Connellsville Area school board allocates money to fund sensitivity training for athletic teams
While none of the Connellsville Area school directors necessarily agreed the measure was necessary, the board narrowly approved the expenditure of $4,900 for sensitivity training for athletic teams.
The training will be conducted to adhere to the a ruling by the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League stemming from allegations that racial slurs were used during a boys’ soccer game in September with Penn Hills.
The measure passed by a 5-3 margin with board members Kevin Lape, Daniel Martucci and Paul Harshman voting against it.
Lape’s reasoning was simple.
“I am voting no because I feel we have done nothing wrong. Nothing at all,” said Lape. Other dissenting board members agreed.
Even board members who voted for the measure said much of the same, but voted for the expenditure because it is what the WPIAL ruling required.
Board members said they felt it was important for the district to move past the controversy and focus on all the good things that are happening at Connellsville.
Solicitor Wendy O’Brien pointed out that the school district agreed to the sensitivity training prior to the WPIAL’s ruling. The training is being provided by Haselrig Group, a company that specializes on diversity and inclusion training.
The relationship between the two schools and their sports teams has been strained since Penn Hills officials made allegations that student-athletes and fans from Connellsville used racial slurs toward Penn Hills players at the soccer game. Several from Connellsville who were in attendance at the game have vehemently denied that occurred.
The WPIAL conducted a closed-door hearing, taking testimony from those involved about the matter. While officials found they could not determine, with certainty, that slurs were used, the ruling indicated the allegations were “reasonably credible.”
Earlier this month, Penn Hills again lodged a complaint with the WPIAL, claiming Connellsville’s practice of bringing armed guards to sporting events between the schools was culturally insensitive. Connellsville officials said bringing armed school security to away games is not a new practice. Penn Hills forfeited a girls’ volleyball game, refusing to travel to Connellsville last week.
In that instance, the WPIAL found that Connellsville was keeping with a decade-long practice of taking security to select away games. The organization also admonished Penn Hills officials for not working with Connellsville administrators to resolve their concerns before bringing the matter to the WPIAL and the media.
In other business, the school board approved the collective bargaining agreement with the Connellsville Area Support Personnel Association.
Superintendent Joseph Bradley thanked both sides for a smooth negotiation.
“To me, it signifies an amicable and student-centric negotiation and I thank you,” said Bradley.
The school board also decided to cancel its Nov. 26 work session and rescheduled it for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28, prior to the board’s executive session and voting meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.