Board member calls for censure of president

Motion made to acknowledge unspecified inappropriate behavior

On the Sept. 13 meeting of the Boyertown School Board of Directors, board member Paul Stengle made a motion to censure board President Jill Dennin. He directed her to turn her gavel over to the board’s vice president, Stephen Elsier.

District Solicitor Jeffrey Sul-

tanik asked Stengle what he defines as a censure motion.

“Acknowledgement by the board president that the behavior was inappropriate,” said Stengle, adding how the board would vote on a resolution to censure. He did not get into specifics regarding the inappropriate behavior, but mentioned Dennin was unwilling to change.

Sultanik asked if there would be other consequences. Stengle said no.

“The board chair has discretion to turn over gavel,” said Sultanik. “It’s a policy decision on her part and not a legal decision.”

Dennin did not turn over her gavel.

Stengle’s motion was seconded by board member Christine Neiman.

The motion failed with a vote of 6-3. Christine Neiman, Paul Stengle, and Robert Caso voted in favor of the censuring. Donna Usavage, David Lewis, John Landino, Clay Breece, Stephen Elsier, and Jill Dennin voted against the motion.

Stengle then asked if Dennin should have abstained herself from the vote. Sultanik said a mandatory abstention was not needed since the vote would have failed either way.