Tempers were high following the election of a temporary board member at Monday’s special voting meeting at Littlestown Area School District. Lindsey Kress, a former Littlestown High School teacher, was elected to serve from May through November. The other two candidates were Nickolas Lovell, a 2022 graduate of Littlestown High School, and Janell Ressler, a current substitute teacher.
“I cannot believe what I just saw in this boardroom,” said community member Chris O’Brien. She was concerned with negative comments the board made regarding the age of candidate Lovell, who is 19 years old. Board member Lawyer said that the fact Lovell doesn’t pay taxes could be an issue.
Requirements for school board members in Pennsylvania are: At least eighteen years of age as of the date of the November municipal election. Good moral character. Resident of the school district for at least one (1) year prior to the date of the November municipal election (or prior to appointment if appointed).
Janell Ressler spoke as well. “I am extremely disappointed in his board and the decision you made for the students in this community,” Ressler said she did not expect to be nominated by any board members because she has been outspoken in her criticism of board policy during the past two years. She said she was disappointed that Lovell had not been elected.
Two other community members, Dana Boritz, and Wanda Barthel, also criticized the board for using age as a factor not to support Lovell. They also said Kress had not attended board meetings or had much knowledge of the policies. Both agreed that Ressler, although controversial, has regularly attended board meetings and researched the educational topics she disagreed with.
All three candidates answered eight questions from the board regarding their experience, knowledge of school policy, budget issues, and community involvement and were asked to describe their greatest hope for the future of LASD.
Lovell said he hoped in the future that LASD would provide the “best pre-college, career and technical education possible for students. Then along with that, we provide not only the knowledge and the learning that happens in the classroom, but life-changing experiences outside of the classroom.”
Ressler said she hopes that LASD will be a leader academically, not only in Adams County but also in the state. “I want LASD to be a district that people want to move here for like I did 22 years ago. I would like to see true American values and American history being taught in our classrooms again,” she added.
Kress said she would like to see school pride brought back to the district with students, teachers, and administrators. “There’s a lack of ownership that students have, and as a whole, I would love to bring that back. We need to have our students feel safe, feel welcome, feel knowledge, and they have to feel like they are being taken care of.”
All of the candidates agreed that community involvement needs to be increased and that board members should be visible within the district and the schools.
Following the question and answer period, the board nominated Lovell and Kress, and the first vote ended in a tie. There was some debate about whether Lovell’s lack of experience and non-tax-paying status was a negative or positive attribute. After both sides were heard, the board voted again, this time in favor of Kress.
Following the vote, board president Dolores Nester thanked the candidates for their participation. “I think all three of you did an outstanding job and I wish you good luck in the elections.” All three candidates will be running for the permanent position in upcoming elections. Superintendent Chris Bigger later said, “All three of them have my best wishes as they run to serve on this board in the future.”
Featured image caption: Lindsey Kress, left, a former Littlestown High School teacher was congratulated by Dolores Nester, LASD School Board president, on her election to a temporary board position from May through November when a permanent replacement will be elected.
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