September 4th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Absenteeism has become a problem with the Allegany County Board of Education with one member routinely missing work sessions and public meetings for health reasons – and another claiming to be out of the loop- failing to be properly notified.  For the first time in anyone’s memory, the School Board was forced to essentially cancel its regular business meeting in August for lack of a quorum. At the particular meeting, member Sara Beth Bittinger was just days removed giving birth to her first child; Lorelee Farrell was dealing with health issues; and Wayne Foote had injured his back. A makeup special meeting saw Bittinger participate by phone, but Foote and Farrell once again were no shows. Foote has maintained that he sometimes is not notified about such meetings. Addressing the issue on WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” School Superintendent David Cox said that each board member is notified about every meeting in the same manner and no one is being “left out of the loop”….