PITTSTON — A school board meeting Tuesday saw Pittston Area officials keep their silence on the employment status of Superintendent Kevin Booth, whose arrest earlier this month on domestic-violence related charges has cast the district under a pall of controversy. And though the school board did not take public action, it did place one anonymous employee on leave.
Assistant Superintendent John Haas addressed the controversy after the meeting. He said there was no update to give on Booth’s employment, referring to a district policy that he said barred public discussion of personnel matters, and said officials were following prescribed procedures. The school board meeting itself was only modestly attended and involved no board discussion or public comment on Booth’s employment or arrest.
“Discussing personnel issues in a public forum is something that, as part of our policies and procedures, that we just don’t do,” Haas said. “Right now, there are different procedures in place….”
The Board of Education did vote 8-0, with one school board member absent, to place “employee #040377” on administrative leave, retroactive to Oct. 14. The salary and benefits of that employee would be continued per the employee’s contract, pending further school board action.
Haas and Board of Education solicitor Sam Falcone declined to identify employee #040377, with Falcone saying it was standard practice to vote on personnel issues that involve “discipline or termination” anonymously. They also asserted it was not in violation of state transparency laws to keep that information undisclosed. Several school board members declined to comment on the situation involving the superintendent after the meeting.
Asked whether the refusal to take public action on Booth’s employment undermined public trust, Haas defended the district and school board.
“I believe our Board of Education is acting appropriately to follow legal procedures, keep our students safe, and they maintain that through their values and their ethics,” Haas said.
Despite its reticence about Booth’s employment, Falcone said the school district was being active in its response to the ongoing criminal and civil cases (the latter of which involves a protection-from-abuse order obtained against Booth). Falcone noted the district had reported the matter to the state Department of Education, fulfilling its obligations under the state school code.
Pittston Area Assistant Superintendent John Haas, right, and solicitor Sam Falcone (CHRISTOPHER DOYLE/STAFF PHOTO)
“There are several fronts here right now,” Falcone said. “So, it’s not a matter of the fact that things haven’t been done. A very prophylactic approach has been taken by the district and we intend to continue to comply with everything.”
While noting he was cognizant of students and parental concerns, Falcone said future actions will be informed by the outcome of coming legal proceedings and that the district was “very mindful of people’s presumption of innocence.”
“There’s proceedings that are scheduled that will be held that will answer questions and that’ll lead us in directions that we may need to go or may not need to go,” Falcone said.
City police arrested Booth, 54, on Oct. 5 after he arrived at his home on Union Street and allegedly choked his wife. Police said Booth denied the allegation of domestic violence after having initially told law enforcement he had “no idea” what had happened. Booth was subsequently arraigned on simple assault and harassment charges and released on $2,500 unsecured bail.
Since his arrest and release, Booth has sought and secured admission into an inpatient treatment facility, where, according to a motion filed by his attorney, he plans to stay for at least 30 days. His wife, Jessica Booth, has obtained a protection-from-abuse order against the superintendent, though proceedings surrounding that order are on hold until Nov. 20, so that inpatient treatment can be completed.
Haas and Falcone declined to say whether a school district health insurance policy was paying for Booth’s inpatient stay.
“As a personnel matter and as a matter of privacy and health care, we wouldn’t comment on how that’s being paid for at this point,” Falcone said.
Addressing the district’s mental health response, Haas said school counselors have been told of the situation and instructed to respond sensitively to any students who may be disturbed by news of their superintendent’s alleged commission of domestic violence. He also praised district staff and faculty, saying they would continue to “stand firmly in making sure our kids get the best possible education.”
“The district has a plan in place that we’re following through with…to make sure our students have any of the supports they need,” Haas said. “We have a plethora of resources available for them.”
Haas said the district’s vetting process for new hires complies with all state law and said the district had not yet decided on pursuing any kind of reform in response to the controversy surrounding Booth. He said the district did not have a timetable in place for when it may take public action on the superintendent position, saying the “processes have to play out.”
“We’re continuing to move as the process moves,” Haas said.