Quakertown school board in Pennsylvania votes to approve superintendent's resignation
The Quakertown Board of School Directors approved the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Matthew Friedman, nearly three weeks after he went on leave.
The board of school directors voted on the motion to approve Friedman's resignation Tuesday night.
The district did not provide a reason for Friedman's leave, only calling it a "personnel matter" that limited the details the board could share.
In a message to CBS News Philadelphia investigative reporter Liz Crawford on Tuesday, Friedman said his decision to leave the district "had absolutely nothing at all to do with February 20."
The board also approved the appointment of Lisa Hoffman as acting superintendent. Hoffman has been overseeing district operations since Friedman took his leave on Feb. 13.
The shakeup comes as the community continues to deal with the fallout from an anti-ICE student protest that ended with the arrest of five Quakertown High School students after dozens walked off campus on Feb. 20.
Videos from the protest that were posted on social media showed Quakertown police chief and borough manager Scott McElree putting a student in a chokehold. McElree was not in uniform at the time of the confrontation.
Other videos showed a man being walked to a police SUV by officers, an officer grabbing a minor by their neck and taking them to the ground, and an adult who appeared to be on the ground in handcuffs.
The students, who came to be known as the "Quakertown Five," were detained for at least four nights after the protest. An attorney for one of the students said they were charged with felony aggravated assault.
Community members were quick to express their outrage over the incident and called for McElree to resign.
"It was uncalled for," said Lolly Hopwood, a member of Doylestown Action League. "The fact that these kids were held for so long is an absolute atrocity, and the fact that they're being charged with what they're being charged with is just horrible."
One week after the protest, McElree was placed on workers' compensation leave, Quakertown Borough Solicitor Peter Nelson confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.
Community groups say they plan to attend Wednesday's Quakertown Borough Council meeting to demand McElree be terminated.