Gateway School District approves board member's resignation, searches for candidates to fill seat

The Gateway school board on Jan. 12 unanimously approved the resignation of a board member who stepped down from his elected position days after a racially charged controversy.

The school board did not discuss Paul Caliari’s resignation beyond voting to approve it.

Caliari resigned through a letter addressed to board president Brian Goppman on Jan. 7.

The resignation came days after a lawsuit filed against him and the school district claims Caliari called a job candidate’s husband a racial slur in a text message, and that the text cost her a job with the district as its athletic director.

The sullied board member has said the text – which he sent 10 months ago in a group text that included board members and administrative staff – was a “misfire.” He said he’s not a racist and blames the lawsuit on a political attack launched by board member Rick McIntyre.

Caliari re-emphasized his innocence in his resignation letter, which the Tribune-Review obtained, by again blaming the lawsuit on a “disgruntled board member” who decided “to weaponize my error.”

“At this point I find it senseless to continue to argue my case and provide facts to my truthfulness because nobody seems to care,” he wrote.

Also during the Jan. 12 meeting, board member Scott Gallagher presented a motion stating individual members should participate in implicit bias training, cultural understanding and sensitivity training, religious differentiation training and gender identity training – which are all part of trainings that Gateway staff undergo already.

Board members John Ritter and Mary Beth Cirucci said they have already received some of that training and that it should not be required.

“You can’t enforce this, Scott,” Cirucci said. “Your intention is genuine, we all know that but it’s not enforceable and it possibly could have unintended consequences of people being falsely represented or categorized by keyboard warriors – if you know what I mean – if they didn’t attend.”

She said many employers offer that sort of training already and many board member have already received it.

Gallagher said the training is not mandatory. The board is expected to vote on the motion Jan. 19.

The district administration remains mum over the lawsuit and Caliari’s resignation.

Instead, it published a statement one day after his departure that said the Gateway School District Equity Committee cultivates “a school environment that embodies and respects diversity, inclusion and equity.”

The statement said the committee, comprising teachers and administrators, provides anti-bias education, culturally responsive professional development.

“We care deeply about the communities and residents we serve,” it reads.

Currently, the equity committee is focused on “examining the presence and extent of equity throughout the district, establishing a mentorship program for students who are African-American, engaging in culturally responsive training for all teachers and staff, collaborating with community members and partners to carry out implementation of our diversity and inclusivity goals and reporting progress to the community.”

Caliari’s seat is now up for grabs and Goppman has encouraged community members to submit their names to Board Secretary Bonnie Easha if they are interested in the position. Goppman said Easha will then distribute those names to board members.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have been a resident of Gateway School District for at least a year and currently live within the district – which covers Monroeville and Pitcairn. Letters of intent, along with a resume and contact information can be sent to beasha@gatewayk12.org. For more information, visit the district’s website.

“There will be a two-week window for submitting resumes. After that, each board member will have two weeks to call each candidate individually,” Goppman said. He said he will call other board members individually to see if there is consensus on the appointment.

The board has 30 days to fill the seat. Goppman said he expects the board to appoint someone by Feb. 9, which is the board’s next study session meeting.

Caliari’s seat was set to expire on the first Monday of December, meaning any appointee will need to also run for election if they wish to continue serving on the board.