Candidates say board appointments based on politics
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By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Residents Dave Stoneburner and Damon Miller sat in the same spots they usually do on the third and fourth Wednesdays of each month.
As they always do, they diligently listened to the issues discussed at Morrisville school board meetings, such as the possibility of starting a track team club and getting a more comfortable ride for students attending Bucks County Technical School instead of crowding them into one bus.
But last week's meeting was personal for them. They were two of four candidates hoping to be appointed to the board. A seat was left vacant last month after the board ousted Robin Reithmeyer because of poor attendance.
Neither got the job.
Yvonne Ruthrauff did. Mark Coassolo was the other candidate, but he wasn't at the meeting.
No surprise in the choice, Stoneburner and Miller said, but plenty of disappointment.
They believe Ruthrauff will be a rubberstamp for the majority.
But board members said she was the most qualified and would be the best person to work with.
Jack Buckman said he voted for Ruthrauff because "(she) was humble and had concerns about the schools and the community before I came on the board. I used to be on (the borough's council) + and then she was telling me things had to be looked into at the schools. All the others came across as forceful and too confident. I feel (Ruthrauff) will speak up when it's necessary."
John DeWilde voted for her because "she seemed the most willing to work with the rest of the board members."
For board member Marlys Mihok, Ruthrauff was the most open-minded candidate and willing to learn new things. Ronald Stout said Ruthrauff "seems to think along the same lines as I do. We need good education and want the money to go to the kids."
Al Radosti said he's known Ruthrauff a long time and, without giving specifics, said she was the best choice. He added that she's been involved in the community a lot.
Ruthrauff said she wants to work with the board and not disappoint the public.
Stoneburner and Miller have made previous runs for a school board seat with no luck. Still, they continued attending meetings and being involved in the district hoping their knowledge of the issues would land them a seat.
It didn't this time.
Ruthrauff was the only candidate nominated, and appointed by a 6-0 vote. Two board members, Brenda Worob and Gloria Heater, didn't attend the meeting.
Although they said they have nothing against Ruthrauff as a person, they worry about her knowledge of the issues affecting the district.
"(The board is) looking for 'yes' people that won't bring anything new to the table," Miller said. "They aren't representing all of Morrisville; they are only representing a portion of the community."
"They picked what was best for them, not what was best for the students," Stoneburner said, adding that Ruthrauff doesn't attend meetings regularly.
But Stoneburner and Miller will be back, they said, sitting in their regular seats.
