Slippery Rock school administrator addresses parents’ questions, stands behind new principal
PROSPECT — Despite an order to reinstate the former principal of Moraine Elementary School, the Slippery Rock Area School District administration doesn’t intend to have her in that role for the upcoming school year and is considering appealing, the superintendent and board president said Wednesday, July 23.
The district leaders offered outdoor office hours to parents at Moraine Elementary School to discuss matters that affect their children in the upcoming year.
The conversation, which included questions from more than a dozen parents, was dominated by the July 17 decision by acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowes to reinstate Kristie Shulsky to the district. Shulsky was placed on administrative leave in May 2024.
According to the secretary’s opinion, the district charged Shulsky with immorality, intemperance, cruelty and insubordination based on their investigation. The opinion indicated a rumor she was intoxicated on the job spiraled to include other allegations. Shulsky’s attorney Steven Winslow said Monday that the former principal denies the allegations.
She was terminated by the school board in a unanimous decision on Jan. 13, 2025.
Shulsky appealed her termination, and Rowe decided in her favor. Slippery Rock Area School District was notified on Friday that Shulsky, who worked 17 years for the district, was to be reinstated.
Since the order was released, some parents have put together a change.org petition to remove Shulsky from the district once again, which had about 1,000 signatures on Wednesday evening.
District officials clarified to parents at Wednesday’s office hours that while they will follow the state’s orders and rule of law, they do not believe Shulsky has to be reinstated to the same position she left.
“When it comes to the Pennsylvania school code, the bar for when you can terminate a position is high,” school board president Greg Schiller explained to parents.
Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci said Shawn Zappia, who also was present at the gathering, is the selected incoming principal for the elementary school. Angelucci said that until the district knows otherwise, they intend to keep Zappia in the role he was hired to perform.
“When he visited the school, he was out on the playground playing with some of the students. He’s the type of guy who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty,” Angelucci said.
Parents at the office hours expressed their frustration at other matters, too, from a lack of answers about the specific incident to perceived gaps in the district’s employee code. District officials said they are sharing as much information as is legally allowed, and that policies will be thoroughly reviewed in the future.
“We understand that you’re upset, but it’s the parents who I don’t hear from that I worry about the most,” Angelucci said. “It’s good for you to be this passionate about your kids. You’re supposed to be their protectors, I get that.”
Parents asked administrators what the next steps for the district will be.
Schiller said he expects the board to vote on whether to file an appeal in August, but the topic would need to be discussed with the solicitor further before being placed on the agenda.
Winslow said Monday that Shulsky is “ready, willing, and able” to return to work.
