March 12 2024- A Scranton School Board director allegedly pressured an administrator regarding personnel hiring, as per a letter from the district’s solicitor, John Freund. The letter, addressed to board President Ty Holmes and Vice President Tara Yanni, was copied to Acting Superintendent Patrick Laffey. It cited incidents where a board member purportedly attempted to influence hiring improperly. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s ethics code and governance guidelines caution against using positions for personal benefit. Freund suggested that the state ethics law might be implicated, indicating a need for investigation. Holmes acknowledged the letter but declined further comment until the district completes its inquiry. Yanni couldn’t be reached for comment, and neither Freund nor Laffey provided additional remarks.
