Residents tell North Allegheny board a district employee deliberately ran over protected geese; family and commenters dispute details

Several residents addressed the North Allegheny School Board during public comment alleging that a district maintenance worker and part-time wrestling coach deliberately ran over a Canada goose and its goslings in May, a claim that prompted conflicting statements from the employee’s family and other members of the public.

"I’m here to talk about an incident that occurred in May at about 9:07 p.m.," said Dr. Francis Kelly, who identified himself as a district resident. Kelly said a man in a black SUV struck a female Canada goose and her four goslings and that video of the event shows the driver did not brake or swerve. "Two babies died," Kelly said. "This tragic incident resulted in public outrage."

Witness Diane Bandy told the board she saw the event in the Pine Creek area on Blazer Drive. "I was traumatized and deeply hurt by witnessing his cruel and senseless act," Bandy said, describing injured goslings and a distressed mother goose.

Speakers cited the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, with Kelly noting Canada geese are federally protected and saying killing one can be a felony. Several speakers said the episode attracted television coverage and widespread community reaction.

Those remarks were met by immediate rebuttal from the employee’s father, who identified himself as Steve Cassidy. "He swerved," Cassidy said, and he told the board that police and the district attorney reviewed the matter and did not pursue charges. "They found nothing wrong except this was just a mere accident," he said.

Another resident, Michelle Pepitone, urged the board to view the video footage she said was widely shared online and argued the behavior should disqualify the worker from being around minors. "I really do think it's incumbent that you do so… I don't think my tax dollars should go to support that, and I don't think he should be around minors either," Pepitone said.

John Harrison, a parent and resident, urged the board to rely on the decisions of police and the district attorney. "If the police department did not find anything and the DA did not find anything, then the school board should sit there and do the exact same thing," Harrison said.

Board members did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting. Board staff accepted documents from at least one speaker. The board did not announce any administrative personnel actions during the session.

The board heard multiple conflicting personal accounts; speakers on both sides referenced video recordings and communications with law enforcement. The assertions and the denials given to the board are on the public record from the meeting, but the board made no finding of culpability and did not move to alter the employee’s status during the session.