Residents Speak About Pennsbury School Director DeBlasio; Board Remains Mum

Two residents spoke out on the issue of Pennsbury School Board member Debbie DeBlasio’s place of residence, while the board kept quiet Thursday night.

Earlier this week, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office began an investigation into whether DeBlasio was living full-time in Falls Township or Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The investigation began after her real estate job posted a profile with statements that sounded like she had moved down south. In an interview with LevittownNow.com, DeBlasio said she was still a Falls resident and was just “test driving” a move to South Carolina.

While DeBlasio has technically attended most of the school board’s meetings via telephone, which is legal, she has not physically been seated with the rest of the board at a majority of the meetings.

“I know a school director takes an oath … and I don’t think it’s being served right now. We have a school director who is missing more time than she comes,” original Levittown resident Charles Rother said. He continued by saying that every school board member should be honest in their duties.

“I feel that Debra DeBlasio should resign or you should dump her,” he told the board.

Lower Makefield resident Robert Abrams, who has called DeBlasio on her physical attendance at meetings before, said DeBlasio tried to “defrauded the people of region 3.” He also said a board ethic committee should be formed.

Board solicitor Peter C. Amuso said during the meeting that the board could not take action at this time. He continued by stating the outcome was in the hands of Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler.

The board did not make any public statements on DeBlasio’s seat.

Amuso told LevittownNow.com after the meeting that the board could only remove a member if they miss two consecutive meetings or fail to qualify for the office. Neither of those apply to DeBlasio.

“I’ll tell you and Joan Hellyer (another reporter) the same thing – my husband and I are down here for a test drive,” DeBlasio said earlier this week. By test drive, she said she means they are deciding if they want to retire down south in a few years or stay in their Fairless Hills home.

Deblasio also serves as a chairperson for the Township of Falls Authority (TOFA). According to meeting minutes for early 2014, she attended the reorganization meeting in person and attended later meetings via Skype and telephone.

Heckler said the ongoing investigation is a civil one and not criminal.

Heckler confirmed earlier this week that DeBlasio’s husband, Wayne, was involved in a similar issue several years back when he was representing Region 2 in Pennsbury when he actually was living in Region 3. The issue was settled before a judge.

DeBlasio was clear when she told LevittownNow.com she has no intentions to step down from the board.