Veteran Easton School Board Members Say Goodbye

When Pat Vulcano took public office for the first time 40 years ago, he got some advice from the then-mayor of Easton.

"You’ll be sworn in one day, and sworn at the next," he recalled Tuesday night, at his final meeting as an Easton Area School Board member.

Vulcano was one of three members—along with Tim Reilly, Janet Matthews and Robert Moskaitis— marking the end of their tenure Tuesday. The district took time to thank them for their service with certificates and awards, cake and a visit from the Easton Rover. 

“This is not an easy job, as everyone knows," Superintendent John Reinhart said, singling out Reilly and Vulcano for their combined 24 years on the board.

Those years have seen the board approve tax increases, program cuts and teacher lay-offs.

But while all of the departing board members acknowledged the difficulties of the job, none said they regretted it.

“It’s been an honor 100 percent of the time and it’s been a headache about 20 percent of the time," said Matthews, who joined the board in 2011. She chose not to seek re-election this year.

Moskaitis, who like Vulcano lost in May's primary, cautioned the remaining board members that while the public might agree to pay higher taxes, "they won't accept failure." 

Reilly—who did not seek re-election—used his farewell address to push the board towards ideas he supported, such as school uniforms, and a restructuring that would bring fifth and sixth graders back to district elementary schools.

Reilly also rejected the idea that board only cares about sports, or ignores some subjects over others.

“You’re dead wrong," he said. "We care about the whole picture of education.”

And Vulcano apologized for his recent absences from board meetings, which he said were due to health problems.

"At times this could very taxing," he said. "And I mean that both ways.”

Four new board members—Michelle Price, Robert Obey, Matt Monahon and Dominick Busciemi—are due to take office next month.