AMESVILLE – Dr. Mike Slavinski, superintendent of the Moshannon Valley School District was officially placed on paid administrative leave Monday night.
Slavinski will be on leave pending an investigation, according to Aimee Willett, solicitor for the Moshannon Valley School Board. The leave is retroactively effective, beginning April 17.
News that Slavinski was placed on leave broke on April 18. During an interview with Scott Magnetti, board president, on April 18, the decision to place Slavinski on leave effective April 17 was made during an executive session at the April 16 meeting of the school board. For that story click here.
According to the Pennsylvania Open Meetings Act, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Act, section 705 states that “in all meetings of agencies, the vote of each member who actually votes on any resolution, rule, order, regulation, ordinance or the setting of official policy must be publicly cast and, in the case of roll call votes, recorded.”
Any potential violation of the Sunshine Act can be “cured” by a board by essentially re-voting on the subject in an open session.
The board cured any potential violation on Monday night with their vote. Not all members of the board agreed with the decision to place Slavinski on paid administrative leave.
When it came time for board member Carol Gossar to voice her vote, she voted no.
“I feel I haven’t been given enough information,” said Gossar.
“Yes you have,” replied another board member.
Gossar was the only board member to vote no.
The decision to place Slavinski on leave had a ripple effect. The board approved appointing Dr. Jack Cunning, district principal, to acting superintendent. Cheryl Pataky, assistant district principal, was appointed acting district principal. Connie Chihon-Godin, faculty member, was appointed the acting dean of elementary school students.
The appointments of Cunning, Pataky and Chihon-Godin are all subject to review and revision by the board.
Board members absent from the meeting were Rose Holenchik and Albert Adams.