Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania — A letter written to the Cumberland Valley School District by a concerned parent is calling into question an attempt to limit public comments after a political action group was criticized during a school board meeting. The group, CV CUReS, which controls the majority of school board and policy committee members, has sought to have public comment sessions reduced at school board meetings.
The letter states:
Cumberland Valley School District
6746 Carlisle Pike
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
April 16, 2026
Re: Reduction in Public Comment – Changing Board PolicyThe Cumberland Valley School District (CVSD) voted on April 6th to reduce public comment by eliminating one of two public comment periods and reducing total public comment time from six to five minutes. Members of the public and even board members asked why the need to change a policy that was just updated in ‘24.
The Jan 28th Policy Committee Meeting Minutes reflected the initial discussion to change that was championed by freshman board member Mr. Mike O’Brien who recommended cutting overall public comment time in half to just a single three-minute period. Thankfully, other board members who respect first amendment rights pushed back hard enough to keep 5 minutes of public comment time for CVSD residents.
The Policy Committee Meeting Minutes also show that during the discussion, Mr. Brian Allen voiced his concern that public comments had “included references to political groups.” Note: During public comments, people have occasionally referenced the political action group CV CUReS who controls five out of the nine current CVSD board members and two out of three Policy Committee members. It is reasonable for CVSD residents to be concerned about the possible undue influence of CV CUReS over district policies and financial matters.
In December 2025, CVSD residents began to talk and ask legitimate questions about years of missing documentation relating to the massive CVSD Sponsorship Funds now overseen by Mr. O’Brien. Coincidently, the two individuals who ran the CVSD Sponsorship Funds for the past 15 years, retired at the end of 2025, and are now active in CV CUReS. The aggressive push by certain board members to reduce public comment occurred only a month after these inquiries began.
Some residents believe in coincidences, some do not. What do you believe?
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Jason Snyder
Concerned Citizen in CVSD
Harrisburg100 
Another issue CV Board Member Mike O’Brien is involved with. In this case, he was the one who initiated and pushed the reduction in free speech. So, CV CUReS backs O’Brien, CV Sponsorship Funds are discovered by pubic to be unaccounted for, public starts demanding accountability (and O’Brien’s oversight) in public comment, O’Brien tries to reduce public comment from 6 to 3 mins, and successfully does achieve a reduction.
This is the only initiative O’Brien has done. Given all the scandals within the Athletic Department, Boosters and Sponsorship Committee areas under his responsibility, Mr. O’Brien should focus on them instead of suppressing free speech while Board Pres Michelle Nestor sits back and watches him to take the fall.
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What a clown show!
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Sorry pal. I disagree. Clowns have far more class than the savages running CV.
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How much money is unaccounted for?
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$500000
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Millions over 15 years by allowing two individuals…..Bud Shaffner and Mike Willis to oversee funds, with no oversight by board….no board votes on contracts (over $100 required by state law), NO list of disbursements of funds, missing contracts, “hand-shake” agreements…and ZERO concern by Board President Michelle Nestor…but in her own words “What’s the Difference?”…
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How are O’Brien’s habitual failures to do oversight of scandals going to help him when he reigns his seat within year to seek higher office?
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He should consult with his trainer.
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He did cut public comment out of his hatred of free speech. He’s got that going for him. I think he should run on the campaign “F free speech!” That sounds better than “don’t talk about the missing money.”
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Did CV CuRES ask their financially backed board members to use their seats to help promote the PAC’S reputation?
Reminds me, is it legally a PAC? If memory serves required financial reporting did not support PAC status??
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Everything is legal if you own the local politicians and pull the strings.
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CV CUReS, which is basically 1 man who received $2M in Covid loans, which were forgiven and never paid back. They now live in luxury, throwing around their money to rent out entire movie theaters for themed costume parties, and use what’s left to grease local, low-level politicians.
Thanks for the contributions, CV CUReS, I mean, taxpayer who had to foot the bill for this charlatan!
And don’t forget to thank Mr O’Brien, who ran to “fight for the People,” but once he got elected, dropped the “for”…
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Kek
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How many more scandals can a district have? These are sad times.
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You really shouldn’t ask. That is a guaranteed way to jinx them with more. Can you imagine if the number doubles in the next 4 weeks?
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how many more scandals can a district have go public*
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so how did Bud show bigotry? I do not think Democrats understand the definition of that word. They throw it around like it’s candy and stomp up and down and yet the only people that show bigotry and hatred are the Democrats
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Buckle up buttercup.
