Woke Pennsylvania school board member QUITS after refusing to install 'cis white male' successor

A member of a Pennsylvania school board who refused to approve as president 'the only cis white male' on the board has resigned after her comments caused anger.

Jennifer Solot told the meeting of the Upper Moreland School District, Philadelphia, that she could not support Greg D'Elia as president. 

Solot, the school board treasurer, who led the meeting until a new president was elected, said it would 'send the wrong message' to elect D'Elia over April Stainback.

'I believe that Mr. D’Elia would make an excellent president,' she said on December 6. 

'However, I feel that electing the only cis white male on this board president of this district sends the wrong message to our community: a message that is contrary to what we as a board have been trying to accomplish.'

On Monday, Stainback - who was elected president - and Dr. Susan Elliott, the superintendent, said that Solot had resigned.

Treasurer Jennifer Solot told the Upper Moreland School District meeting on December 6 she would not vote for the 'only cis white male' on the board as president. On Monday she resigned

Greg D'Elia lost the vote to April Stainback 1-8 despite the father-of-three previously serving as an area School Director and having the backing of area Democrats in previous races 

Solot will step down in January.

'She wishes to apologize for her poorly chosen words and does not want to be a distraction from the great things happening in our schools on a daily basis,' wrote Stainbeck and Elliott. 

'The comments made by Ms. Solot at the board reorganization meeting were solely hers and were not intended to represent the opinion of the entire UMSD Board of Directors or the district as a whole. 

'Indeed, Board Director Greg D’Elia, who was the subject of her comments, says that he “supports diversity, but these comments did not further diversity and reflected poorly on our community.”'

They said Solot's comments were discrimination, and could not be tolerated in their school district.

'We value the full diversity of the community we serve and help all students and staff achieve success without discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or gender identity,' they wrote. 

D'Elia has lived in the Upper Moreland area for about 15 years and is father to three children, two of whom currently attend Upper Moreland schools

'Likewise, in all staffing positions in the district, we hire the most qualified person for the position and do not discriminate.'

Solot, in her December 6 remarks, said that she thought Stainback was the best candidate.

'Mrs. Stainback has done an exemplary job as president these last few months, and the strength of her performance has earned her my vote tonight,' she said. 

Stainback defeated D'Elia - a father-of-three who previously served as an area School Director, and during previous races had the backing of area Democrats - 8-1. 

Solot's commentary was met with anger, accusing the mother and school board member of 'racism' and asking whether there is 'a petition for Jennifer Solot to resign.'

Self-styled local political commentator Joe Rittenhouse wrote on Facebook that Solot's statement 'reflects poorly on the district and the values of public education.'

He branded her comments a 'sexist, racist tirade on camera attacking people on their fitness to be elected school board president based on skin color, sexual orientation, and gender.'

'I believe that Mr. D’Elia would make an excellent president. However, I feel that electing the only cis white male on this board president of this district sends the wrong message to our community,' Board Treasurer Jennifer Solot said

'Shame on Jennifer Solot. Resign,' he wrote. 

Solot's comments were followed by new board member Sarah Byrnes, who paused before saying: 'This is very hard to do as the new person on the board,' before casting her vote for Ms. Stainback.

Rose Huber also hesitated before ultimately voting for Stainback, a mother of five who has also served as a school director in the area.

D'Elia, an active community member, has lived in the Upper Moreland area for about 15 years and is father to three children, two of whom attend Upper Moreland schools.

He said his interest in the school board was amplified after one of his children began struggling in class with school 'and was having a very bad experience.'

His experience getting his child special education resources inspired him to run for office to 'improve access to special services for students.'

During his 2019 campaign for school director, his platform revolved around 'the importance of education' and the belief that it is 'the responsibility for the entire community to educate the next generation.'

As a trained Mechanical Engineer, D'Elia pledged to introduce his professional prospective to 'gather data to make decisions and most effectively use resources.'