Parents, students want Sussex-Wantage school board to keep counselor

By Vera Olinski
WANTAGE — Parents and one student begged the Sussex-Wantage school board at its June 17 meeting not to terminate Wantage Elementary School counselor Christina Lain.

Before Lain went for her hearing before the board during executive session, Paul Demott spoke on her behalf. He explained what a tremendous resource she was to the Wantage Elementary School and to his son. Demott asked, “How can you terminate an employee who is so valuable to the district?” to which 32 seconds of enthusiastic applause responded.

Twelve-year-old Benjamin Demott tearfully asked the board to not replace Lain, to another 23 seconds of applause. Lain had helped resolve harassment and bullying issues for him.

Jenny Craig also asked the board to reconsider the dismissal of Lain. She spoke about how Lain had helped her daughter through a crisis and formed a group of students with similar losses with results which were “nothing short of a miracle,” she said. Craig also asked the board to be open-minded and give Lain the training she might need to satisfy state requirements.

As of press time, The Advertiser-News has not heard back from President Thomas Card as to what caused the district to terminate Lain's employment, and if the board gave Lain extra training to improve her evaluation.