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Many more. The difference now is that many residents have given up trying to use the system of going to the CV administration since it’s the same pattern over and over. They report, nothing happens, they continue going to the next level, nothing happens, THEN, and if then, it gets to the Superintendent Dr. Blanchard, he swoops in with his heavy hand and gaslighting basically saying I will take from here, don’t contact anyone one else….nothing happens – another scandal swept under the rug. The message he really wants to convey – shut up, go away, how dare you challenge my authority because I know best. This process repeats over and over leaving parents to think it must be them that are wrong because why would a superintendent be so disingenuous.
BUT….parents are now finding out the truth and coming forward to hold the administration accountable and the woke board majority that rubber-stamps anything he wants to do…or in many cases concerning scandals….just ignore.
Oh wait, one board member HAS taken action….Board Newbie Mike O’Brien…he successfully spear-headed reducing public comment time squashing free speech. What a great American Mr. O’Brien!
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It’s ok if this group is involved in fraud and taking district money. After all cv cures assured us all that CV had surplus money last year. So it’s totally cool if so money disappeared. CV can totally afford it. We have too much money again this year I bet.
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Look pal, knock off the attitude. Those missing funds are probably needed to pay for the hotdog parties and the litter boxes at CV CURES.
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Dunn da Dunn-Dunn-Dunn, who is running this school district? Charlie Sheen and Jerry Springer would be more responsible candidates. All these scandals would make a great book, in fact a bestseller. Please make this happen.
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Fraud, Fraud and more Fraud. Dunn da Dunn-Dunn-Dunn.
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They all thought they got away with it. Ooops
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This is but the tip of the iceberg. Enjoy the ride.
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You ungrateful commoners and peons need to be grateful that they give back some of what they pilfer.
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I did hear that being a connoisseur of hotdogs is a costly hobby. So their need is great.
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If anyone requires additional context as to why CVSD should be INVITING parents and concerned citizens to speak, rather than finding ways to shut people up, I would strongly encourage you to delve into the comments section of this 👇🏼 H100 article.
Some of those comments, are extremely compelling:
https://hbg100.com/2026/04/12/scandal-and-intimidation-in-the-cumberland-valley-school-district/comment-page-1/#comment-22570
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Seriously how are those people not in jail yet? Those poor children.
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Weak people don’t rock the boat. This boat needs rocked. Maybe we need new people to provide oversight. Who should we involve first? What LE agencies ?
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All this does is force people to other venues to expose these people. I noticed that the Slush Fund Hot Dog Guy has ~3.5K followers…and H100 has ~76K…hmmm….about the same Raito of followers too!
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Hotdog guy? Who’s that? Is that Allen or O’Brien?
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Someone needs to increase public comment to 2 five-minute periods so we’ll have enough time to have a fire-side chat about Marty Carreras and his misbehavior…yes, this is the same victim-Marty that is a Federal Lawsuit Defendant with 1 Count of Fraud while the CV Cheerleading Treasurer. Are the rumors true that he has shifted his “unique” money-handling and reporting skills over to the Band Boosters! Based on some of the shenanigans’ going on over there, Marty will feel at home!
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Marty, Marty, Marty, have you been caught again with your accounting hand in the cookie jar. Social media is exploding concerning your money-reporting challenged skills. Many speculate you’ve honed your abilities to creatively report! Naughty, naughty, naughty Marty. Did you learn this from Dunn da Dunn Dunn Dunn?
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It was so scary yesterday. People had opinions different than mine and they were allowed to publicly express their opinions through free speech. I’m literally shaking in fear right now. How can these radicals still be allowed to speak their minds? If I show the police how much I cried they will take me more seriously right? What kind of person gave these commoners these rights to free speech? We need laws against free speech right away. I hope the police arrest everyone I don’t agree with. As long as my crowd of followers gives me likes then I am correct in everything I do. I need to shut down free speech because it is scary. Maybe the minions I own will shut down free speech for me. I am so scared. Terrified.
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Who are the two that ran the sponsorship committee for 15 years? Let’s start naming names. Why isn’t there an investigation into this matter yet? I’ve seen a lot posted this week and I want to know what is happening to address ALL of these issues.
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Let’s see….that would be 28yr Board Member Bud Shaffner (multi-Federal lawsuit defendant) and 22+yr former CFO Mike Willis….BOTH active members of Dr. Mike Verber’s CV CUReS Political Action slush fund….what a coincidence. Both conveniently retired at the end of 2025. And, just 1 month before Mr. O’Brien commenced his attack of public comment and free speech.
