Pa. school board OKs GSA
On Monday night, the East Pennsboro Area School Board authorized the formation of a gay-straight alliance at its high school, reversing an earlier decision.
The board members voted 7-0 in favor of the club’s creation, a sharp contrast to the 4-4 vote on April 2.
One of the board members who changed his vote told reporters that there was not enough time for the board to consider the club earlier this month, as the proposal was introduced and voted on in the same night.
The club is expected to cost less than $300 per year. One member who cited “budgetary” reasons for his initial no vote did not offer an explanation of his change of position at Monday’s meeting.
— Jen Colletta
PAC closes 100 police-misconduct complaints
At a stormy meeting April 16, the city’s Police Advisory Commission announced the closure of 100 unresolved police-misconduct complaints that have accumulated at the agency over the past four years.
PAC chair Ronda B. Goldfein said it’s unfair to complainants and target officers for cases to languish indefinitely.
“A [PAC] system that allows cases to remain open indefinitely is fair to no one,” Goldfein said.
She said the closings were confirmed April 11 by the PAC’s Investigatory Review Committee.
“The IRC confirmed the administrative closing of 100 cases because we didn’t receive from staff any substantive request to keep them open,” Goldfein explained. “This decision wasn’t made lightly.”
PAC executive director William M. Johnson expressed emphatic disagreement with the closings.
He said PAC’s four staffers are doing their best to reach appropriate findings for the cases, but more time is needed due to limited resources.
After the meeting, Johnson said he doesn’t intend to implement the closings.
He noted that not every commissioner agrees with the closings, and said he’s prepared to seek the intervention of Mayor Nutter to keep them open, if necessary.
At press time, Nutter spokesperson Mark McDonald had no comment on the dispute.
Also during the meeting, PAC commissioners asked Johnson to get back to them with the number of complaints under active investigation — apart from the 100 they want closed.
Co. seeks dismissal of transgender lawsuit
An Allentown electronics firm has asked a federal judge to dismiss an employment-discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee who is transgender.
LSI Corp. wants U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno to dismiss the case of Janis Stacy, who worked at LSI for about 10 years as an engineer before she was terminated in 2008.
Stacy’s lawsuit alleges she suffered adverse employment actions dating back to 2005, when she started transitioning at work.
She sued LSI two years ago, claiming wrongful termination because of her gender, gender identity and disability.
But the company contends that Stacy was terminated due to workforce reductions — and because she lacked the skills necessary to help move the company forward.
At the time of her LSI employment, Stacy was suffering from Gender Identity Disorder, which in her case was disabling, according to court records.
Last year, Robreno rejected LSI’s claim that GID isn’t a valid disability under state antibias laws.
Stacy, who is suing for an undisclosed sum, has requested a jury trial.
LSI’s request to dismiss the case has been pending with Robreno since January.
The judge has no deadline to rule on the motion.
Attorneys for both parties declined to comment for this story.
— Tim Cwiek
Out coach in Philly
The American Swedish Historical Museum will honor out soccer legend Pia Sundhage in an event from 6-9 p.m. April 21 at the museum, 1900 Pattison Ave.
Sundhage is currently head coach of the United States Women’s National Team.
The museum will present Sundhage its Outstanding Achievement Award at its annual Spring Ting Dinner and Auction.
For more information, visit www.americanswedish.org.
Softball season opens
The City of Brotherly Love Softball League will open its 2012 season April 22.
Teams will begin playing at 9 a.m. and the opening ceremonies will commence at noon at Dairy Fields in Fairmount Park.
The annual opening-day block party will be held from 4-11 p.m. on Camac Street between Locust and Spruce streets.
For more information, visit www.cblsl.org.
— J.C.