First Posted: 2/29/2012
FACTORYVILLE – The Lackawanna Trail school board voted 7-1 in favor of advising board director Joseph Strauch to take the actions necessary to satisfy the remedy stated in the Lackawanna Trail Education Support Professionals Association Grievance #01-2012, during its meeting Feb. 13.
The grievance was filed in regard to a Facebook page, PA Lions, and a website, ltsd.info, that Strauch began prior to becoming a school board member. The website is not the school’s official website, but offers Lackawanna Trail school district information, other kinds of educational information, as well as items of interest.
The board said they could not go into the specific details of the grievance in public, but Strauch did address the three actions he will take to comply with the vote.
He agreed to write a letter of apology to the Lackawanna Trail webmaster, and he will remove the Facebook connection PA Lions.
“While I do not believe that the board is authorized to direct an individual board member to take any specific action, I wish to demonstrate my goodwill and consideration for the betterment of the school district by voluntarily complying to the full legal and physical extent possible,” said Strauch.
Strauch also agreed to request that the owner of the website ltsd.info, Cathy Strauch, shut the site down. The site is currently up and running and Cathy said she has no plans of shutting it down, as it has become a useful tool for at least one parent in the district.
Christy Clarke, a parent of Lackawanna Trail students, was in attendance at the meeting on Feb. 13, and asked board members, “Have any of you taken the time to go to Mr. Strauch’s website and look at the information, the wealth of information?”
“I personally go to that website more than the school website for a number of reasons. One of which, half of the links of the school website don’t even work.”
She also explained that the school’s official website links and athletic postings are outdated, while Strauch’s website provides updated information and algebra help.
“You have no idea the information you’re taking away from our kids by ruining this website,” said Clarke. “My kids go to this website daily.”
In other business, Lackawanna Trail elementary principal Tania Stoker announced that Wyoming County United Way hosted a coloring contest for students.
“Students colored a duck for the summer duck derby in Tunkhannock,” said Stoker.
Second-grade student Owen Lisk won the contest, and will be a duck mascot for the derby.
Second grade student Logan Wentz won second place and will wear the duck mascot costume if there is any reason Lisk is unable to wear it.
The Lackawanna Trail School Board will meet again for its monthly work session March 5 and its monthly meeting March 12. Both meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.