A candidate for the Crestwood school board is addressing details from his past employment after court records revealed his termination from a teaching position over a decade ago. The records cite allegations of using excessive force against a student and intimidating witnesses, matters the candidate, Tom Stavitzski, characterizes as part of a politically motivated smear campaign.
Key Takeaways
- Tom Stavitzski, a candidate for the Crestwood school board, was terminated from a teaching job at the Luzerne Intermediate Unit No. 18 in 2012.
- Court records show the termination was for alleged excessive force against a student and subsequent intimidation of witnesses.
- An arbitrator upheld the termination in 2014, and subsequent court appeals by Stavitzski were dismissed.
- Stavitzski has also faced multiple property liens for delinquent sewer payments, which he states he has been working to resolve after financial hardship.
- The candidate calls the resurfacing of these issues a "desperate smear campaign" by political opponents.
Candidate Responds to Allegations
Tom Stavitzski, who secured a Republican nomination for a Crestwood school board seat in the May primary, is confronting public scrutiny over events from his past. The focus is on his 2012 dismissal from the Luzerne Intermediate Unit's (LIU) Alternative Learning Center, a school for at-risk students.
In an emailed statement, Stavitzski asserted that the timing of these revelations is a deliberate attack on his campaign. He emphasized his focus on policy issues, such as eliminating facility fees for youth sports and improving district curriculum.
"It is a sad day for the Crestwood School District when my political opponents resort to a last-minute and desperate smear campaign to promote their own agenda," Stavitzski stated. "Rather than engaging in an open and honest debate about the issues, a small clandestine group with a hidden agenda has chosen to attack my character."
He described his time at the now-closed Alternative Learning Center as working in a "chaotic, divisive, and negative" environment. Stavitzski claimed he was the target of adverse treatment for advocating for a safer workplace after sustaining multiple injuries from student assaults.
Details of the 2012 Incident
Court and arbitration records provide an account of the incident that led to Stavitzski's termination. On April 25, 2012, a 15 or 16-year-old student allegedly swung a sweatshirt at Stavitzski. The student then ran down a hallway, with Stavitzski in pursuit.
During the chase, Stavitzski threw a walkie-talkie in the student's direction. While security cameras captured video of the event, there was no audio. Several key facts remained in dispute during the subsequent investigation and arbitration, including whether the student's sweatshirt injured Stavitzski's eye and whether the thrown walkie-talkie struck the student.
The Arbitration Process
Following his termination, Stavitzski's teachers' union, the Luzerne IU No. 18 Education Association, filed a grievance on his behalf. This action sent the case to an independent arbitrator to determine if the LIU had just cause for dismissal. The arbitrator's decision, issued in May 2014, is a central document in the case.
The LIU cited "using inappropriate and excessive force" and "hindering...the investigation" as grounds for termination. The latter charge stemmed from allegations that Stavitzski spoke with and threatened witnesses, including the student involved and a pregnant teacher.
Arbitrator's Findings and Court Appeals
Arbitrator Scott Buchheit ultimately rejected the union's grievance and upheld the termination. In his decision, Buchheit concluded that Stavitzski had "lost his temper" in a manner "highly inappropriate for a professional educator," regardless of whether the walkie-talkie made contact with the student.
The arbitrator found testimony credible that Stavitzski had intimidated the pregnant teacher, who said she was left "in shock" by their conversation. Another teacher testified that Stavitzski used a misogynistic slur during the interaction. Buchheit also noted that a custodian's witness statement appeared to be influenced by Stavitzski, further supporting the claim of witness interference.
Legal Challenges Dismissed
Stavitzski's attempts to overturn the arbitrator's decision in court were unsuccessful. His petition to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in November 2014 was rejected for being filed five months past the 30-day deadline. Subsequent appeals and motions for reconsideration were also denied on procedural grounds, with a judge noting that he had again missed the 30-day statutory deadline for an appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
The arbitrator's decision stated there was not compelling evidence that the walkie-talkie struck the student. However, he believed testimony that Stavitzski had shouted profanity and epithets about the student's nationality, which he viewed as evidence of misconduct driven by anger.
Financial Issues and Property Liens
Separate from his employment history, public records show Stavitzski has faced financial challenges related to unpaid sewer bills. The Mountaintop Area Joint Sanitary Authority has placed six liens against a property he owns in Mountain Top for delinquent fees since March 2023.
The liens total $5,482, and court records do not indicate they have been paid. Previously, a 2020 judgment of $1,298 for unpaid fees was marked as satisfied in October 2023.
Stavitzski explained that the issues began with an error in bill delivery. He said he has been working to pay down the liens and noted that his family experienced significant financial hardship after he lost his job and his wife had to leave hers to care for their severely injured son.
He also suggested the current court records might contain administrative errors from the sanitary authority. He believed a home refinancing two years ago would have required any outstanding liens to be settled, and he was searching for records of that transaction.
Reflecting on his career since leaving the LIU, Stavitzski said he has been gainfully employed in education and private industry. "I have never claimed to be perfect, but I am proud of my professional accomplishments and the positive impact I have made throughout my career," he stated.
