Stephen Fiala received a series of four threatening letters at his home.
By: Linda Seida
NEW HOPE Police are investigating a series of four anonymous threatening letters delivered to the home of New Hope-Solebury School Board of Directors President Stephen Fiala.
Police have no suspects yet, Chief Rick Pasqualini said Monday.
Police acknowledged the threats are related to the recent primary and the November school board election. Incumbents Christine Flynn, David Dozbaba and Sean Hopkins, who all are aligned with Mr. Fiala, are running against six challengers, five of whom ran under the banner Kids First. However, police said they do not believe any of the candidates are behind the threatening letters, Chief Pasqualini said.
Mr. Fiala is not up for reelection.
"There was a vociferous group of people that did not like the incumbents and did not like their politics," Chief Pasqualini said. "There were a vast number of supporters who agreed. It could be one of many people that did the letters."
All four letters were left in the front door of Mr. Fiala’s residence during the evening hours, Chief Pasqualini said. The first was delivered in mid-April, and the last arrived the week of June 9.
The letters were intimidating, but did not threaten physical harm.
One letter said, "Fiala, stay out of the elections. Stop spreading the lies of the district. We will win, your pawns will be out of power and then what will be left for you."
A subsequent letter said, "You did not listen! What happens to kids that do not listen? They get punished, don’t they? We will punish you at the polls and then we will take out revenge on the 7th grade like you did on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders."
When the school board put together the district’s budget last year, music and Spanish programs were cut back for grades one, two, and three.
Five board members have children in seventh grade.
Another threat was typed on a copy of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper authored by Kids First candidate Amanda Elefante.
It said, "Once they win, you are next!!!! Your time has come!"
"I don’t know what to think," Ms. Elefante said Monday. "I find the whole situation quite unsettling, no matter who is writing the letters."
Kids First candidates Meagan O’Brien and William Behre are both educators, although neither works for the New Hope-Solebury district. Ms. O’Brien, a school counselor, said she is "disheartened" by the threats. Mr. Behre, an interim college dean, called the letter writer "misguided."
"I am often teaching the lesson to my students that they should not write anything to anyone they are not willing to say to their face," Ms. O’Brien said. "In this age of instant messaging, that has become a problem. It’s unfortunate that there is an adult out there that has not learned that and has chosen to behave in such a manner.
"This election has brought out strong interest and passion around the issues relating to our community’s school system. Regardless of our interest and passion, we need to make sure we handle it in a mature and professional manner. I imagine that the experience has been very disconcerting for Mr. Fiala and his family. I hope the police can help them get some resolve to this unfortunate event."
Mr. Behre said, "Any thoughtful person has to think that the writer of these messages is misguided. It is particularly unfortunate because while this election has gotten contentious, we’ve begun a good discussion of the issues. I’m afraid that this might quell the dialogue that has begun."
He added, "I don’t think any of the candidates did this. We’ve all had no problem disagreeing publicly. There’s no reason that I can see that anyone would want to resort to anonymous notes."
The school board issued an official statement, which was read by Vice President Christine Flynn during a meeting of the board June 13.
The statement read, in part, "We the current members of the New Hope-Solebury school district find this type of behavior reprehensible and cowardly. At the very least, it is setting a poor example to the children in the district, children who should be looking to the adults in the district for guidance, direction and understanding. At the worst, it places the well-being of children in real jeopardy."
The statement later continued, "It saddens us to think that some of our community members, neighbors, etc., feel the need to resort to the cowardly practice of anonymous hate mail and threats. This type of behavior is criminal, destructive and an embarrassment to the good name of this community. We stand united against these misplaced threats."
Mr. Fiala said Tuesday the statement released by the board "speaks for itself."
Running on the Kids First Team with Ms. Elefante, Ms. O’Brien and Mr. Behre are Tamara Baldasari and Maggie Depp. Also running is Laurence Fieber, although he is not a Kids First running mate.
Ms. Depp said, "I find it abhorrent that anonymous letters were sent to the school board. It is unfortunate and disturbing. This behavior is not generated by the Kids First team. Clearly these tactics would only serve to undermine our campaign.
"As responsible candidates for office, we would like to stick to the issues concerning our school children and the community so the public can make a clear and informed decision on Election Day."
Ms. Elefante questioned why the threats were made public.
"Some parents have commented that something doesn’t seem quite right about the whole story," she said. "Why would Steve Fiala go public with these letters, especially while the police are still investigating? Why give this type of behavior any airtime?"
Mr. Fiala said the board unanimously chose to disclose the threats because of the Sunshine Act, which mandates open meetings.
Ms. Flynn said the threats were made public because "the public should know that these types of activities are happening in the community."
Chief Pasqualini said no harm was done by openly discussing the threats.
"The fact is the board felt the community should know" someone has "taken a cowardly tack," he said. "My investigation isn’t jeopardized as a result of them putting it out."