Chesco Judge Removes 5 West Chester School Board Members

WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County Judge William P. Mahon has ordered the removal of five of the nine West Chester school board members who supported masking requirements, according to an order available today.

Parent Beth Ann Rosico on Feb. 10 filed a petition calling for the removal of five board members who voted in favor of a school mask mandate.

The defendants named in the civil case are Sue Tiernan, president; and directors Joyce Chester, Karen Herrmann, Kate Shaw, and Daryle Durnell.

The mandate has since been lifted as a result of lower levels of coronavirus outbreak.

Kenneth Roos, a Blue Bell lawyer representing the school board, asked the judge to vacate the order.

A hearing is set on Friday in the Chester County Justice Center.

At issue is the date that the district was required to respond to the petition in accordance with civil court procedures.

Roos said that the school district received notification on March 15 to file a response in 20 days, which ends on April 4.

He said the school board was not notified that it was required to respond in 10 days.

Rosico said Wednesday even though the mask mandate has since been lifted the petition is necessary to remove the board members to prevent future mask mandates in the event of an uptick in positive coronavirus cases.

According to the Chester County Health Department, the county is considered in a low risk category for transmission of COVID-19.

During the week of March 25, a total of 45 cases were reported. The population of the district is 112,676.