Just 16 days after Kay Hallabaugh resigned from the Upper Adams School District Board of Directors, John Lindemulder has also resigned. The following is a copy of his letter of resignation as transcribed from a .pdf file.

Upper Adams School District Board of Education
161 North Main Street
Biglerville, PA 17307

Subject: Resignation from the Upper Adams School District Board of Education

Dear Members of the Board,

Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Upper Adams School District Board of Education, effective immediately.

Although I am a relatively new member of the Board, I accepted this position with a sincere commitment to serve the students, faculty, staff, taxpayers, and community members of the Upper Adams School District. I believed I could contribute positively to the District’s future and help ensure that decisions remained focused on educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and the best interests of our students.

Unfortunately, after careful consideration, I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in this role. The direction and priorities of the board have become inconsistent with my own beliefs regarding leadership, accountability, transparency, and student-centered governance.

I have become increasingly concerned by what appears to be a focus on matters that do not directly contribute to the education and well-being of our students or support our faculty and staff. In particular, spending nearly two hours in executive session and incurring significant legal expenses on matters involving a single family—while important issues affecting the District remain unresolved—raises concerns that I cannot ignore. At a time when our educators are approaching contract negotiations and our district faces important organizational challenges, I believe our focus should remain on issues that directly impact student achievement, employee retention, and the long-term success of the district.

I am also troubled by the lack of urgency surrounding the ongoing teacher contract negotiations. Our educators are among the most valuable assets in this district, and ensuring they have a fair and timely contract should be a priority. The current pace and attention being given to this matter do not reflect the importance it deserves.

Equally concerning is the recent resignation of key administrators within the administration building and the potential for additional turnover. These developments should serve as significant indicators that warrant a comprehensive review by the board. Effective governance requires us to look beyond individual departures and evaluate broader organizational trends, leadership practices, workplace culture, succession planning, employee engagement, and retention efforts.

In my view, the district should be conducting a thorough and objective evaluation of turnover at all levels of the organization. This review should include administrators, teachers, and support staff while examining voluntary resignations, involuntary separations, retirements, and early retirements. We should seek to understand not only who is leaving, but why they are leaving. Identifying root causes and developing strategies to address them is essential to maintaining a healthy and successful organization.

The district’s largest budgetary expense is payroll, and its greatest asset is its people. Those two realities are inseparable. The costs associated with recruiting, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and training new employees are substantial. Retaining experienced educators and administrators is not only fiscally responsible but critical to maintaining educational excellence, institutional knowledge, and organizational stability. Experience has tremendous value, and Upper Adams has historically benefited from the dedication and expertise of its employees.

Unfortunately, I do not believe these concerns have received the level of attention, urgency, or strategic evaluation they deserve. The warning signs associated with leadership transitions and employee turnover are red flags that should be acknowledged and addressed proactively. I believe the Board has missed an opportunity to fully evaluate and address these challenges, and this is a significant factor in my decision to resign.

Additionally, I was disappointed to learn that concerns were raised regarding a social media post I made that was intended solely to encourage community engagement and the exercise of First Amendment rights. My message was never intended to promote hostility or violence toward the Board or any individual. Rather, it reflected my belief that taxpayers, parents, residents, and community stakeholders have both the right and the responsibility to express their opinions and concerns regarding the District.

What concerns me most is not that people are speaking—it is whether we, as leaders, are truly listening. Are we hearing the concerns of our taxpayers, investors, parents, and community members, or are those concerns simply being dismissed? Effective leadership requires open dialogue, mutual respect, and a willingness to engage with differing viewpoints.

I was particularly disappointed to learn that law enforcement was contacted regarding my social media post without any attempt to first speak with me directly. A simple conversation could have clarified the intent of my remarks and avoided unnecessary misunderstandings. Open communication should be the foundation of any governing body.

Serving on the Upper Adams School Board has been an honor, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to have represented the community. My decision to resign is not based on a single event, but rather on a growing belief that the board’s current priorities are not aligned with the critical issues facing our district. I hope the district moves forward in a manner that prioritizes students, supports educators, values employees, embraces community engagement, and addresses organizational challenges with transparency, accountability, and purpose.

I wish the students, faculty, staff, administration, and community of Upper Adams continued success.

Respectfully,

John Lindemulder
Board Member
Upper Adams School District Board of Education

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