Winifred Ann Martin

Andrew Stefanko

Wednesday, December 05, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 5A<br><br>





EXETER   Wyoming Area board   members take sides    The battle lines were
clearly drawn at the Wyoming Area School District's reorganization meeting
Tuesday night.   Board members Jake Sobeski, John LaNunziata and Toni Valenti
opposed nearly everything Board President Robert Orlando and the majority
suggested. The three even felt the meeting was illegal since they were not
notified of it five days in advance, as board policy requires.   But District
Solicitor Raymond Hassey, who retained his post, said it was alright to
proceed with the meeting since the board members were present and the meeting
was advertised in the papers.   Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge
Thomas Burke administered the oath of office to board members Robert Orlando,
Gilbert Dominick, Eugene Thomas Jr. and David DeMark. They will each serve a
four-year term.   Orlando retained his post as president and Thomas as vice
president. Thomas was also named as the district's representative to the West
Side Area Vo-Tech. Sobeski and Valenti voted against the appointments except
for Thomas as vice president. LaNunziata voted against them all.   Thomas
Vaxmonsky was named treasurer and DeMark as the representative to the
Pennsylvania School Boards Association. LaNunziata abstained.   Upon the
recommendation of Hassey, the board also named Fidelity and M&amp;T banks as the
district's depositories.    LaNunziata said the district has never had two
banks and has no need for another and voted against the motion. Sobeski and
Valenti also voted against.   ``What's the purpose of two banks,'' said
LaNunziata. ``I've never heard of something like this.''   Hassey said an
additional bank will help the district get better rates and will ``ultimately
benefit the district.''   ``It's a slap in the face to M&amp;T Bank and the people
of Wyoming Area,'' said Sobeski. ``We've done business with them for years.''
Donald Lloyd was also named as the Legislative Chairperson to the Pennsylvania
School Board Association.   Scott L. Gomb

Wyoming Area Board Members Take Sides