For some reason Dr Mary Linton Todora is protecting the basketball coach who has been with the district for almost 30 years, but coaching a few years less. He also coaches golf, is the Drivers Ed instructor, and covers study halls.

Over the last dozen years his perception and coaching styles have definitely taken a turn, but for the worse. Many parents and players have stepped forward and spoken at school board meetings asking to have his position opened so that another qualified coach can be hired.

After taking the issues and trying to go through the recommended route, the groups of parents and players realized that the new super was speaking one way, while acting in our opinion in a completely unprofessional manor. The allegations involved bullying, harassing, intimidation, vulgar language and gestures beyond the so called "locker room language" that these parents had no other recourse but to secure an attorney.

The parents had the attorney send certified letters to each school board members home asking for a private meeting, but excluding the Super because they felt she was part of the problem. For example, each time a player or family went to her, she had a very caring and understanding attitude, agreed that what was alleged was definitely wrong, and would begin an investigation to resolve the issue.

In the mean time, the parents did not hear from the school board, but instead received a letter from the district's attorney stating that Dr. Linton Todora took the issue to the board, recommended a disciplinary action that the board approved, and no need to meet with the school board. Obviously someone on the board showed her the letter from the attorney.

As time went by, the parents and athletes went to an open school board meeting, and when one of the parents asked the board president about the "conclusion" and the "discipline" the entire board looked at him in a stunned manner. Dr. Linton Todora took it upon herself to bypass the board, call the school's attorney and have him send out the letter. In conversations with her, she assured the parents she would call a special meeting for this issue, and even has the attorney give a date of the supposed meeting which never happened. Not one board member knew of this, and that meeting was actually 3 board members for a budget meeting.

Dr. Mary Linton Todora along with the coach (who just happens to be the teacher's union president) are attempting to discredit the parents and athletes by saying that it's merely a few disgruntled parents about playing time. That isn't even an issue, but with her comments to the press, along with the coaches they are trying to paint a picture of just a few parents with kids that aren't talented, wimps, and other various labels.

We are a very small school system in an upscale area with a total of 1100 students. As soon as Linton Todora arrived she expressed the need for an assistant super, and went through the motions of wasting applicants time to hire her best friend at 90K a year.

As the issue with the basketball coach heated, she conducted 2 investigations. During these investigations, she made up the questions, and she filled out the forms. The first investigation had enough evidence to fire the coach, but she in essence blew it off stating that there was no merit to the allegations.

A second investigation was done because the parents went to the PIAA and they just handed the investigation back to the school. This time, the school board president, the athletic director, the new young HS principle and she again making up vague questions was in the room for the second investigations. Some athletes were instructed by their parents not to comment, but amazingly the second investigation was even more revealing and damaging to the coach.

The parents know this because at the last board meeting, one of the board members spoke after the open speaking session, but before the board began the regular meeting. That board member revealed that all members had copies of the results of the investigations, and after the 4th story in the paper which had an enormous headline of "Done Deal" and "No Merit" with a front page photo of one of the parents, she was appalled to see that article. The board did not vote to replace the coach, they ran to the school as soon as the paper came out and began a very loud verbal exchange.

As one Dr. at one of the meetings stated, he clearly described the coach as a man who was losing control of reality among other issues. That the coach should have stepped down years ago.

The allegations are VERY serious, and now since the paper has printed the stories fabricated by the superintendent, Mary Linton Todora, she in the opinion of the parents, and those who were at the last board meeting - next one on Monday May 5 at 7pm Neshannock Senior High School - the attorney could only say "she has been misquoted."

Up until this year, all meetings were taped. Because of so many inconsistencies of things she would say, she would come back with "oh, I didn't mean it that way" or "that's not what I said" etc.
The meetings are no longer taped.

If you would like to see or comment you can visit the forum threads in the New Castle News.

http://www.newcastlenews.net

At the bottom of the front page, there is a block that has "community forum" and even lists some of the latest posts.

There are two folders under Local Issues New Castle Pa - one titled "Done Deal" and another "Neshannock Township and New Positions" Currently these folders have had over 10,000 views.

I urge you to take a look, and to post, because our school system is quickly degrading and the students deserve better.

To all Residents of the Streetsboro, Ohio School District. It seems that the Neshannock Township District just a short distance away, right over the Ohio border and into PA, has something in common with your recent past. I'm hoping your district has been able to move on, as ousr may eventually, but for now we have your former superintendent Mary Linton, who is now Mary Todora.

If you'd like to catch up on what's been happening in this area, feel free to check the online posting forums in the New Castle News.

It seems Dr. Todora has made several press releases, spoken to the press after school board meetings, and gone as far as to speak for the school board without their knowledge. Our Newspaper has printed various articles which makes the parents and student athletes look like fools and liars, with statements such as "No Merit" and "Done Deal" with our ongoing issues.

At the last school board meeting, after pressure from some of the parents and in light of the recent information, our district's attorney is now in reference to Dr. Todora's statements is using the term "she was misquoted."

The town paper has taken several folders down concerning some of these issues. Some of the folders had been viewed by over 25,000 people.

There are a few new folders that have recently appeared trying to bring to light new situations.

Since we have so much in common with your district, take a few minutes to check out the story and perhaps offer some insight.

When they say History repeats itself, in this case, it most certainly can be verified.

You will see a block at the bottom of the splash page with "community forum" http://www.newcastle...s.net/

The new motto at Neshannock right now is: "I was misquoted."

And, by the way - we are now in the process of building a new Athletic Facility at a cost of over 6 million. It seems Dr. Todora made the initial decision to hire an out of town firm, a board member has a relative in that firm, and Linton Todora's current husband works for a company that makes steel.

Ring any bells?