Montour Resident Expresses Concern About Ethics Complaint

A Robinson Township woman called for Montour Superindent Donald E. Boyer to resign during public remarks at the district's school board meeting Thursday. 

"He has abused our trust and should not be able to continue to work in our school district," said resident Lisa Worms. 

Boyer agreed to pay the a $5,000 partial reimbursement to settle a state ethics violation, according to a consent agreement with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission made public in May. 

The commission launched an investigation regarding Boyer's firm Education Management Group in 2011, but found that Boyer had committed no wrongdoing. Instead, Boyer agreed to refund the district for work he performed on behalf of the company.

"There was no money going into the superintendent's pocket," said board solicitor Donald Palmer. 

District residents, many of them wearing stickers reading "Keep Our Bus Drivers," filled the board meeting room after word circulated that the board would move to lay off bus drivers or school staff members. No item regarding personnel furloughs appeared on the meeting's agenda, and the board took no action related to major staffing changes.

Board members could not be reached for comment on potential plans to furlough or lay off staff members at the district. 

The board did move to accept the resignation of a transportation office employee as well as accept a proposal from Architectural Innovations for a chilled water plant replacement at Forest Grove Elementary. 

The board meets next on June 28, when they will vote on the district's final 2012-2013 preliminary budget, which maintains tax rates in the district at 18.9 mills.