Crawford Central School Board member Feleppa resigns
With Crawford Central School Board set to vote Monday on a $70.6 million budget that brings a potential 3.5 percent tax increase, long-time board member Jan Feleppa submitted her resignation following the board’s work session Monday.
Feleppa resigned Tuesday for personal reasons, according to Superintendent Jenn Galdon.
“I am grateful for Jan’s dedication and contributions during her tenure on the board,” Galdon wrote in an email to The Meadville Tribune. “Her commitment to our students, staff, and community has been invaluable.”
Board President Kevin Merritt echoed Galdon’s praise.
“I appreciate her years of service with the board and wish her well,” Merritt said in a phone interview. “She was a strong advocate for special ed. That’s going to be a component that’s going to be missed on the board.”
Feleppa’s expertise with regard to special education was on display at Monday’s work session as she grilled representatives of Bethesda Lutheran Services regarding a therapeutic support classroom program that Crawford Central is considering enrolling in.
During the work session, Feleppa also said she was against the proposed tax increase.
Feleppa declined to comment on her resignation when contacted Thursday.
The departure leaves the board with just eight members as it approaches a vote that could prove controversial. While Feleppa was the only member to explicitly declare opposition to the proposed budget on Monday, several others expressed reluctance.
The desire to soften any property tax increase was so strong, in fact, that five of the six members present — all but Feleppa — said they would support bringing back the district’s per capita tax in order to provide a slight offset to the proposed property tax hike. Board Vice President Jeff Rose and members Holly Chatman and Ryan Pickering did not attend the meeting.
In discussing the future of the district’s biomass plant, which provides heat for the middle and high schools in Meadville, board member Ron Irwin tied decisions regarding the plant directly to the possible tax hike.
“We have to look out for the taxpayers of Crawford Central,” Irwin said. “We cannot go to them asking for more tax money when we’re not exploring 100 percent before we literally flush (money) down the toilet. I just can’t do it.”
Feleppa was elected to the board in December 2014 and was immediately made the board’s vice president by her fellow members. A year later, she was elected board president. She remained the board’s leader until December 2022.
Merrit said he didn’t anticipate the vacant seat having an effect on the board’s meeting Monday.
“If there’s a tie,” he said regarding upcoming votes on the proposed budget and tax levy, “you just keep going till you get five.”
Approval of the budget and tax levy requires at least five votes, regardless of how many board members are present.
After officially accepting her resignation at Monday’s meeting, the board has 30 days to appoint a new member. Since Crawford Central does not meet in July, doing so will require calling a special meeting.
District residents interested in being appointed to the position submit either a letter of interest which sets forth their qualifications or their resume to Superintendent Jennifer A. Galdon, Crawford Central School District, Instructional Support Center, 11280 Mercer Pike, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 16335.
Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. July 3. The successful candidate will serve the remainder of Feleppa’s term, which continues through November 2025.
To be eligible for appointment as a board member, an individual must be a citizen of Pennsylvania, have a good moral character, be at least 18 years old, and have resided in the Crawford Central School District for at least one year.
