The signs bear a crude copy of a photo of either the superintendent, Dr. Robert Sopko, or the school board president, Sally Turner
By: John Tredrea
School officals were puzzled Tuesday about hundreds of paper signs featuring the school board president and superintendent of schools that had been plastered all over utitlity poles and other locations throughout the school district.
The signs, printed on cheap sheets of paper about 8 by 11 inches, bear a crude copy of a photo of either the superintendent, Dr. Robert Sopko, or the school board president, Sally Turner. Only one word "Obey" is written in large black letters on the signs.
Nothing on the signs indicates who produced them or why.
At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Dr. Sopko said the signs had been found by students and school crossing guards near Hopewell Elementary School, in Hopewell Borough, and near the intersection of Route 31 and Delaware Avenue. The intersection is just east of Central High School and Timberlane Middle School.
Sounding troubled and perplexed as he discussed the signs, Dr. Sopko said the district has a long-standing policy of trying to be as inclusive as possible in terms of encouraging communitywide debate on school-related issues. This is a far cry, he said, from the allegation that he, Mrs. Turner or any other school official would expect anyone to blindly obey them.
Hopewell Township police are investigating the sign postings, Lt. Bruce Carnall said.