Oley School Board members still taking heat for prior comments

At a public meeting this week, members of the public continued to criticize two members of the Oley School Board over comments a month ago.

The accusations that went on for more than an hour were aimed at Maria Bogdanova-Peifer and Aaron Keller.

They relate to comments the pair, both newly elected, made during a Jan. 10 meeting. The two board members made several comments that some members of the public have claimed are bigoted and transphobic.

They also voted against Title IX federal law on Jan. 12.

At Wednesday’s school board meeting, 14 Oley residents weighed in.

Peiffer defended her comments Wednesday and again called them questions echoing concerns from community members.

School Board President David R. Pollock cleared the air before the public comment period. His comments in part, included:

“Now all this controversy surrounds a discussion pertaining to a policy concerning discrimination and Title IX as Mrs. Peiffer and Mr. Keller spoke their minds, the rest of us sat here relatively quiet, and as a result we’ve all been accused of complicity by silence.

“That could not be more wrong when the time came for a vote the policy was approved as written by a 6-3 roll call vote so everyone knows how each board member voted that evening. The truth of our conviction is represented in votes that we openly cast in public so please do not judge this board as a whole because of words and actions of a few.

“They were elected to this board because of their personal experiences and beliefs and like it or not are allowed to express their views on items for this board for consideration. If you’re perfectly honest that is the responsibility to those who voted them to this board.

“I believe in a representative republic designed by our founders that the system must allow for different points of view no matter how upsetting they may be so while I may disagree with some of my fellow board members, I will defend their right to be here and I will do my best respect the system.”

Oley resident Debbie Berry said that the block she lives on has wildly different political viewpoints.

“While we disagree politically we agree on many other things. We have to learn to be respectful of each other as adults. As far as the hateful comments on the board, this is not the Oley Valley I know and love. The Oley valley I love is on my street where we accept each other’s differences,” Berry said.

A group of ministers from local churches also shared their concerns.

Other residents said the new board members should go through training.

Several residents were not as concerned.

Resident Candice Coral urged the board and residents to get back to discussing things that matter, like education.

In other business, the board unanimously approved the Berks County intermediate unit’s proposed services budget for July 1 2022, through June 30 2023, for more than $1.9 million.

Cost to the district is projected to be $26,766.

Source: Berkshire mont