Residents and staff speak out at Schuylkill Valley SD meeting over resignations, retaliation and workplace climate

Several residents and current and former staff used the public‑comment period at the Schuylkill Valley School District board meeting on Feb. 24 to raise concerns about staff turnover, alleged retaliatory behavior by administrators and the recent resignation of longtime athletic director Stephanie Deibler.

Lisa Jacobson, a Berne Township resident and parent, said she was accused at a prior meeting of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and that the accusation led her to seek legal protection. “I had to seek legal protection from a district administrator and a board member,” Jacobson said. She said the post in question was anonymous and did not include educational records or personally identifiable student information.

Joanna Schlottman, also of Berne Township, told the board she believes turnover is driven “more to do with leadership styles…