Trinity approves nepotism policy

Relatives of Trinity School District employees and board members need not apply.
By a 5-2-2 vote, the school board approved an updated nepotism policy Thursday that prevents the hiring of relatives of employees and board members.
Board member Tamara Salvatori asked that the policy be sent back to the policy committee for review, but a majority of the board did not want that to happen.
She said she’s concerned the district may miss out on good teachers by drawing this line in the sand.
However, board member Colleen Interval said the opposite is true – Trinity has missed out on good teachers by hiring relatives instead of the best candidates.
Board member Henry Clemens said he would like to see a stronger hiring policy instead of the focus on nepotism. Then, he said, there wouldn’t be discussion of voting to suspend a policy to hire someone.
“If you have a policy, you should stand by the policy,” he said.
Interval and board members Sandra Clutter, Scott Day, Jack Keisling and Tom Bodnovich voted for the policy. Interval and board member Jim Knapp voted against it. Clemens and board member Dennis McWreath abstained.
The board also voted on the policy in May, but it was not passed because it was a 4-3 vote. Trinity needs a majority of the board, or five members, to approve policy changes.
The board also discussed the process of approving policies after community members again asked about those procedures.
Superintendent Paul Kasunich said a policy brought up for the first time Thursday would be up for a vote at the meeting later this month unless it was referred to the policy committee. Then it would come up again at the first meeting next month before final approval.
McWreath questioned if that’s how the district’s policy approval reads.
Solicitor Dennis Makel said the policy says nothing about first or second readings. However, that has been the practice of the board. Makel said the Trinity documents are “vaguely worded” and suggested the board come up with a more specific policy.
Kasunich said he would bring an updated policy to the board that includes information about first and second readings.
The questions came up from Trinity residents concerned about a new policy for hiring athletic coaches, directors and supervisors. The board decided to send that to the policy committee for review. The next policy committee will be 4 p.m. June 15 in the administrative offices.

Trinity doesn't approve nepotism policy after all

After a brief discussion, it appeared that Trinity Area School Board passed a new nepotism policy by a 4-3 vote Thursday.

However, that was not the case.

After the meeting, solicitor Dennis Makel checked the district's policy for approval of policies.

Trinity policy dictates that any policy must have the approval of five board members, he said. That means that even though a majority of the members present voted for the policy, it was not enough to reach the threshold for approval.

The policy can be brought up for approval again if it is the wish of the board.

The policy states that no one can be hired if they are related to an employee or a school board member.

Board member Tamara Salvatori, who voted against approving the policy, said there is so much nepotism at Trinity that she understands the need for the policy.

However, it seems to blanket everyone, when the best candidate for a job may be related to someone in the district, she said.

"I fear that we may be knocking out people who would be good for the district," she said.

School board member Jim Knapp, who is a Bethel Park guidance counselor, said he's been in education for 22 years and he thinks it's a bad policy. He said it backfired at a district where he worked.

Superintendent Paul Kasunich said nepotism reflects the hiring policy of a school district.

"If a hiring policy is sound, typically you won't need a nepotism policy that's so stringent," he said.

He said what he hears from the board is a dissatisfaction with the process in place. He said he would be willing to bring an updated hiring policy before the board.

Salvatori and Knapp asked for the nepotism policy to be tabled while the issue was revisited. However, that motion did not pass.

After that, the board voted on approving the nepotism policy and it was a 4-3 vote. School board members Sandy Clutter, Scott Day, Colleen Interval and Dennis McWreath voted for the nepotism policy. Salvatori, Knapp and William Clemens voted against the policy. Tom Bodnovich and Jack Keisling were not present at the meeting.

After the vote, three residents told the board they disagreed with the just-approved nepotism policy and thought employees should be hired based on their credentials without worrying about whether they already have family working at Trinity.

Earlier in the meeting, there was not a second for a motion to hire Frederick Ullom, who is Clutter's cousin, as a substitute custodian. Clutter said at a previous meeting that she did not want the existing nepotism policy waived so her relative could be hired.

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