Facebook comments wormed their way into the Butler School Board's business Monday night.

The board's working session — held before each regular voting board meeting — was consumed entirely in a closed door executive session related to personnel matters. During the regular meeting, solicitor Tom King brought up a topic they had previously discussed, possibly during that closed-door session.

“I was asked to speak publicly about the opinions on two cases that came down from our advisory board,” King said. “I wanted the board to know, and I was asked to speak about them publicly. This is not directed to anyone here in particular.”

King summarized two cases that involved a public official blocking individuals from seeing content on their social media page. The examples represented a broad range of legal precedent ranging from the U.S. president's tweets to a school board member's Facebook page. Legal precedent, King explained, is that an elected official at any level can't block people from seeing content related to their official conduct.

While King didn't directly identify any particular school supervisor, the discussion likely revolved around director Bill Halle.

A news story about the board's meeting last week that was published on the Butler Eagle's Facebook page drew nearly 300 comments by Monday night. Many of them were made by Halle himself. He and Barry Cummings, husband of Director Jennifer Cummings, directed several comments at each other throughout. Several board members have said that they can't see Halle's posts and comments on Facebook because he blocked them.

Shortly before their executive session began, Halle posted a final comment stating that he blocked Cummings and “certain other board members” for “dishonest communication” on the social media platform.

He addressed another point of virtual conversation during the real-life meeting Monday night.

“In light of what Tom (King) is saying, it seems like every election season I get accused of something,” Halle said.

Halle said he has long been accused of advocating for drug testing at Butler schools to benefit himself financially through the nonprofit he leads, Grace Youth Family Foundation.

Superintendent Brian White, asked to comment by Halle, said he had no indication Halle was receiving money from any board policies, including drug testing. He noted that the company in use had long been used by the Seneca Valley School District, and it isn't related to Grace Youth.

These arguments kicked off last week when Halle voted against the first step of a tax increase. Halle said he isn't opposed altogether to a tax increase, but he didn't want to approve the maximum amount without another meeting. Other board members have accused Halle of posturing.

Because of state deadlines related to budget processes, the board can easily come down from that first proposed amount but couldn't add on a higher tax increase after that initial first vote. Several board members, including President Nina Teff and Cummings, the vice president, have said their intention is to continue discussions in the coming weeks on specific budget items and decide on a final tax rate increase.

Emily Brittain

Emily Brittain Elementary got a new principal Monday night. Cassandra Pencek officially joined the district as the school's new principal. Pencek is coming from an assistant principal position at Dorseyville Middle School in the Fox Chapel School District.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity to come in and lead a building and work with a staff that is just energized and motivated and ready to go,” Pencek said. “I'm so excited.”

Pencek is replacing Chad Broman, who is switching to an assistant principal role at Center Township Elementary.

Administrators hope Pencek will serve a central role in a new “community school” program in early planning for the elementary.