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OMG, that’s the same Bud Shaffner I read about threatening an African-American retired Naval Officer (on video) in the parking lot after a board meeting when he politely spoke about the racial discrimination and bullying of his African-American daughter by CV Cheerleading….led by Bud Shaffner’s wife and daughter. And the same Bud Shaffer that told another parent and his minor son (as he clinched his fist as if to strike “if you don’t like it, move the fu$% out of the district” …a very classy old fella!
And Mike Willis – the same guy that Superintendent Blanchard said the “if there was a Mt. Rushmore for CFOs, Mike Willis would be on it” …..he should have said “if there was an Alcatraz for CFOs….” WTF!
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So did Bud take all that bigotry from the Pancholy outburst and his attack on that parent with him over to cv cures? Is that what cv cures stands for? I guess they only allow bigots and con artists to join. I remember how angry Verber was at him and now they are thick as thieves. What did one give the other to smooth everything over? Is that cfo the guy with the foot fetish I heard about?
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Interesting. Very interesting timing.
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If it looks like fraud and sounds like fraud,
We should ask the Attorney General to take a look at these missing documents for this sponsorship committee. Anyone on the board not calling for a forensic audit should be looked at suspiciously. How do we know which board members have ties to the political group?
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Has anyone checked the obvious, to see if the missing CV funds match deposits to CV CuReS?
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Is Dr Allen going to prescribe that the district install more kitty litter boxes in bathrooms and will the litter boxes be gender neutral or gender specific? I know this is the most important issue he is currently working on. I trust with his years of experience and expertise in litter boxes that he will make the best decision possible for Cumberland Valley School District.
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Why is Dr. Allen attempting to use CVSD as a Petrie Dish for his perverted sexual theories and experiments? He shows no desires to ensure my kids are educated properly, he wants to inject his perverse views into curriculum, policies, etc. He actually said in a recent meeting….when he was adamantly against any policy against preventing biological boys to use girls restrooms “it’s not a problem” …and “if a boy wants to go into a gilt’s restroom, they will go in anyway”…inferring a policy won’t matter.
Let’s explore that moronic theory Dr. Allen…if students will do whatever they want, they WHY Dr. Allen does CVSD need ANY policies on say….weapons (they’ll bring them anyway), drugs & alcohol (they’ll bring them anyway), bullying & discrimination (they’ll do it anyway), cheating (they’ll do it anyway)….and you call yourself an expert? You dismiss and mock residents with legitimate concerns during board meetings. Residents KNOW that it’s bad when that ignorant and poor example of a leader, Michelle Nestor has to tell you to knock it off!
Keep your perversion and wokeness in your private profession and stay out of my kid’s life. It’s hard enough for these students to navigate through school and life without an irresponsible immature person sits in judgement. Knock it off!
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According to Dr. Allen’s view of any student going into any restroom…..this would facilitate and allow and even encourage two students from entering private restroom stalls together – whether it’s boy-girl, boy-boy, girl-girl….what is to stop them….it’s ALL legal….ALL fine according to Dr. Allen. Since Board Pres Nestor freely uses “What’s the Difference”…he just used as a green light for “anything goes!”
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Meow, meow, meow
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So with money missing are they in debt or do they have a surplus and that’s why they haven’t noticed the missing money? Because if they are in debt they would have noticed the missing money. Right? Anybody know what the budget is?
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CV CURES told us repeatedly that CV has a massive surplus so given that fact they repeated over and over, Cumberland Valley will not need to raise taxes this year. The CV CURES experts said CV was sitting on a massive surplus.
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Mike O’Brien and cV CuReS hate the first amendment and free speech.
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….let’s not forget CV CUReS Founder Dr. Mike Verber at the infamous Pancholy Assembly after his 3-minutes of public comment was over, after his mic was cut off, after he was told his time was up….turn to the 1000 person crowd…throw his hands up in the air, and in a sanctimonious and arrogant tone said to everyone “MAKE ME LEAVE”….wow, I guess free speech doesn’t apply to everyone else Mike…does it? Hypocrisy on FULL DISPLAY!
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You’re 100% right! Mr. Verber can say whatever he wants just like the next person. Even though I don’t agree with him most of the time, he can continue to come to the CV podium for public comment in his dirty sweats and unkept and unshaven appearance, and even literally cry tears as he occasionally does….I don’t even care when he plays the sad victim card…or stands there to slobber all over how Bud Shaffner and Mike Willis ….that they are such good guys (even when it was those two that can’t account for millions of Sponsorship Funds)……free speech is free speech….please tell Newbie Board member O’Brien that….
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Dunn da Dunn Dunn Dunn!!!
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Why does Mikey Verber assume he can buy people? Does he normally buy people? How many people does he own?
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