School board interviews two, waits to vote

Director of Operations Tom Strickler at Thursday night’s meeting

At tonight’s Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting, two candidates were interviewed for the still vacant board seat.

In addition, Board President Cole Knighton announced that another board resignation was submitted today. The name was not announced as the board has not officially accepted the resignation as yet.

Candidates Iris Garrido and Barry Ford answered questions from board members during simultaneous interviews. Garrido ran against Fran Resch in a recent election. Resch resigned in May of this year. Ford resigned from borough council in May due to health reasons.

At the conclusion of the interview there was confusion as to whether a vote could be taken at the meeting. Superintendent Robert Hollister said he thought the position had not been advertised correctly and advised the board to err on the side of caution and delay a vote until next week at the regular board meeting.

Three board members absent from the meeting – Ms. Mattern, Ms. Anspach, and Mr. Lutz – will need to abstain when the vote is taken, according to Hollister.

0 thoughts on “School board interviews two, waits to vote”

  1. Spending time on this issue is useful. Has anyone seen the video of the fight that went on in a classroom at CHS this week? Despicable!!! Out of control school board and NO control in the school!!!

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  4. It does not make sense. Barry Ford resigns from borough council due to health reasons and now wants on school board. This whole deal stinks. Ms. Harrison ran for office, still has an interest in the school district and some board members still has reservations.Ford comes along and shows interest. This school board actions would make for a good soap opera.

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  5. Voting in Garrido would be the best possible thing. Problem is, they will probably do anything in their power to stop that from happening. They are threatened.

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  6. Was told today by someone who knows the truth, that Mr. Hollister did not tell the truth about why Mr. Strickler's hiring was delayed. Why would he feel the need to not tell the truth. What is he covering up? We now Know why this was delayed. Trust is earned. Hollister should transfer his valuable Mr. Strickler to Elanco and then stay there himself.

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  7. Sharon is entitled to speak!!People hate hearing truth and the facts, I admire her determination! Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil!Keep up the good work girl!And yes movie theaters are a good idea, we need revenue to offset the tax burdens felt by HOMEOWNERS.

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  8. I would like to see a posting about the fight that happened September 8th. I saw the video it was terrible. I'm thinking the teachers are afraid of the students and administrators are afraid of the parents. We pay a lot of money living in this school district and what does that go for? From what I saw kids standing around not doing anything unless that was free time. And from my understanding the kids who want to learn get harassed and beat up because of such and then they don't want to go to school. So once again what am I paying taxes for. There is a school board meeting Thursday the 15th everyone should show about the fights that constantly go on there and the innocent being punished along with the questionable DOO position and decision.

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  10. Sorry, I meant Garrido, not Harrison. I do believe that Barry Ford is pro Strickler and will be one of his puppets,if he gets seated.

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  12. Ms garrido has now tried three times to be on the school board. She has been intervied twice. After her first interview the seat was given to the other person, within a week or two another seat became available. Why was ms garrido not contacted? At the school board meeting a few weeks ago a statement was made “no one has put in for it if someone does they've got it” they did have a candidate ms garrido to have her put in again be interviewd again with mr ford putting in for the seat after he resigned from the boro board for health reasons smells bad. Ms garrido will bring diversity to the board we have a large diverse student body. I do not believe that the community of columbia has a racial problem but i am beginning to wonder about the school board.

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  13. Barry was the reason Ryan was first team all state. Tom used Barry to lobby for him. Barry's house was foreclosed. He has had issues with CBAA. He should have never been a councilman let alone a board member. Columbia is in need of real leadership and not individuals who can pay their bills. I hope this is not the case and Barry sits this one out. Columbia needs a state take over and removal of the board. It's obvious they lost control and this whole situation is corruption at its best.

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  15. Little tommy did not get his dream job 4 years ago. Mr. Hollister picked him out from all the rest, this time, even though he was unqualified and uncertified , and now he has his dream job and Mr. Hollister appears to be protecting him. It sure seems like they are connected in some way…. and that they are both benefitting financially at taxpayers expense. Hopefully this debacle for our town has a happy ending as these two characters leave town for good.

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  19. Thanks I try to keep my questions brief and relevant. If taxpayers don't ask questions they aren't paying attention to where their money is being used. Yes, it is THEIR money. If I gave my kids $400./month I'd like to have a pretty good idea what they are doing with it. Now I'm giving it to a small group of basically strangers and why wouldn't I ask how it's being used?

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  20. You cant hold financial problems against someone… the only thing you should be questioning is whether or not he has the best interests of the students in columbia..

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