Council Rock Board President Apologizes Over Girls And Math Remarks

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — The president of the Council Rock School Board on Thursday night publicly apologized for comments he made about girls and math during a recent education committee meeting.

Ed Salamon’s apology came at the end of the school board meeting and after about a half dozen students and residents expressed disappointment with remarks he made at an October education committee meeting and called for an apology.

During a discussion about lagging test scores, the impact of COVID on student learning and how to bridge the learning gap, Salamon is heard on a meeting recording saying, “Statistically we say that the ladies have a harder time with math. Throw that into the scenario ... You don’t like math,” he said of young women.

The comments didn’t sit well with female math students and parents who took offense at his words and demanded the board president apologize. Several also called for his resignation labeling the comments “misogynistic and degrading.”

Salamon, the father of two daughters, said he met Thursday afternoon with two students and their parents to discuss the impact of his words.

“I tell all three of my kids that everything is a learning experience when you make a mistake. If it hurts somebody you have to double down and come back and make it better,” he said.

“My goal is to make this better. My goal is to fight for every kid in Council Rock. My apologies to anybody who I hurt. Please accept them,” he said. “I will work harder for the words that matter and I will work harder for these kids. Please accept my apology from the bottom of my heart. It means a lot to me. And to my board members if you were offended as well, I am sorry.”

Responding to Salamon’s remarks, board member Ed Tate accepted the president’s apology as sincere and from the heart.

“I want the community to know that I consider Ed to be among the hardest working board members. It takes a lot of work to be a good board member - a lot homework, a lot of phone calls, consultations and school visits. And Mr. Salamon has been an extremely good school board member,” said Tate.

“He’s an honorable and ethical person,” added Tate. “I’ve served with Ed for at least four years and I trust him implicitly, explicitly without a doubt. His apology was overdue, but it’s very significant and I believe it’s from the heart. I support Ed and I will continue to support Ed.”

Board member Yota Palli said she appreciated the apology, but said she wished he had done it earlier.

“I heard the community speaking tonight and I am very proud of you for speaking out and talking about women in mathematics,” said Palli. “I have graduate degrees in mathematics and an MBA in finance, so I was not happy when I heard that comment at the education committee. I stand with you,” she told members of the public who voiced their objections to the comments. “We have to support everybody equally and make sure we provide the right resources ... I hope this board in its totality is going to work together and support every single student going forward in math and all the other disciplines.”

Board member Mariann McKee, who had several private conversations with Salamon about his comments, thanked the president for his apology.

“I know it was very sincere. I thank you for that and certainly accept that,” she said. “While this has evolved with time I’m grateful you’re the kind of leader who can reflect and say here’s what I need to do better and to move us forward,” she said. “I thank you for your apology. I know how hard you work for the board.”

Board member Joseph Hidalgo expressed appreciation to the students and parents who sent emails, who called and who attended the meeting.

“I’m proud of our community,” said Hidalgo. “It’s your involvement that makes the school district so great.

“Regarding Mr. Salamon’s statements, “it just went by so fast in that meeting that no one even thought so much of it. There are so many great role models out there. We should be looking at the people in our community who would be great role models for our children instead of focusing on one misstatement and an apology made.

“I can’t make judgment on anybody. I know we’re all up here doing our best,” he said.