Moriak selected as new Christina school board president

With a narrow 4-3 vote on Tuesday, members of the Christina Board of Education selected Monica Moriak as the new board president, marking a shift in dynamics for a district that has been plagued by controversy for more than a year.

Under the tenure of Moriak’s predecessor, Donald Patton, the board saw the contentious firing of former Superintendent Dan Shelton, his subsequent lawsuit against the district and multiple board members, and an investigation by the Delaware Department of Justice for violating open meeting laws.

Pattton and fellow member Naveed Baqir voted for new board member Shannon Troncoso, who was serving in her first meeting since being elected in May and also voted for herself to lead the board. 

In June, the Department of Justice found the board violated FOIA laws by holding an unannounced executive session for an improper purpose and failing to provide adequate notice in its March and May meeting agendas for votes regarding the contract rescission and vote of no confidence in Shelton. 

Shelton was then placed on administrative leave during a board meeting on July 9, 2024.

In December, Shelton filed a long-awaited federal lawsuit against the district and four of its board of education members, arguing that he was wrongfully terminated. He is seeking more than $2.7 million in compensation. 

Patton, then-Vice President Alethea Smith-Tucker, Lou, and Baqir – who voted to terminate Shelton this past summer – were also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Former Board President Don Patton orchestrated the firing of former Superintendent Dan Shelton, who subsequently sued him. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY ETHAN GRANDIN

Separately from the board’s controversial decision to put Shelton on administrative leave, a group of education bills was introduced in March to address questions around whether Baqir now lives abroad and should continue to represent the district.

House Bill 82, which is sponsored by Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton (D-Bear), requires that school board members live within their district’s footprint.

Wilson-Anton also told Spotlight Delaware in March that the bill was introduced in direct response to Baqir’s physical absence from the district. 

One month later, fellow board member Doug Manley filed a legal complaint in Delaware’s Court of Chancery, in which he stated that Baqir “has not even been present in the United States” in over a year. 

In his suit, Manley claimed that the Christina School District failed to follow Delaware laws that obligate its governing board to notify the public and the state Department of Elections about board member vacancies no more than five days after one occurs.

As a result, the school board has allowed Baqir to “continue actively and wrongfully participating” at board meetings, Manley claimed.   

What’s happened recently? 

Last month, Patton made the unexpected announcement that Baqir would step down from the board, effective July 15 – a date that would allow him to vote for the board’s leadership during its July 8 meeting.

Last week, HB 82 was amended by the Senate before being signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer. 

Maryam Baqir, Naveed Baqir’s daughter, spoke about what she felt were “certain individuals who have inserted themselves into our private lives,” and pointed toward Manley, Moriak, and Trauth. 

“People didn’t get the votes they wanted, some changes didn’t go their way, so instead of moving forward they conveniently changed the rules to remove someone who couldn’t be [there] in any other way,” she said. 

Aside from his statements in a September board meeting regarding concerns about his time in Pakistan, Baqir has remained relatively silent about his relationship with other board members, the bills introduced to address residency concerns, and his resignation.