SHOHOLA - Parents wanting answers to questions about the recent settlement with a student who was molested by former Delaware Valley School District teacher Tom Matthews attended the school board’s monthly meeting, Thursday night. Some asked questions about Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan’s previous knowledge of Matthews’ actions.

Solicitor Michael Weinstein gave a thorough background of events, explaining that Dr. Finan was not the superintendent at the time; James Melody was.

Matthews, a teacher at Shohola Elementary, allegedly had inappropriate contact with at least three students.  He was warned, suspended, but eventually allowed to resign and obtained employment in Virginia.   He later was prosecuted and is currently in prison.

Some asked questions about the $815,000 settlement made to one student and were told that the school district’s insurance carrier dealt with the claim and settlement.

The district admitted no wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement.

When asked with what the school district is doing now to protect the children, school board president Sue Casey said, “Safety is the priority of the board.”

Finan continued by naming all the programs in place that have been instituted to help protect the students.

“The controls in place today are very different from the 1980’s and 1990’s”, added Weinstein.