Nazareth Area School Director Miller Resigns

Nazareth Area School Board member Chris Miller has resigned.

Miller sent Patch a one-sentence email at 1:31pm today. It said:

”I resigned from the NASD as of today, May 21, 2013.”

Patch tried to reach Miller for further comment.

Miller, who was outspoken following sexual assault allegations against the middle school drama teacher, was harshly criticized by several school board members Monday night when he left the meeting while it was still in progress.

He attended the meeting’s first part, but was not present when the board returned from the gym after watching performances by several student groups.

In addition to leaving the meeting, Miller apparently confronted a second-grade teacher in the hallway Monday night after she led a presentation on her class’ study of famous people, according to board president Lorin Bradley.

Bradley, who did not witness the incident involving Miller and teacher April Silimperi, said he was told that Miller confronted Silimperi and criticized her for using taxpayers money on the famous people project, also referred to on the board's meeting agenda as the second-grade “wax museum.”

The project is tied to the state’s new Common Core standards, which spell out what students should know at each grade level and encourage students to use multimedia presentations.

Bradley said Miller has previously expressed his opposition to the Common Core standards.

(Meanwhile, Nazzreth superintendent Dennis Riker said Tuesday that a special school board meeting will be held at 6pm next Tuesday, May 28, on how Miller's seat will be filled. His term expires at the end of 2015).

Bradley, clearly upset with Miller’s actions, said of Miller, “I don’t think he has the best interest of the district at heart” and that Miller’s actions “continued to alienate [him] from the rest of the board.”

Bradley also said he has no problem with listening to Miller’s views; he was not happy with the way he expressed them Monday night.

He said Miller should be expressing his views at open school board or board committee meetings.

Board member Darrell Crook called Miller’s disappearance “an insult” to the board “and our kids.”