Upper Perkiomen school district officials said they are looking for a way to maintain an important community outreach tool but keep complaints from turning into a "witch hunt."

                The district's accountability hotline, which has been operational for approximately one year, allows employees, parents and residents to express their concerns online.  Those concerns are then forwarded to all nine school board members.

                The hotline, however, has reportedly been under scrutiny because of complaints that allege misconduct and issues with other district employees and officials.  Many of those complaints have been made anonymously, board members said.

                Officials didn't talk about any of the complaints in detail.

                Board Solicitor Ken Roos of Wisler Pearlstine said he believes the hotline should be governed by a policy to outline its objectives and the responsibilities of all board members since everyone receives the complaints.  He said, while the hotline is a very public way to get good ideas from people, there needs to be accountability for everyone.

                "Important disclaimers need to be made," Roos said.  "There should be a clear indication that there isn't any way to investigate allegations that are made anonymously."

                Roos said other districts that have similar hotlines also have separate "whistleblower" type policies concerning personnel.

                When asked by Board President John Gehman, Acting Superintendent Dr. Tim Kirby said from the employee perspective, the hotline is viewed cautiously.  It fields complaints contrary to how the district receives any other types of complaints which require identifying information, he said.

                Director Rae Ann Hofkin said she drafted a policy for the hotline, with the input of some other board members, which she handed out to everyone at the meeting.  She suggested changing the name to the "communication hotline" and said she wanted to have a first reading of the policy at the board's informational meeting Jan. 22.

Director Bill Scott objected, saying he thought the policy should first be vetted by Roos and then go through the policy committee before the board went any further with it.  

                "I really believe this should go to the policy committee first," said Gehman, with Director Cathy Fenley agreeing.

Gehman later made a motion to shut down the hotline temporarily, which was met with opposition by many on the board.

                That motion failed to garner a second and was countered with a motion by Director Bill Scott to take the hotline down until it has a policy clearly defining its purpose and procedures.  

                "It's a great communication tool for the community to speak directly to the board and I think once something goes down it won't go back up again," argued Raeann Hofkin.

"I say we leave it in place as a communication tool," said Elliott.  "If we want to have an air of communication and openness…I would like to see us keep it open." 

"The bottom line is this, we've committed to the whole idea of technology and we're afraid to involve people in feedback like this?" said Director Will Pike.  "I think it can be a real positive tool."

The vote on Scott's motion failed, with no votes by Gehlhaus, Hofkin, Fenley and Elliott.  The hotline will remain as is, Gehman said, but the work on a policy to govern it will continue.  

In other business, Director Margie Gehlhaus proposed changing the way the district records its minutes and read a statement saying she thought they needed to be more complete and include comments by board members.  In particular, she moved to amend last month's minutes to include comments made by Scott which she called derogatory.

After a lot of discussion, the board tabled the minutes until next month.

                The board later approved the hiring of Ashley Kitten as the new director of human resources.  Kitten, who will be taking over for Ted Mucellin who is serving in the position temporarily, will start Jan. 20 at a salary of $115,000 per year.

                School board officials, and staff, expressed their gratitude for Kirby with a standing ovation.  Kirby will be leaving the district Jan. 20 when Dr. Alexis McGloin takes over as superintendent.

                Norma Reichenbach-Nichols, who teaches at Hereford Elementary, thanked Kirby on behalf of the Upper Perkiomen Education Association for guiding the district through the selection of a new superintendent and the day of crisis last month with the manhunt for killer Bradley Stone, saying he will always have a friend at Upper Perk.

                "I don't know how to thank Dr. Kirby enough for all he's done," said Gehman.  "In the last seven months, more than the previous seven-year term with us, I came to know what a really good superintendent is."

                Kirby, who got emotional at one point, called Upper Perk the "best spot of his career" and said he feels that Upper Perk is "ready to soar" under McGloin.