Superintendent Shelly Riedel's contract was extended for four years by Donegal school board members Thursday despite public opposition.

Prior to the 7-1 vote, board members faced a barrage of comments from the public opposing renewal of Riedel's contract.

Robert Spayde, 2327 Andrew Ave., Mount Joy, said the board should hold off voting on Riedel's contract until three newly elected board members are seated next month. Spayde is one of the three board members set to be sworn in Dec. 3.

Spayde said he did not have an opinion of Riedel's performance but did not support renewing her contract Thursday.

"Renewing her contract could affect the new board's working conditions over the next four years," he said.

John Coleman, a board member, threw his full support behind Riedel, who was hired by the district on June 20, 2007, at an annual starting salary of $120,000 plus benefits.

Her salary for 2008-09 was $124,800, according to a copy of the contract obtained from the district.

Riedel's salary was not discussed during the meeting, and Steve Cafrelli, board president, would not discuss the amount after the meeting.

Cafrelli said the superintendent's status was obviously a passionate one. He said the number of people attending the meeting clearly outnumbered any crowd at board meetings when the district was discussing building/renovation proposals and referendums. Despite the defeat of two referendums in the past 11 months, the board decided to move forward with a $48 million high school building project.

The board member who voted against Riedel's contract extension was Stephen Gault.

Gault, appointed to the board in April after the resignation of another member, said the district and the public need to work toward a common goal. He was elected to a full term on the board Nov. 3.

Susan Heydt, 1215 Janet Drive, and Jeff Fuhrman, 492 Charter Lane, both of Mount Joy, spoke at the meeting on behalf of the Donegal Education Association.

"Many of our members are here tonight," Heydt said.

They spoke about the two failed referendums and asked the board to consider what is important for the education of Donegal students with the limited resources that are available.

Riedel's name was not mentioned by the DEA representatives, but Fuhrman said public comments indicate the board must listen to the concerns of Donegal residents. "We strongly encourage you to open a dialog."

Mary Gildae, 251 W. Market St., Marietta, urged the board not to renew Riedel's contract.

"I'm a taxpayer, I have a child in the district, and I'm a former employee of the district. Everything changed in 2007 when Riedel became superintendent," she said. "Some of you may have experience working in a hostile environment."

She said Riedel belittled employees and micromanaged district operations to the point of creating a work environment that was "stressful and an unpleasant situation."

Gildae said, "Under Riedel, teachers were subjected, without consultation, to losing one-half of our prep period, the removal of flex at the high school and additional teaching-slash-remediation duties. These additional duties were heaped onto our already overflowing plates."

She accused Riedel of controlling staff through condescension and superiority.

"It has been all downhill since then," she said. "Teachers with 20-plus years of experience were demoralized, and new teachers were overwhelmed by the micromanagement."

Her comments were met with applause from the audience.

Discussion over Riedel's reappointment turned nasty when Don Seibert, 798 Chestnut Hill Drive, Columbia, began reading a prepared statement.

Seibert's comments included accusations that Riedel plagiarized commencement addresses.

Cafrelli angrily cut off Seibert and asked whether his comments were his own or from someone else.

When Seibert said his comments were from another person, Cafrelli terminated any further public comments until the time set aside at the end of the meeting.

Oliver Overlander, a board member, said telephone calls, letters and notes he received over the past week opposing Riedel's contract renewal blindsided him.

Overlander said he heard of student opposition to Riedel's reappointment through rumors of a student "blackout," a silent form of protest where students wear black clothing. Four students wearing black clothing sat together at the meeting.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting ended with the most passionate comments from Donegal senior Jennifer Morrissey. Jennifer, the daughter of board member James Morrissey, tearfully pleaded with the board and administration to resolve their differences.

The Glee Club member and band president said, "I felt like I've been in a war. … Today, Gov. Rendell spoke at Gettysburg (Battlefield) about how, no matter what your view, you have to come together. I'm torn apart by what is going on in my school, and I'm tired of hearing all the complaints.

"I'm sad this is how I'm going to remember my school," she said choked with heavy emotion.