Jenkintown Superintendent Leave Prompts Meeting Venue Change

JENKINTOWN BOROUGH, PA — With the borough's schools superintendent on leave, Monday's Jenkintown School Board meeting location is being changed to accommodate an expected crowd to discuss her departure.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the Kuykendall Auditorium at Jenkintown High School. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and all community members are welcome to attend.

Schools Superintendent Jill A. Takacs is on temporary paid leave, School Board President Megan O'Brien stated in a message to the school community on behalf of the school board.

No reason was given by O'Brien for the decision.

Takacs has served as schools superintendent since the fall of 2016.

In her absence, the school board has appointed Steven Van Mater, the district's director of human resources and curriculum, as the interim schools superintendent.

Walkable Jenkintown, a borough community organization, said in a Facebook post that the Jenkintown Democratic Committee plans to pack the school auditorium with supporters to defend the school board.

"This is not about politics," Walkable Jenkintown said. "This is about competence and transparency. If you care about the future of this community and the schools that anchor it, and you have serious concerns about its management under Dr. Takacs, please come to this meeting."