'Violent' Videos Ignite Hatboro-Horsham School Board Campaign

HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Hatboro-Horsham School Board President David Brown —a Democrat running for re-election in next Tuesday's general election —has called out Republican school board candidates for disseminating videos that state there's violence in the schools.

"I am alarmed about the videos that the Republican school board candidates are disseminating in an attempt to garner votes in the upcoming election," Brown said in a post on his school board candidate party's Facebook page on Monday.

He said as Hatboro-Horsham School Board president, it's his responsibility to address the community and respond to "this misleading content."

"First, there is neither mass chaos nor violence in our schools," Brown said. "To suggest otherwise is a lame attempt to cause fear and confusion in order to gain control of our schools. The people making these claims have not expressed their 'concern' with district officials. H-H is not perfect, and there are conflicts like any other school district, but we are not hearing concerns about mass chaos or out-of-control violence from our students, their families, or our staff."

Brown said after seeing the recordings, community members approached him as well as other incumbent school board members expressing their concern.

Brown is one of eight candidates vying for four school board seats in the Nov. 7 general election. He is running with Democrats Denise DJ Schultz, Theresa E. Brown, and Susan Hunsinger-Hoff.

They're facing Republicans Bill Daly, Janine Solley, Vince Varallo, and Kellie Hall.

"Their style of leadership would be dangerous for our students, our schools, and our community," Brown said. "We just have to look to neighboring school districts to see the impact of extremist elected officials. Increased discrimination, book bans, and experienced teachers quitting are real effects of electing extreme candidates."

Daly, in speaking with Patch Monday afternoon, said that he has in his possession 10-15 videos of fights in Hatboro-Horsham High School, including one on Oct. 2 in which a boy was bloodied in a school locker room and another on Oct. 10 in which three girls are seen fighting. (Patch reviewed that video Monday afternoon.)

"This is real stuff,' Daly said. "We didn't make this up."

"We stand by what we're saying," Daly said. "There's a lack of discipline in the schools. Students are not held accountable for their actions. I'm not sure how Mr. Brown can say there's no violence in our schools."

Daly cited incidents of bullying, fights, and assaults. Patch reported about one assault on the school resource officer and another police officer in late December.

Daly appeared before the school board at its recent meeting to also question a statement made by Brown at a prior meeting that there were no incidents of drug use during the first month of school.

Brown said that he and his running mates have "been working tirelessly to improve the culture of our schools."

"Progress takes time, but we are already seeing remarkable improvement," Brown said. "Vote for us because we don’t use students as pawns," Brown said. We care about each and every student —their education, growth, and well-being."