WAYNESBORO, Pa. – Summitview Elementary School Principal Steven Pappas will return to duty on July 1 after being reinstated at last evening’s Waynesboro Area School District board meeting. WASD board President Rachel Fortney opened the meeting with the following statement.
“We thank you for giving us the time that we needed as a board to be able to review all information and hear all sides. We recognize that the past months have been challenging for our school community. While personnel matters are handled appropriately and respectfully, we also understand the importance of moving forward together in a positive and unified way. Our shared priority remains providing a safe, supportive and high-quality learning environment for every student.
“At this time an agreement has been reached, and Mr. Pappas will be reinstated effective July 1, 2026, at Summitview Elementary School. The parties are in the process of memorializing the terms of a comprehensive global resolution to the matter. With this resolution our focus is firmly on the future, on healing, rebuilding trust and strengthening the relationship that makes our school the place that we truly love.
“We’d like to create an opportunity to sit down with our teachers and truly listen. As a school board, we want to better understand your experiences, hear your thoughts and learn how we can better support you and our schools. We are committed to maintaining a respectful and professional environment where all voices are valued and will work together as one school community. We are first choice, we are Boro strong. Thank you.”
The crowd reacted with cheers at the news; however, when the board opened the floor to public statements it was clear that the community, while happy with the decision, is not satisfied with the reinstatement alone.
The first speaker, Chandra Cross, thanked the board for its decision and announced that she would be applying for the board vacancy. The next speaker, Allison Bailey, also thanked the board and stated she believed this was the first step in restoring trust in the community.
The third speaker, Ashley Wilburn, who has been one of the strongest voices in support of Pappas and higher expectations from the board, stated that she would be running for a board seat at the next election.
“I think that this experience has opened my eyes to things that need community support,” she stated, “and giving public comment is not the only way to effect change.”
Michelle McCarty also thanked the board for its decision and to all those that have supported the Pappas family and the Waynesboro community. The next speaker, John Copley, gave an emotional speech as he voiced his concerns over the costs that taxpayers have and will pay for the hearings.
“Each and every one of us pays a decent portion of our hard work salaries to the district in the hopes you will all spend those resources wisely,” he said, struggling to control his emotions. “You wasted thousands of dollars of our money, and that is not money I have laying around just to throw away.”
Brittney Shoe introduced a new idea for the school board meetings, a “Boro Glow” report that recognizes the men and women who work in area schools and make a positive difference and influence in the lives of community children and their families.
Kathleen Dimino gave the final speech with a statement of allegations against the board over the past few years. The statement featured nine allegations ranging from not following protocols and covering up inappropriate behaviors among WASD staff.
The emotional evening ended with a message from one of the board members, Lindsay Weaver, who stated firmly her discontent with how the Pappas situation was handled by the board itself.
“I have said this before and will continue to say it, transparency is not optional, accountability and trust is essential, and right now we are at a pivotal moment for this district and the board,” she began. “I want to make something crystal clear to the public and my fellow board members, that we are not sitting in these seats to go along with decisions, but to uphold standards.”
She acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the investigation and subsequent hearings and finished with a strong message.
“I am disgusted by the lack of thorough investigation presented to this board by the administration and to me, sitting as a member of this board of nine, which is now eight. I am disappointed in how our administrators conducted themselves publicly during these hearings. I am appalled by the example this sets to our teachers, our staff and most importantly our students.”
