A political action committee last week called for the censure of a State College Area School Board member who released to the press security video of a school board candidate entering the State High building without authorization in April.
Three members of the public who spoke at a June 5 board meeting also called for the resignation or removal of Peter Buck, who provided closed circuit video footage of candidate Megan Layng and her husband entering the high school through an unlocked rear door at 5:30 p.m. on April 10 to the Centre Daily Times, which published the video on its website. (Buck also confirmed details of the April incident to StateCollege.com.)
In response to media inquiries, the school district provided information about the incident but did not name the individuals involved or provide the video, partly out of “a desire to keep aspects of building security, including capabilities and vulnerabilities, private,” the board wrote in a joint statement. Buck acted on his own in releasing the video, according to the statement, but there is no legal basis to remove him.
“Board members separately discussed these events, conferred with the District’s solicitor and determined that the Board member who released the video did not violate any statute, rule or regulation,” they wrote. “… The Pennsylvania School Code provides only a limited basis for removing a sitting Board member, and that basis does not apply to the facts of this situation.”
Buck said at the conclusion of the June 5 meeting that he would not resign.
“I’m overjoyed to serve my community that supports libraries, supports freedom, supports democratic processes and supports public schools,” Buck said. “The board and public should know I have no intention to resign. None whatsoever.”
Buck told StateCollege.com in early May that Superintendent Curtis Johnson sent an email to school board members asking for help identifying the individuals in the video. Johnson told the board that the two individuals went into the library and photographed books before a staff member approached them and notified security, who escorted them out of the building. They were subsequently identified by two other board members.
Layng declined to comment on the incident to StateCollege.com. She wrote on her campaign Facebook page that she decided to “do a prayer walk around the school and get an up-close look at the facility.” Her main purpose, she wrote, was not to go to the library, but she did because of “residents expressing concern about educational content in an anecdotal way.”
She also noted that there was no indication that permission was needed to enter through the unlocked door.
Layng launched her campaign for school board as a member of the slate endorsed by United for SCASD, a PAC that supports local school board candidates, but was scrubbed from the PAC’s website in the days after the incident. Layng and a United for SCASD spokesperson confirmed the separation but declined to provide a reason. The four remaining United for SCASD candidates and Layng won the five Republican nominations for State College school board in the May primary.
United for SCASD called for the board to censure Buck, who they learned through Right-to-Know requests provided the video to the CDT.
“In this case, the unauthorized release of the high school’s surveillance video disclosed information about SCASD’s security protocols and potential vulnerabilities,” United for SCASD wrote. “It put SCASD students, staff and faculty at increased risk of a security breach… In taking this action, Dr. Buck violated his fiduciary duty to protect the confidentiality of SCASD non-public information and his responsibility to maintain a secure school environment.”
Buck said the calls for his censure or removal were “preposterous.”
“They’re trying to change the subject from someone who acted unethically and trying to manufacture a controversy about someone who acted in the voting public’s interest and the interest of our kids,” Buck said. “Bullying and intimidation will not work.”
School staff acted quickly to address the security issue, the board wrote.
“State High now has high-profile, no-trespassing signs and a security guard has been stationed at the rear office entrance after school to supplement the other circulating security staff,” according to the statement. “The Board and the District have an ongoing commitment to a safe and secure learning environment while continuing to work on our mission and strategic goals. Hopefully, we can all continue to prioritize student success.”
