucks County. This contract would make her the highest-paid Human Resource leader in the county, despite lacking comparable experience. In comparison, Council Rock pays Ronnie Spring a base salary of $170,000, Central Bucks’ newly hired Robert Freiling receives $160,000, and Neshaminy’s Kelly Kozik earns $147,000. Each of these individuals has more work experience and equivalent educational achievements, as confirmed by their LinkedIn profiles.

The Gibson contract will increase her annual base pay plus a guaranteed doctoral stipend to $173,938, with annual increases significantly exceeding the cost of living adjustment (COLA). By the end of the contract, her base pay will exceed $200,000. The contract includes retroactive pay for the newly created, unbudgeted position, dating back to July 1, 2024. Additionally, the agreement guarantees an annual $500 contribution to a Section 125 plan and a $10,000 annual contribution to her 403(b) Retirement Plan. In total, Gibson’s annual direct compensation, retroactive to July 1, 2024, is now $184,438 to oversee Human Resources.

Public concerns around Gibson’s contract extension and promotion centered around her past involvement in violating the civil rights of Pennsbury resident Doug Marshall which led to a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the Institute For Free Speech, a subsequent federal injunction against Pennsbury to block further civil rights violations during public comment and a massive settlement of the case for $300,000. Additionally, residents expressed that the new contract will be in direct contradiction to new federal laws and Executive Orders that will go in place on January 20, 2025. Below is a segment of public comment featuring Robert Abrams’ statement about the contract:

What Legal Risks Did The Board Expose The Community To?

The contention lies in the fact that while the term “equity” was removed from the job title, the underlying contract language still details the role of overseeing the DEI program, which was approved in May 2021 and led to the Marshall v. Amuso lawsuit. Much of the controversy surrounding the DEI program stems from Dr. Cherrissa Gibson’s doctoral dissertation, which utilized Pennsbury student disciplinary and school lunch data but excluded records for Asian American, Native American, and Mixed Race students because they weren’t deemed “historically marginalized.”

Currently, in Congress, the Dismantle DEI Act moved out of the House Committee on November 20, 2024, for a vote. Additionally, Trump has declared that on his first day, he will put an end to DEI programs within America’s schools. The bills state that any school found to be deploying DEI in the classroom or within professional development of staff will forfeit all federal funds received. For Pennsbury, this would amount to $3.4 million in annual revenues, which the District would need to cover through local taxpayers, given they would still be subject to federal compliance for Special Education students even if not financially funded.

During Abrams’ public comment, he warned the Board of the consequences of moving forward with a contract that they know will likely be legally invalidated on January 20, 2025. Abrams also alerted the Board to a Pennsylvania law called “Surcharge,” which oversees the accountability of officials for misuse of public funds. If it is determined that Board Members displayed willful misconduct in administering their fiduciary duties to the Pennsbury community, any financial losses related to the approved contract could make the seven Board Members who voted in favor personally liable for the $3.4 million in lost federal revenues, any legal costs should their liability insurance provider refuse the claim, and any increases in liability insurance premiums due to another legal incident. Details about Surcharge are provided in the PDF below:

The post New Contract and Promotion For Cherrissa Gibson Faces Public Scrutiny first appeared on Pennsbury411.