Schilling resigns from board
Board to fill another new vacancy next month
LANSDALE » Another North Penn School Board member has stepped down, and the board now has another vacancy to fill.
“This was definitely, by far, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to walk away from,” said now-former board member John Schilling.
“I’ve got a lot of personal issues, health issues, I talked about it, prayed about it, brought it before the Lord, talked to a lot of friends, I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” he said.
District officials announced Tuesday night that Schilling, an incumbent Republican with 22 years on the board, has resigned effective Monday.
“Hopefully, at some future meeting we’ll see John, and can present him with a plaque thanking him for his service. But I’d just like to convey my appreciation for over two decades of service to the community, and wish him well in the future,” said board member Ed Diasio.
Schilling, a real estate broker from Hatfield who had long led the board’s support services committee, submitted a letter of resignation last Friday that was dated Feb. 1, effective Feb. 5, and cited personal reasons for resigning, Diasio and board President Tina Stoll announced during Tuesday night’s meeting.
“People don’t realize that there’s a lot of responsibility that you have as a school board member. I’m not complaining, I enjoyed it, but I took it very seriously and I took it very passionately, and I’m proud of the accomplishments that I have had a part in,” he said.
During his tenure, Schilling
said Wednesday, he helped oversee renovation projects at over a dozen district schools, including all three middle schools, as well as the district’s Northbridge Alternative School, support services headquarters, and bus garage. He said he has no plans to run for any other office again, but will keep an eye on his now-former colleagues.
“I wish nothing but the best for the North Penn school district, and the whole group. We have a great school district, and I’m just grateful for the time I had to serve on that board,” he said.
Stoll and Diasio both thanked Schilling for his time on the board, and said a more formal recognition
could come at a future school board meeting.
“I appreciate John’s guidance when we first all came onto the board. He was very kind when we all came on,” Stoll said.
His position will mark the seventh of the nine on the board to change hands since November: five Democrats were elected to take the seats of three incumbent Republicans who were defeated, and two who chose not to run again.
As the new board was sworn in, then-board member Suzan Leonard resigned to take a position as a Montgomery County district judge to which she was elected in November, and in January the board sought applicants and ultimately appointed new member Juliane Ramic, after five rounds of voting among four candidates on Jan. 9. Over a dozen candidates
applied at that time, and Stoll said those candidates will be asked to apply again, and any others are welcome.
“We’re going to start everything new,” Stoll said.
In roughly a month, Ramic will no longer be the board’s newest member.
Superintendent Curt Dietrich said Tuesday that the district will accept resumes and letters of interest until 4 p.m. on Feb. 23, and will narrow down the field of candidates to a top two or three for public interviews, and a possible board vote, during their March 6 meeting.
“That would be our next opportunity, when we meet as a board, the work session would double as an action meeting and be an opportunity to fill the vacancy,” Dietrich said.
Six board members voted unanimously to accept Schilling’s letter of resignation; board members Christian Fusco and Jonathan Kassa were absent from Tuesday night’s meeting. Member Terry Prykowski, who is one of only two members left from just two months ago along with Diasio, said she was sad to see him go.
“It’s been nice working with John, and I’ll miss him. And his support,” she said.
Interested applicants are asked to submit their letter of interest and resume to Steve Skrocki, board secretary, at the district Educational Service Center, 401 E. Hancock St., Lansdale PA 19446.