“I am part of a group here in Towamencin you don’t want to f**k with.”
With that threatening social media post, North Penn School District board member Christian Fusco fired a shot in the fight over the sale of the Towamencin sewer system. Although his remark was on his personal Facebook page, Fusco sparked a backlash from some North Penn parents, like Shannon Main, who says she believes the post was a threat.
Main is particularly concerned about bullying in the school system, pointing to an incident in which one North Penn student attacked another with a metal Stanley cup. Main complained to the other board members, noting the district has policies concerning bullying, but her complaint was brushed away.
Board President Cathy McMurtrie responded to Main via an email defending Fusco and noting the post is about the sewer sale. “His lens was all about being a passionate, committed community member, not a school board director. Mr. Fusco’s lens for our school district is that of a passionate, committed and informed supporter of our students. His career in education speaks for itself.”
Another parent, who asked that his name not be used in this article, wrote to Board Member Tina Stoll.
“I believe it is important to note that professionalism should be upheld by all individuals, especially those representing the school board, in every aspect of their lives. Such behavior has the potential to reflect not only on the individual but also on the board as a whole. As public figures, the actions and words of school board members carry significant weight and can influence the perception of the entire district,” the parent wrote.
Stoll replied, “Mr. Fusco’s post is quite clearly referring to Towamencin Dems and the NOPE anti-sewer sale group. He is not referring to the school board, nor is he commenting as a school board director—he was responding to someone about the sewer sale on his personal page.”
While she agrees with the parent about professionalism, she called Fusco “the consummate professional” and a “positive role model for our kids when he stands up to bullying behavior on the part of others. I am proud to serve with him, and more importantly, I am very proud to call him my friend.”
Main wasn’t appeased.
“The capacity in which Mr. Fusco made his comments is irrelevant—he is both a teacher in the Spring-Ford School District and a sitting North Penn School Board Director who makes decisions affecting students and votes on bullying policies. His repeated online behavior directly contradicts the very values we teach our children about respect and accountability.
“If the rest of the North Penn School Board refuses to condemn this behavior, they are complicit. Silence in the face of bullying—especially from an elected official—is unacceptable and a disservice to our community. Leadership means setting the example, not excusing bad behavior.”
Main also pointed to other posts by Fusco. One, as his cover art of a cartoon boy urinating on President Trump, and another that she believes in anti-Catholic and shows conservative Supreme Court members in cardinals’ robes.
Neither Fusco nor a spokeswoman for the school district responded to requests for comment.
Ironically, Fusco wrote a letter to the editor of The Reporter urging Republican Souderton school board member Bill Formica to resign over a Facebook post that Formica had written.
Rich Booker, a former Radnor School Board member, said it might be an issue for the state Ethics Board.
“School Board Members are subject to the Pennsylvania Public Officials and Employees Ethics Act,” said Booker. “In addition, many school boards comply with the guidelines prescribed by the Pennsylvania School Board Association. Both require the highest standards of ethical conduct for school board members.”
But, Booker said, censure by the North Penn School Board itself might be brought. However, given McMurtrie’s remarks, that is unlikely.
