JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch’s school board renewed the contract of a musical director after a crowd of around 40 showed up to support her Wednesday, Sept. 10, amid fears she was being forced out of her role for speaking against the board.

The board unanimously voted to keep Diane Beckstead in her role as musical choral director at the board’s Wednesday night meeting, along with other cocurricular faculty. Beckstead’s name had been separated from the rest on the board’s meeting agenda for Sept. 10, alarming some community members.

The crowd spoke in support of Beckstead amid worries the board would fire her after she previously spoke out, along with other community members, against Knoch School District joining a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission.

During the meeting, multiple board members alluded to emails sent on Beckstead’s district email that “violated district policy,” and were discovered from a right-to-know request, as the reason for uncertainty on whether the board would renew her contract.

The school board voted during a meeting March 5 to participate in the lawsuit along with South Side School District in Beaver County. The lawsuit claims the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission, and the state as a whole, is acting without authority to expand the definition of “sex.” Knoch’s school board committed $10,000 to the litigation efforts.

At the board’s next meeting on April 9, students and parents filled the room to condemn what they saw as endorsing intolerance of marginalized groups by taking part in the lawsuit. The decision to join the lawsuit was also criticized for happening behind closed doors. During the April 9 meeting, multiple speakers also questioned whether the school even legally placed the lawsuit item on the agenda the previous month.

Some speakers at that April meeting also accused Tom Breth, the school’s solicitor, of having a conflict of interest in filing the petition. In addition to serving as the district’s solicitor, Breth also serves as special counsel for the Thomas More Society, a conservative Chicago-based law firm that advocates on behalf of faith-based causes.

Beckstead claimed that because of consequences the lawsuit could have for “our most vulnerable students,” she contacted Jen Bronder, her colleague and supervisor to express concern. She then spoke at a March 12 meeting.

“On March 12, I stood at this podium and asked, ‘Why has our district sued the state?’ Because the outcome of the lawsuit could attack our students, a few students came to speak at the next meeting, in defense of their friends. When I was told of the plans, I thought to show some teachers my copy of the litigation, provided to me by Dr. Foley.”

Beckstead said she contacted the board about why her position was being voted on separately, but received no answer.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, Beckstead denied speaking with students about the lawsuit.

“It’s been suggested that I spread news of the lawsuit to students, and encouraged them to speak against it,” Beckstead said. “But know that our students are smart, and caring. They listen to the news, and have convictions of their own. They don’t need me to tell them what unfairness looks like.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, students, parents and alumni spoke in support of Beckstead as a teacher and urged the board to retain her as the musical director.

“To do the best for our kids, we need to have the very best educators. And that is why I am so alarmed at the singling out of Ms. Beckstead. Her reputation in the community is unmatched. She is patient, she is fair, honest, supportive of our children,” Joanna Wood, a Knoch parent, said. “What troubles me is the possibility that her contract may not be renewed because that she questioned this board. I think ending her contract for that reason would send a message you can’t question our board or our district.”

Those in attendance expressed fear a decision to fire Beckstead would set a dangerous precedent against openly disagreeing with district decisions.

“From where I stand, this is not only a personnel matter, it is a matter of policy, fairness and integrity. Diane is being targeted because she did not support a district lawsuit that aims to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ students,” Chelsea Schilpp, who’s son Harrisyn spoke at the April meeting, said.

“She’s also been accused of organizing others to speak against the lawsuit. Let me be clear, that accusation is completely false. I spoke at that meeting on my own free will, as did every other individual. To suggest otherwise is to deny our ability as critical thinkers, our voices and our values as well-educated community members,” Schilpp added.

Speakers also talked about the positive impact Beckstead had on her students.

“Ms. Beckstead was an integral part of the entire musical’s success that year and every year. If you recall, we won best musical in our budget category that year. If Ms. Beckstead is removed from her position, it would be a direct detriment to the students of this district,” Dori Sheer, a 2020 graduate from Knoch, said.

Before the vote, board member Jill McDonald urged the her colleagues to consider the amount of responsibilities Beckstead takes on to put on a school musical, including months of preparation and lessons with individuals and groups of students, and expressed uncertainty over what would happen to the school’s musical without Beckstead.

Board member Justin Kovach said following the board’s decision to join the lawsuit, there was a right to know request that was filed. As part of that request, the district was asked to provide all of the emails related to that lawsuit, and that there was email exchanged the board didn’t initially know of between Beckstead and her supervisor.

“In the best, Ms. Beckstead’s trying to be super helpful for her kids. And I think that’s what a lot of the students and peers have said. In the worst, she may have been coaching them to come take her stand on something, her personal beliefs, and no matter how this vote goes down, I don’t think that is something a teacher should do,” Kovach said.

Board members said they were persuaded by students who spoke out in support of Beckstead. Many of the comments, like the board’s decision to join the lawsuit and the criticism that followed, were ideologically charged

“This lawsuit does not have our best interest in mind, and we’re not stupid enough to let that fall by the wayside,” Remy Kovach, a senior at Knoch high, said. “Entering this lawsuit causes the exact problem that you are claiming to care about: protecting the children. This lawsuit targets children based on personal ideology. I would know, I am a victim of it. That is the problem.”