Bad call in Plum

Board should fire school chief, not bring him back

The Plum Borough School Board has done a disservice to students, the community and the education system at large by voting to reinstate superintendent Timothy Glasspool, who was criticized in an Allegheny County grand jury report for his handling of a teacher-student sex abuse scandal.

Mr. Glasspool has been on paid leave since May. The board voted 4-3 Tuesday to return him to work next week, despite the pleas of some parents to fire him. That is exactly what the board should have done. He has proved himself to be an ineffective leader. By reinstating him, the school board has sent the message that it is more committed to an employee than the children in its care. That is exactly the culture that allowed the scandal to develop in the first place.

Two former teachers have pleaded guilty to having sex with female students, and a third is awaiting trial. On Tuesday, the same day that the board voted to reinstate Mr. Glasspool, one of the victims filed a federal lawsuit alleging that several staff members, including Mr. Glasspool and high school principal Ryan Kociela, failed to take appropriate action after rumors about inappropriate conduct began circulating. With the reinstatement of Mr. Glasspool, the school board is failing her now.

The grand jury cited “an academic culture that encouraged the protection of friends and colleagues over students ... and turning a blind eye to obvious signs of teacher misconduct.” It criticized Mr. Glasspool and Mr. Kociela, who remains on paid leave, but did not recommend charges against them.

A law firm hired by the board concluded there was no legal basis for firing Mr. Glasspool. But what about job performance? The district shouldn’t settle for someone who is less than good or flunks the smell test. Mr. Glasspool and the school board both have earned failing grades.