Montour teacher named township commissioner
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A Montour educator has been selected as a Robinson commissioner.
Bobbie Cegelski, the gifted services coordinator for the Montour School District, was chosen Monday to replace Stephanie Triko, who resigned Jan. 23.
Commissioners Samuel Abatta, Jesse Forquer and Earl Mapel voted to appoint Ms. Cegelski, a Democrat, to finish the two years remaining in the term of Ms. Triko, a Republican.
Commissioner Ronald Shiwarski was absent but expressed his support in a letter, which said the selection is "based on the talent of the individual and not a political appointment."
A Robinson resident since fourth grade, Ms. Cegelski has been employed by Montour for 36 years, starting as a middle school English teacher and most recently as the coordinator of gifted services for students in K-12.
She is president of the Montour Education Association.
"I just really have a genuine interest to serve," Ms. Cegelski said in a phone interview after the meeting.
Her reason was twofold: "With my position as part of the [education] association, we are always encouraged to do public service." And, "With my students, I'm always encouraging community service."
Ms. Cegelski has worked with the teachers union for 20 years, serving as a building representative, vice president and president.
According to her resume, she holds a bachelor's degree in education from Edinboro University and has earned graduate credits beyond her certification. She has attended the Pennsylvania State Education Association's leadership school, which covered topics such as grievance and governance.
"My personal commitment and intentions are to bring forward any acquired leadership knowledge and experience and combine it with what would be needed to serve in this position to the best of my ability," Ms. Cegelski wrote in a letter to commissioners.
Commissioners chose Ms. Cegelski from five applicants, including Republican Michael Malinsky, township manager Aaron Bibro said.
Prior to the vote, two leaders of the Republican Committee of Robinson Township asked commissioners to appoint Mr. Malinsky, who had been the runner-up in the November election.
"I ask that you replace Ms. Triko with a Republican," said Jerry Brouker, the committee's vice chairman and a former commissioner.
Republican chairwoman Linda Jakubec said Mr. Malinsky was the logical choice because he had garnered the third-highest number of votes behind Mr. Abatta and Mr. Mapel, who won the commissioner seats.
She also said the replacement process lacked transparency because the board did not advertise the position or conduct public interviews.
"Why is everything done behind closed doors?" Ms. Jakubec said.
Mr. Abatta, chairman of the commissioners, said the board followed the first-class township code for filling a vacant seat.
Ms. Cegelski said she learned of the board vacancy through an article in the Post-Gazette and sent a letter of interest.
She said she's a registered Democrat who votes, reads the news and watches public meetings via television, but otherwise she's not actively involved in a political party.
Ms. Cegelski is employed in Montour's pupil services department, which is headed by director of special education Fran Serenka, the former Sto-Rox superintendent.
According to the school district website, the department covers special education, gifted education, guidance counseling and various support services.
In August 2010, when Donald Boyer was acting superintendent, the Montour school board moved to abolish two district positions: gifted coordinator, held by Ms. Cegelski, and student services coordinator, held by Cindy Caliguire.
Mr. Boyer had said neither job was listed by the state Department of Education and that the two employees holding the jobs were not properly certified to perform some of their duties.
Today, Ms. Cegelski's job is listed on the district website under a slightly different title: coordinator of gifted services. Ms. Caliguire's position is listed as coordinator of pupil services.
Ms. Cegelski said the matter was resolved when the district clarified her job title and description and clarified that she was not an administrator but rather a teacher and bargaining unit member.
Her job involves creating educational plans and coordinating activities for high-IQ, or gifted, students throughout the school district.
Ms. Cegelski said she was honored to be chosen to represent Robinson.
"It's a great community. It's a growing community. It's extremely different from when I first moved here as a young child," she said. "Our hail to glory was Murphy's Mart up on Steubenville Pike. So Robinson is a very changed place today compared to when my mom and dad, as a young couple, moved here [from South Fayette]."
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
