Nazareth School Board Member Using Abuse Allegations for Political Gain

Like everyone else, I have read with shock and horror, the stories of the abuse that occurred with the former Drama Teacher at Nazareth Middle School and at least one student.  When someone in a position of trust betrays that trust, especially in such a heinous and inhumane way, it causes us all to pause for thought and to scrutinize those with whom we have entrusted our young loved ones 

That is, unless you are Nazareth School Board member, Chris Miller (no relation), who seems to have looked at the dreadful situation as an opportunity for him. I won't pretend to know the inner workings of his mind, but his actions and words have painted a rather lothesome picture.  Twice, since the accusations were made public, he has spoken to the press and used the situation to criticize other board members, while trying to promote himself.  Incidentally, in both articles, he fails to show empathy or even support for the victim.

His most recent article in the Express Times is based on his assertion that Nazareth needs to improve it's background checks of prospective students. It's pure pandering, as the state mandates a system of thorough and complete background checks. Miller is apparently unaware that to be certified to teach in Pennsylvania, teachers need a Criminal Background Check, an FBI Background Check and a Child Abuse Clearance. In addition, those have to be updated every year to three years, depending on the check. Nazareth verifies that all applicants have those checks and clearances before even speaking with a prospective teacher.

I have a big problem with the way Chris Miller has seemingly exploited this terrible situation for his own selfish gain. When the news first broke of the molestation charges, he offered no empathy or concern for the student, instead opting to say "I told you so" to a newspaper reporter.  He claimed he tried to have the teacher fired back in 2011, but the school board ignored him and he gave up.  The reporter who spoke with him said, "Miller said he wanted Salevsky fired then, but administrators and other school board members ignored him."  Miller, himself, was quoted in the story as saying, "Now I'm kicking myself, saying I should have persevered and forced the situation to get him out of here."

*** Here's the story ***

Chris Miller should be well-aware that the minutes of those meetings are public knowledge and there were a number of people there when the accused teacher and that play Miller referenced were discussed.  He's likely banking on nobody going back to check the minutes or remember what really happened.  Well, he made a bad choice, because that's exactly what I did.

It seems that Chris Miller did speak publicly (he was not yet on the council), but he DID NOT push for the teacher's dismissal. Here are what the official minutes show- "Mr. Chris Miller said that he attended the first hour of the play on Saturday. He said that he was not pleased with some of the language. He suggested that we create a board of review for plays, books, etc."  

That's a far cry from what he is now claiming he said, isn't it?  Want to see the whole thing?  Check the minutes for the meeting on November 14, 2011. They're available on the district's web page. There's nothing more attributed to him, as would be legally required and in like with Roberts's Rules of Order, if he had spoken again. Miller claims he made some comments off the record to former Superintendent, Vic Lesky, which I find hard to believe.  Those of us who have followed Miller's ramblings for years know he is not afraid to speak his mind and if he believed the teacher should be fired, he would have said so at the meeting.

Furthermore, I also did a little background check on the general public's opinion of the way things were handled after the play the accused teacher got in trouble for in 2011.  People felt it was handled properly at the time, and multiple parents and students spoke out in the accused teacher's defense. Nobody had any idea what was going on behind the scenes.

In one article printed in the Express Times, Editor Joe Owens said, "1) I am familiar with the teacher in question, Shawn Salevsky. He taught at my son’s school before taking the job at Nazareth and was involved in plays there. I found him to be an asset as a faculty member and as an adult leader in the extracurricular role with the play. My son had a good experience performing in two plays as a seventh and eighth grader.

2) It would seem the Nazareth district ultimately got this one right..."

*** Here's that story ***

I find Chris Miller's behavior beyond tasteless and self-serving, using the suffering of a young boy for his own political gain.   Everyone, from the local townspeople to the notoriously persnickety newspaper editors, felt the school district handled the situation appropriately in 2011.  At the time, Miller was preparing to garner a seat on the council, writing letters to the editor every month and speaking out at every school board meeting he could. His current claim that he spoke to former Superintendent Lesky and requested the teacher be fired rings hollow, since he had no problem speaking his mind about everything else, to everyone who would listen. It appears to be nothing more than an attempt to deflect blame to Lesky, a man who certainly doesn't deserve it.