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Parents and teachers press Quakertown board to appoint acting superintendent, seek accountability after Feb. 20 incidents
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Summary
Multiple speakers at the Quakertown board meeting urged the board to remove the 'acting' title from Dr. Lisa Hoffman and requested clearer equity policies and external accountability following February protests and reports of racist language in schools.
Several community members used the board’s public comment period to press trustees for personnel action and clearer accountability on racial incidents.
Nicholas Birch, an English teacher at Quakertown High School, spoke in support of removing the 'acting' title from Dr. Lisa Hoffman and making her appointment permanent. “I am here this evening to ask you to remove the acting title from doctor Lisa Hoffman and make it official,” Birch told the board, calling Hoffman a leader who builds trust and supports staff development.
Sarah Collins, who identified herself as a Quakertown borough resident and parent of three district students, recounted that her then-third grader had heard classmates use the N-word and other slurs on the playground. Collins urged the district to strengthen equity policies and long-term cultural change, saying classroom and policy changes—rather than single workshops—are needed to rebuild trust after incidents in February. “When a school district commits to equity-based policies, they build trust in their community,” she said.
Laura Foster, speaking as a co-founder of the local nonprofit Upper Bucks United, asked for specific updates on actions taken since the February events and raised concerns about relying solely on internal reviews. She called for transparent, ongoing reporting at board meetings regarding the Peace Center work, protections for students’ protest rights, and oversight of community partners involved in response efforts.
Sanford 'Sandy' Beth described concerns about the February protests, asking why the demonstrations proceeded if warnings about safety had been issued and police involvement occurred. He framed his remarks around student safety and the role of adults in school activities.
Board members did not take immediate personnel action during the meeting; public commenters asked that the board address appointment and accountability in future business. The board’s next steps on any formal appointment or external review were not announced at the meeting.
