An Important Message to the Penn-Delco Community

Dear Penn-Delco School District Community,

I write today to inform you of a serious matter involving one of our employees. Given our commitment to transparency and ongoing communication with the community, and as a result of the public release of a charging document, I am now able to share with deep concern that one of our middle school counselors, Mr. Siegel, has been charged with crimes related to the possession of child pornography.

While the district is reminded that a document of charges is not a conviction, the nature of the charges alone are extremely troubling and upsetting. An immediate reaction from parents is understandably to question whether you have reason to worry about your child's interactions with our counselor. When I inquired about whether the district should be concerned about potential direct impact or involvement with any of our students, I was told that none of the alleged criminal activity occurred on school premises or involved any current or former students. This reassurance permitted the district to take initial steps to protect the wellbeing of our students while also cooperating with an active and privileged law enforcement investigation.

State and federal law significantly restricts what information a district is able to provide to the public about staff members. However, I am able to advise of the following items:

1. When the district was first informed of this matter, we were advised that no charges had been filed and the next steps in an investigation of this type is forensic verification. There was no timetable provided to the district for when or if any charges were going to be filed. Mr. Siegel was immediately removed from the workplace, placed on leave, and has had no contact with students since the moment the district was first informed.
2. The district was given no notice that charges had indeed recently been filed and learned of it secondhand, similarly to parents who learned of it via personal social media posts.
3. Law enforcement representatives reiterated that none of the crimes alleged to have been committed by Mr. Siegel took place on school grounds or involved any current or former Penn-Delco students.
4. All of Mr. Siegel's certifications and background checks required for employment at Penn-Delco are and have been current.
5. The district will begin a search for a counselor to meet the needs of our students while this matter is processed and finalized.

The school district has already implemented a plan to ensure that the counseling and support needs of our children have been met during Mr. Siegel's absence, as has been noted by an email from Principal Buterbaugh informing them of his absence. I understand the impact that situations of this sort can have on a school community. To that end, and to support our students, counselors, and school psychologists will be available for students who may benefit from speaking with someone on this matter. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the guidance office to request assistance if needed.

Finally, I should note my appreciation to the many parents, guardians, and staff who have trusted the district to act responsibly during a period of speculation, while honoring our obligation to privacy laws, the integrity of a privileged criminal investigation, and the wellbeing of our students.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our schools. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me or contact my office directly.

Sincerely,

Dr. George Steinhoff
Penn-Delco Superintendent of Schools