A freshly appointed Oley Valley School Board member has announced her intent to resign, school officials said.
Christina Moyer intends to resign but technically remains a member pending a written resignation, board President Jamie Freed said at a meeting Wednesday night.
Moyer was appointed at a May 8 meeting during which the district interviewed seven candidates to fill two vacant school board seats following the resignations of Benjamin Raker and former board President Zachary Fatkin.
Raker noted in April that he resigned due to moving out of the district.
Moyer’s appointment generated outrage among some residents, who claimed at the meeting Wednesday that Moyer had shown support for extreme political views.
Moyer was not at the meeting and could not be reached for comment.
About 10 residents spoke at the meeting.
They said Moyer’s appointment was further evidence of an allegation raised often at Oley’s meetings in recent months — that some board members base their decisions on political agendas rather than the well-being of students.
Many who spoke expressed disgust and confusion at Moyer’s appointment.
Some wondered why the school board doesn’t vet its members like district staff, who they said must pass extensive background checks before being hired.
Others asked board members to elaborate on their reasons for choosing Moyer.
“The recent appointment of her (Moyer) has raised serious questions about the priorities and values of this board,” said resident Kristen Gumeniski, who applied for the vacant school board position.
Resident Rachel Winterstine said she had started a petition for Moyer’s removal, which had received 240 signatures in a little over a day.
“Your actions are disgraceful and they have consequences,” Winterstine told board members who voted for Moyer. “Instead of deflecting and pointing fingers, address why you can’t simply condemn this as wrong.”
Board members offered no comments on Moyer’s appointment at the meeting.
Freed apologized for not listing the candidates on the agenda before the meetings and noted that Moyer had given verbal notice of her intent to resign.
If Moyer submits a written resignation, he said, the board will have to restart the application and interview process before selecting a new member.
Other candidates included Dr. Darrell Markley, a former Oley Valley high school principal who had served on the board for eight years.
Markley and Gumeniski were among the five Democratic candidates who lost the school board election in November to five Republican candidates, with Markley receiving the most votes of any Democrat.
A similar scene played out at the 4-3 May 8 vote, with Markley receiving votes from Freed, Aaron Keller and Dawn Zackon.
Moyer received votes from Maria Bogdanova-Peifer, Candice Corle, Mary Harris and Sharon Kershner.
None of the board members who voted for Moyer responded to a request for comment.
Winterstine said residents’ outrage wasn’t about their choice of candidates losing the election in November, it was about holding the board accountable for bad decisions.
“I will stand here and hold anyone accountable, regardless of their political affiliation, because wrong is wrong,” Winterstine said.
The other board member selected by the board was Zachary Moore, a real estate broker and business owner who graduated from Oley Valley High School in 2003
Moore said he serves as chairman of the Alsace Township planning commission and has served on zoning hearing boards for Alsace and Maidencreek townships.
Moore received votes from all board members except Zackon.
