Judges appoint Matthew Thomas to Norwin school board

Rich Cholodofsky | Monday, October 16, 2023 6:00 p.m.

Rich Cholodofsky | Tribune-Review

Matthew Thomas, 49, of North Huntingdon was appointed Monday to fill a vacancy on the Norwin school board.

Westmoreland County judges selected a former Cambria County school principal to serve a six-week stint as a member of the Norwin School Board.

Matthew Thomas, 49, of North Huntingdon was named Monday as the replacement for school board member Joanna Jordan, who died in August. The deeply divided school board was not able to agree on Jordan’s replacement and last month turned the process over to the county’s Common Pleas Court judges.

Thomas, who works as student services director for the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit, is a former principal at Ferndale Area High School near Johnstown and a past member of the Westmont Hilltop School Board. He was one of four candidates who sought the interim appointment.

Thomas is also one of 10 candidates seeking five open seats on the nine-member school board in November.

Jordan’s death left Norwin’s school board at a standstill with two partisan four-member factions seeking control over district operations and direction. Thomas viewed his appointment as a means to allow the board to properly function before a newly constituted school board takes office Dec. 4.

“There are some decisions that have been held in abeyance because of the 4-4 board,” Thomas said. “I intend on bringing humility to the meeting process. It’s an honor to serve, and I hope I am a person who can build consensus and bring people together for a common goal, even if it is only for one meeting.”

Norwin has one public meeting scheduled in November.

Norwin board member Alex Detschelt suggested the selection of Thomas was an unwarranted intrusion into Norwin’s upcoming election. Detschelt has endorsed a slate of five candidates in opposition to Thomas and his four running mates.

“Considering Mr. Thomas is a candidate, I feel the judges’ decision today will inject some bias for his ability to be impartial to the voters,” Detschelt said.

Board President Darlene Ciocca, who is slated to leave office in December, said Thomas will be a welcome addition to Norwin’s governing body.

“I’m glad we have a full board. Everybody who came here today had a heartfelt interest in serving,” Ciocca said. “Hopefully, in the future, people will put their personal agendas to the side.”