Does Methacton School Board Have a Drinking Problem?

Much is now being made of GOP Methacton School Board President Joyce Petrauskas’ DUI Arrest and upcoming Criminal Case in Florida.  ( Link to the Docket )

In February 2013, Ms. Petrauskas was apprehended by local police in Florida while driving with almost double the legal limit of booze in her blood.  The issue was kept quiet until October 22 when a former school board member brought the issue up at a school board meeting.  Ms. Petrauskas claims she is the victim of an elaborate conspiracy to attack her reputation and affect local elections.  ( Link to Patch Story )

When the police provide mug shots ( Link ) and test results, can members of the public be allowed to think the Methacton School Board President is an untreated delusional drunk, if not paranoid?

More members of the public, including former school board members, are standing up at school board meetings and demanding Ms. Petrauskas step down as least as President of the Methacton School Board, if not from the body all together.  Could members of the public see hypocrisy in having a person who is in charge of overseeing programs like “Straight Talk for Parents” (prepping parents for dealing with substance abuse) as a person who is trying to winnow out taking responsibility of their alcohol issues?

One cannot ask the kids in Methacton School District to take responsibility for their actions, when the leaders of the school district make excuses for when they fail.  (We all fall; it is how we get up that matters.)
 
Methacton Solicitor and former GOP County Commissioner, Paul Bartle, proceeded to lecture members of the public who are demanding action.  Quoted in a Times Herald article, he proceeded to tell residents the only recourse to having Ms. Petrauskas represent them is via the ballot box.  If Mr. Bartle knew about these issues as a solicitor of the school board and did nothing to inform the public as to what is going on BEFORE the election, then is it a hollow cry when he puts blame on the public for not taking action at the ballot box when he fails to inform the electorate.

Want more irony?  If you look at the Times Herald, they have full page ads after half page ads telling us about how they can inform the public as to what is going on in a timely manner.  In fact, in an editorial on Thursday, November 21, 2013 they proceed to beat their chest to say how superior the newspapers are in informing us, the great unwashed, as to what is going on.

Where was the Times Herald a month ago when this story broke?  This was right before the election.  Did the public not have a right to know what was going on in a timely manner?

From the descriptions of events in the media and police reports made public, it appears Ms. Petrauskas needs to get treatment, but she should not remain a member of this board at this time.  

With a criminal trial ahead of her, Ms. Petrauskas cannot focus on defending herself and serving the school district properly.  If she wants to be a school board member, she needs to get her life together and run for re-election after she gets treatment .  There is nothing wrong with a person who has gone through the healing processes from being leaders in our community.

In fact, it may make her a better school board member.