Politics or Perception? Residents Give North Allegheny School Board an Earful

The North Allegheny School Board voted 7-0 Wednesday night to end the practice of allowing school board members to hold unpaid, volunteer positions that are supervised by a member of the administration.

Right now, the policy would only affect Ralph Pagone, who is the volunteer head coach of the girls’ slow pitch softball team, which falls under the supervision of athletic director Bob Bozzuto.

However, after criticism from several members of the audience (see video) who suggested the board was enacting the policy as political revenge against Pagone, the board modified the proposal to take effect only after a current board members' term expires.

Pagone's term ends in December, although he has won both the Democratic and Republican nominations for reelection. 

Board President Maureen Grosheider and other board members denied that politics had anything to do with the proposed policy. Click here.

Pagone and fellow board member Daniel Hubert were absent from Wednesday's meeting. Pagone has declined to comment on the board's vote.

What do you think? Do you agree with North Allegheny School Board's vote? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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