Public comment raises allegations about vice principal’s social‑media post; board says police investigation ongoing

At the Wyoming Valley West School District Oct. 8 meeting, resident Joe McDavitt (Larksville) drew attention during public comment to a social‑media post he said was made from the account of Vice Principal Joe Jarski and described the post to the board as advocating violence.

"If you don't mind, did all you people know what this vice principal supposedly wrote on his social media about assassination?" McDavitt said during public comment, reading passages he attributed to a Facebook post and saying the account had been altered or removed.

A board representative paused McDavitt’s three‑minute comment to respond and said the board would not comment publicly on personnel matters while an investigation continues. "I can tell you that the investigation is ongoing by the Pennsylvania State Police," the board representative said, adding that the criminal complaint was not filed by the school district. The representative said Jarski remains employed and is "working from home" for his safety because of threatening correspondence.

Board discussion later returned to whether the district’s existing policies provide clear rules for employee social‑media use. A board member said the district adopted a social‑media use policy last year through the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) but other board members said the policy should be reviewed in light of the ongoing situation.

Legal counsel for the district explained that the Pennsylvania school code provides the basis to discipline educators if they fail to meet educator requirements, and that any disciplinary steps would need to be justified under that code. The solicitor recommended staff examine existing policies and report back; board members asked administration to assist the policy committee in reviewing social‑media rules and the code of ethics.

No personnel discipline or administrative decision was announced at the meeting. The board repeatedly declined further public comment to preserve the integrity of any forthcoming hearing and to avoid prejudging the matter while law‑enforcement inquiries continue.