By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times

CASH’s BRIDGEE Step Team performs at Tuesday night’s meeting.

CALN – More controversy erupted over the Coatesville Area School Board’s decision to retain Solicitor James Ellison at its meeting Tuesday night.

Near the beginning of the meeting, Board Member Stu Deets proposed adding an item to the agenda that would put out a request-for-proposals (RFP) to look into hiring a new solicitor. Deets said the action  would not be passing judgment on Ellison but utilizing best business practices for the district.

“Put out an RFP. Mr. Ellison can respond to that RFP just like everybody else has the opportunity to, but at least everybody else gets that opportunity,” said Deets.

Deets’s proposal comes after the board’s January decision to retain Ellison, who has been identified as a subject in the District Attorney’s investigation of the district. Deets  said that the board approved the provisional contract with the understanding that it would examine its options in the future. Board Members Deborah Thompson and Diane Brownfield also said that they would support an RFP.

Board President Neil Campbell, however, said that board policy dictates that an RFP for a new solicitor must go out in January. No item was added to the agenda, but the matter was brought up later in the meeting.

During public comment, resident Greg Wynn questioned Campbell’s explanation. “I thought before that you had bad decisions; now I know you’re not a man of your word,” Wynn said. He also warned other board members: “Mr. Ellison and Mr. Campbell are playing you right now.”

Board Member Deborah Thompson said that she would have acted differently in January if she  had been familiar with the board’s policy at the time. “I would have pushed a lot harder in January had I understood that we’d be at this point today,” she said.

Deets went on to propose a policy change that would allow the board to send out RFPs “in January or as needed.” The policy change would require a first and second reading and a board vote in future meetings before it could be enacted.

Campbell defended the board’s decision to keep Ellison, saying that the solicitor’s decision to leave his previous law firm, Rhoads and Sinon, and begin practicing on his own as the Susquehanna Legal Group has saved the district money.

As a part of his stated objective to be more responsive, Campbell  noted the difference in cost between Rhoads and Sinon and Susquehanna Legal Group. Campbell said that the district paid Rhoads and Sinon $936,000 over the course of the 2012-2013 school year, whereas Susquehanna Legal has charged the district $76,000  over the course of two months.

He also said that Right-to-Know requests have cost the district $20,000. “When you get it, use it properly,” he said of the requests.

Board Member Jim Fox pointed out that the district hired Conrad O’Brien to conduct an internal investigation partially because of residents’ requests. He said that the district has had to pay that firm $600,000 since the beginning of its investigation.

“You think we like having them here? No, we didn’t want them here, but you wanted them,” said Fox.

On a related note, Campbell said that Conrad O’Brien’s investigation of the district has been completed. He said that he has not yet read through the entire report and is not sure if it will be released to the public.

Tuesday night also saw the board approve various renovations to the Citadel Building, which is to become the district’s new administration building. With flooring, construction, electrical renovation, mechanical renovation, and furniture, Tuesday’ night’s approvals totaled just over $300,000.

Coatesville Area Senior High’s BRIDGEE Step Team as well as parents and students from Alternative Education were honored.

Alternative Education Principal Dr. Eugenia Roberts recognized the step team for being part of a program that provided positive influence for young men of color in the area. The team, consisting of Ron J. Jones, Christopher Hallagher, Anthony Story, Rajon Jones, and Sha-Var Saint John, performed for the audience.

Roberts also recognized parents and students who overcame difficulties to become graduates-to-be this year. “When you think they can’t do it, this is an example of doing it,” she said.