The case of John Shimonsky has brought renewed attention to the role of criminal background checks and public accountability in school district hiring decisions. Shimonsky, a 49-year-old former career military officer from Wescosville, was initially approved by the East Penn School Board for the position of director of information technology, a senior role with an annual salary of $95,000. His hiring, however, was contingent upon the completion of standard background clearances, a process that ultimately prevented him from taking the job.

At the center of the controversy was Shimonsky’s arrest earlier in the year on charges related to the purchase of a vehicle using a bad check. According to police and court records, Shimonsky bought a 2007 Ford Fusion from Kelly Ford in Emmaus in March after allegedly falsifying information on a credit application and issuing a check for $12,842 that later bounced. Authorities said he failed to return the vehicle despite repeated requests from the dealership and warnings from law enforcement. He was arrested in April and charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and writing a bad check.

Shimonsky was held in Lehigh County Prison for several weeks before posting $30,000 bail in late May. In September, he pleaded guilty to passing a bad check, a misdemeanor offense. As part of his sentence, he received one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine, provide $2,446 in restitution to the dealership, and undergo random drug testing. The remaining charges were withdrawn following the plea.

Despite these legal issues, Shimonsky’s professional background appeared strong when reviewed by the school board. According to district records, he reported decades of military service, including time in the Air Force from 1976 to 1996, where he served in communications leadership roles. He also claimed to have worked with the Army as a chief information officer between 2000 and 2007. His résumé further listed master’s degrees from the University of Maryland and Middle East Technical University in Turkey, credentials that initially supported his candidacy for the technology leadership position.

The hiring process stalled when a red flag emerged during Shimonsky’s criminal history review. School officials declined to specify the nature of the concern, citing personnel confidentiality. Superintendent Thomas Seidenberger emphasized that Shimonsky was never officially employed by the district and reiterated that all employees must pass multiple background clearances, including state and federal criminal checks and a child abuse history review.

The East Penn School Board later voted unanimously to rescind the hiring during a meeting in which the issue was added through an agenda addendum. The board did not publicly discuss the matter or identify Shimonsky by name, stating only that it accepted the withdrawal of a candidate. Shimonsky later claimed he had been told his hiring would not proceed due to news coverage of his arrest, and he maintained that the bad check incident stemmed from an email lottery scam that led him to believe he had sufficient funds. District officials declined to comment on those claims.

The John Shimonsky case underscores the challenges school districts face when balancing professional qualifications with legal and ethical considerations. It also highlights the importance of thorough background checks for positions that involve oversight of sensitive information systems and student data. Ultimately, the decision reflects the district’s emphasis on maintaining public trust and ensuring that senior leadership roles meet strict standards of integrity and accountability.

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John Shimonsky
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John Shimonsky