It calls Hogan’s allegations of obstruction ‘blistering and inaccurate’
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Following an executive session Friday night, the Coatesville Area School District (CASD) Board of Education emphatically denied “a blistering and inaccurate press statement” by the Chester County District Attorney that it has impeded his investigation into possible criminal activity by the board and members of the administration.
“We are disappointed in District Attorney Tom Hogan’s most recent comments accusing the Coatesville Area School Board (CASB) and our solicitor of retaliation, obstruction and interfering with his investigation by placing Deputy Superintendent Angelo Romaniello on administrative leave pending the outcome of our internal investigation as well as investigations by county and state agencies,” a board statement released Friday night, April 4, said. “At all times in connection with this matter, the CASB and our solicitor have acted in good faith and in accordance with our responsibilities and duties under law.”
Hogan could not immediately be reached for comment.
The statement said that contrary to Hogan’s assertions, the board promptly informed its special counsel Matt Haverstick of the issue pertaining to Romaniello, who was placed on administrative leave last week. It said information was reported to Board Member Deborah Thompson by district employees Dr. Theresa Powell and Abdallah Hawa on the evening of Thursday, March 27. Haverstick was alerted immediately that evening by Thompson via telephone, and he advised her that he would immediately report the matter to Hogan’s assistant district attorney, Andrea Cardamone, the statement said.
Related story: D.A. rips CASD, Ellison on investigation obstruction
The rest of the board was alerted the same evening, and an executive session was held the next morning, Friday, March 28, at 9 a.m., to review the information provided by the two staff members pertaining to Romaniello, the statement said.
After reviewing the information, according to its account of events, the board directed Haverstick to verify its authenticity, and Solicitor James Ellison was directed to verify the involvement/investigative status of one or more state agencies to which the two staff members asserted they had previously provided the information, the statement said. Ellison immediately met and spoke with the relevant state agencies, ensuring that CASD complied with state required reporting guidelines, and a separate state agency referral was made to Hogan’s office the same day, the statement said.
The statement added that Haverstick provided copies of the information to Hogan’s office as directed by the CASD board so that a determination could be made by law enforcement whether the behavior was criminal or non-criminal in nature. Hogan has since said that the material was deemed not criminal.
In the meantime, the statement said that the board believed “it prudent to place Romaniello on paid administrative leave as soon as possible,” and a board member, the interim superintendent, and the solicitor were directed to convene a meeting with Romaniello for that purpose on Tuesday, April 1.
“The CASB wanted to be as transparent as possible regarding this process, while maintaining confidentiality regarding any investigation underway,” the statement said. “To that end, the CASB directed that a press release be issued immediately that afternoon.”
Although Hogan’s news release suggested the release was written by Ellison, the statement says the CASD board requested and received assistance from the Chester County Intermediate Unit in drafting the release.
Later that afternoon, according to the district’s account, Assistant District Attorney Andrea Cardamone emailed Haverstick to advise him that her office reviewed the information shared by the two employees and determined: “1) that it was noncriminal, 2) no investigation would be undertaken, and 3) her office wanted to inform the CASB of its decision right away,” the statement said.
Cardamone’s email to Haverstick made no mention of any accusation that the CASB was acting in an obstructive, retaliatory, or otherwise improper manner, the statement said. Referencing Hogan’s news release, the CASD board statement said Cardamone’s email contained “no mention that our actions were viewed as ‘attempting to undermine a witness who is cooperating with the Commonwealth, or ‘coordinated obstructionism.’”
In response to Hogan’s press release, the CASD statement says the board has “no explanation as to why Mr. Hogan would presume, without evidence or even inquiry, that our actions were designed to interfere with his investigation or witnesses.” It says it does not understand why following up on information provided by two staff members would “raise suspicion” by law enforcement.
“We believe that all would agree that if the CASB had handled the matter internally without reporting it to Mr. Hogan’s office, complying with state reporting requirements, and informing the public, the CASB would have faced withering criticism and a litany of accusations of improper, unethical and possibly illegal conduct,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, in acting in accordance with the law and in the spirit of total transparency, we stand accused and criticized nonetheless.”
