UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Southern Lehigh Schools Superintendent Michael Mahon remains on administrative leave after the school board president last week criticized his “poor leadership."
Contacted Wednesday, the superintendent’s office confirmed Mahon’s leave, but declined to comment further.
Mahon, who has led the district since late 2021, was at a Feb. 24 meeting in which Board President Emily Gehman shared her concerns about his leadership.
“Our superintendent has repeatedly stated that he approaches his work with the best of intentions and explains how he wants this district to succeed, but his actions do not support this intent."Southern Lehigh School Board President Emily Gehman
“Our superintendent has repeatedly stated that he approaches his work with the best of intentions and explains how he wants this district to succeed, but his actions do not support this intent,” Gehman said.
At the time, Mahon pushed back on these claims.
But Gehman, who has been a school director for a decade, said the board has had to take a more active role than it normally would over the past five months because of Mahon’s judgment.
Gehman said Mahon’s tenure has been marked by “intentional miscommunication and last-minute changes in plans,” as well as “incomplete information” on agenda items.
She also said Mahon intentionally raises issues he knows will cause division among board members, who publicly acknowledged their difficulties working together.
Gehman said she has repeatedly tried to address her issues with the superintendent “to no avail.”
Gehman did not respond to a Wednesday request for comment.
'Proud of the way I do my work'
At the same Feb. 24 meeting, Mahon disagreed with Gehman’s characterization of his work.
He also said her claims “lack specificity.” Mahon said he has been transparent with the Southern Lehigh community.
“I am proud of the way I do my work,” he said.
LehighValleyNews.com also reached out to Mahon for comment Wednesday.
In response, Mahon’s district email sent an auto-generated message confirming his leave and providing contact information for Southern Lehigh Assistant Superintendent Karen Trinkle.
When called by phone, Mahon’s personal contact number seemed to be disconnected.
At the Feb. 24 meeting, other board members said the discussion of Mahon’s performance should have been in executive session rather than a public meeting.
Board tensions
At the meeting, school directors Nicole King, Mary Joy Reinartz and Christopher Wayock offered support of Mahon’s performance and pushed back on the board president’s statements.
“What you’re saying, that he’s not communicative, is just garbage. It’s just not true."Nicole King, Southern Lehigh School Board Member
“What you’re saying, that he’s not communicative, is just garbage,” King said at the time. “It’s just not true.”
The tensions on the board also were apparent at that meeting. School directors regularly spoke over each other and acknowledged their own dysfunction directly.
King said the board has been split into two opposing factions.
She said Gehman, along with board members Timothy Kearney, Candi Kruse, Eric Boyer and Melissa Torba regularly vote together.
Those five board members ran as a slate in the most recent school board election.
King said she and the remaining board members — Reinartz, Wayock and Stephen Maund — don’t have enough votes for their opinions to affect board action.
“This is not a board that works well together,” King added.
Torba said the combative nature of the board needs to be stopped.
“We cannot continue like this,” she said. “These little mind games and checkers that we’re playing with each other, it’s getting us nowhere.”
