Chartiers Valley School District Assistant Superintendent Tammy Whitfield turned in her keys and cleaned out her office after a judge refused her request to work beyond the expiration of her contract.

U.S. District Court Judge David Cercone denied the stay Thursday, but he still is considering her First Amendment preliminary injunction motion.

The five-year contract of Dr. Whitfield, a 22-year employee who was the district's second-in-command, expired Saturday. Her last day of work was Friday.

But by yesterday, after being encouraged by residents and employees throughout the district to run a write-in campaign for a school board seat in tomorrow's election, she was singing a different tune.

"This has taken on a life of its own," said Dr. Whitfield, of Collier, as she organized poll workers. "If it happens, I feel like I can't let them down."

Voters in Bridgeville, Collier, Heidelberg and Scott will elect four board members from among five other candidates and Dr. Whitfield.

The candidates include Jeff Choura, who has been a school director for 32 years; Bridget Kelly, a 16-year member; and newcomer Debra Rice. All three won both party nominations and will be on the Democratic and Republican ballots.

Beth McIntyre, who has been a board member for 13 years, will be only on the Democratic ballot and Tom Galluze, an 8-year member, will be only on the Republican ballot. Dr. Whitfield would be the sixth candidate.

Dr. Whitfield was named assistant superintendent in October 2004. In 2006, after Chartiers Valley was fined nearly $12,000 by the state Department of Education over an employee's unfulfilled education requirements, she testified against him in a suspension appeal. The matter has been resolved.

The school board voted 6-3 in May to open her position and consider other candidates.

School board President Patti Figorski said the board had received a copy of a new contract for Dr. Whitfield just minutes before that meeting and said "it is extremely irresponsible for the board to rubber stamp anything, let alone a contract of this financial magnitude."

After the board failed to act in succeeding months, Dr. Whitfield filed suit in U.S. District Court in August, alleging she is being denied a new contract because of the testimony in the suspension case.

At Wednesday's school board meeting, Mrs. McIntyre moved and Mrs. Frey seconded, a motion to approve a new contract as recommended by the superintendent five months before, but no vote was taken.

Finally, Director Herb Ohliger moved to table the matter, which was approved by a 4-2 vote.

Superintendent Tony Skender said he is trying to figure out who will handle Dr. Whitfield's responsibilities.

"I have no idea how to redistribute her workload," he said.

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