MECHANICSBURG — The Cumberland Valley School Board voted 5-4 Wednesday night to reverse its decision to cancel a guest speaker assembly at Mountain View Middle School after a nearly six-hour special meeting.

The assembly was set to highlight actor and author Maulik Pancholy, best known for his work on series like “Phineas and Ferb” and “30 Rock.” Pancholy is also an openly gay author who has written several children’s books about anti-bullying. The assembly was scheduled for May 22 before a unanimous vote during an April 15 board meeting canceled the event, citing concerns over Pancholy’s “lifestyle.”

The decision quickly garnered national attention and outcry from the community, which felt that this decision would harm LGBTQIA+ and Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students in the district. 

“My heart goes out to the entire Mountain View Middle School community, and particularly to the students,” Pancholy wrote on Instagram following the board’s vote. 

Wednesday’s special meeting held inside the Cumberland Valley High School Performing Arts Center was filled with hundreds of outraged students, parents and community members, many of whom donned rainbow and Pride-themed attire. 

The large crowd was vocal immediately and booed several portions of the board’s opening remarks. Board member Matthew Barrick attempted to read sections of the “Racism is a Virus Toolkit” available on the website of Act to Change, an anti-bullying nonprofit Pancholy co-founded. Dozens of attendees upset with Barrick’s remarks turned their backs to the stage in protest while others shouted over him. 

Barrick expressed his concerns about language in the toolkit that states “bullying stems from White supremacy” and lists tips for protesting.

“Why would we invite someone who considers themselves a political activist into our schools?” Barrick said.

Board President Greg Rausch warned the crowd several times that repeated disruptions would force the meeting to enter a recess period or adjourn to a later date. However, that would not be the last time attendees voiced their disdain.

One of the night’s most heated moments came during the public comments portion of the meeting, which lasted more than four hours — 105 community members had signed up to speak by the 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday, and each was allotted three minutes.

One of those speakers was a Cumberland Valley Ninth Grade Academy student named Annalea who attempted to speak past the three-minute limit. She continued to speak into the muted microphone as audience members chanted “let her speak,” while subsequent speakers attempted to yield their time so she could continue her speech.

Additional heated moments came from several other Cumberland Valley students and alumni. 

“For the first time in my life, I was embarrassed to wear CV’s colors,” said one alumnus who has had ties to the district for more than 40 years. One current senior demanded the board “do the right thing and get my school out of the headlines.”

The sharpest criticism throughout the night was aimed at board members Kelly Potteiger and Bud Shaffner. Shaffner originally made the “lifestyle” comments related to Pancholy’s cancellation, and many called on him to resign from his position, including fellow board member Brian Drapp. 

“I will accept the blame because of the insensitive word I used on April 15,” Shaffner said. “That is not what I meant.”

Pottegier was called on to resign due to her position as the vice chair of the Cumberland County chapter of Moms for Liberty, an organization that claims to be “fighting for the survival of America,” per its website. 

Potteiger said her initial comments were based on Pancholy’s political activism. Many speakers decried Pottegier’s hypocrisy as she is a member of a political activism group. 

“Not all activism is political — but you are activists,” one parent said.

Even though the majority of those in attendance were against the board’s original decision, there were a handful of community members who agreed that Pancholy’s assembly did not belong in their district’s classrooms. 

One woman described it as an example of a “radical, racial, anti-American, anti-science agenda.” She was heckled and booed throughout her speech, and at least one audience member was heard calling her a “Nazi.”

“Children are to be taught academics,” one man said. “Politics and sexual orientation have no place in our schools.” He was also heavily booed and told, “It’s not 1955 anymore.”

Public comment ended about 10:30 p.m. and Shaffner called a motion to reverse the initial vote and approve Pancholy’s assembly.

Shaffner, Rausch, Jevon Ford, Michael Gossert and Michelle Nestor voted yes. Barrick, Drapp, Potteiger and Andrew Clancy voted no.

Pancholy’s anti-bullying assembly will go on as originally planned on May 22 at Mountain View Middle School. Superintendent Mark Blanchard clarified that as per standard procedure, there will be an opportunity for students to opt-out of the assembly.

Pancholy responded to the Board’s decision in an Instagram post Thursday afternoon.

“I’m deeply grateful to the hundreds of people who showed up and for the outpouring of support from the Superintendent, administrators, parents, caregivers, teachers, and community members,” Pancholy said. “I cannot wait to meet all of you in person.”

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