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Parents press Coatesville board on alleged teacher misconduct and equity in comprehensive plan
Summary
During public comment at the March 24 board meeting, Justin Russo alleged a middle school teacher engaged in intimidation and retaliation and asked the board for help; another community member pressed the board on how the comprehensive plan addresses equity and whether the district seeks minority candidates for open administrative posts.
Several public commenters used the Coatesville Area School District board meeting on March 24 to press the board on personnel and equity concerns.
Justin Russo told the board he and his wife had raised a matter privately without resolution and said a middle school teacher in the district had "created a pattern of intimidation, retaliation and control over students, staff, and parents." Russo said his daughter had been reported to Child Youth Services and that the family needed help from the district. He left written materials with the board president at the meeting.
Later in the public comment period, Lori Shannon Bailey urged the board to ensure the comprehensive planning process incorporated the district’s equity report and to be explicit about progress on prior comprehensive‑planning goals. Bailey asked whether the district would seek minority candidates for an assistant principal vacancy, citing a Black female principal from Philadelphia who applied for a Rainbow Elementary position; she said the district should not claim it cannot find qualified African American administrators.
Board members responded to questions about equity in the comprehensive plan during the education agenda discussion, saying participants in the planning process had debated access versus outcome measures and stressing the need for accountability and coaching. The superintendent and other administrators said access barriers had been discussed as a prerequisite to improving outcomes and that action and professional development remain priorities.
The board did not take personnel actions during the meeting; no district rebuttal or personnel findings were recorded in the meeting minutes. The board accepted written materials from one commenter and noted that several items discussed at committee meetings remain under legal or vendor review.
