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By LORI GABRIELE Times Leader Correspondent
Thursday, January 27, 2000 Page: 3A
KINGSTON – Luzerne Intermediate Unit board members Wednesday night formed a
special committee that will examine the performance of Executive Director
Kevin O’Connor.
The motion was made by board Secretary Anthony Sobeski, who in November
threatened to call for O’Connor’s resignation. Sobeski was not available for
comment after the meeting.
The formation of the committee follows problems O’Connor recently has
faced as executive director. In November, O’Connor was accused by Sobeski and
others of opening employees’ mail at the LIU.
Also, a former teacher could be awarded as much as $29,000 because Luzerne
Intermediate Unit officials did not respond to a lawsuit he filed against
them.
In that lawsuit, former teacher Thomas M. Bell of Wilkes-Barre alleged
supervisors ignored his allegations about a fellow teacher, including that the
teacher physically abused students. Bell said the accusations cost him his job
as a long-term substitute at the Alternative Education Center in Plains
Township when O’Connor hired someone to replace him during the 1998-1999
school year.
LIU Board member Moderno Rossi said O’Connor’s recent problems, including
the lawsuit by Bell, prompted the formation of the committee.
“I want to find out why there are so many problems within the LIU, and the
man in charge is the best place to start,” Rossi said.
O’Connor said such a committee is not unusual. He said evaluations of
directors are common within other intermediate units, although this will be
the first of its kind at LIU.
“I think it is a great idea. I welcome the examination,” O’Connor said
after the meeting. “They want to take a proactive position in answering
concerns.”
Board member Peter Halesey agreed with O’Connor. He said the evaluation has
nothing to do with legal or personnel problems within the unit.
The committee, which will consist of LIU board members, will meet Feb. 9 in
a closed meeting to begin the evaluation process, O’Connor said. According to
O’Connor, the results of the evaluation will not be available to the public.
The LIU is a countywide consortium for special education classes.