Yanni Quits Scranton School Board After Series of Controversies

Tara Yanni’s sudden resignation from the Scranton School Board closes the book on a tumultuous tenure marked by ethics questions, contradictions, and internal clashes.

Yanni stepped down Friday, September 12th, saying she had grown “uncomfortable” serving on the board and directing the public to “watch the meetings” if they wanted answers. Her departure comes just months after Katie Gilmartin’s resignation.

But Yanni’s troubles began even before she was sworn in. In November 2019, the Scranton Times reported the district was investigating whether she tried to use her incoming position to attempt to help her husband secure a job as assistant baseball coach at West Scranton High School. According to sources cited in that report, Yanni approached the board’s personnel committee and later the HR office, asking that her husband’s late application be considered. Both requests were denied. The district’s solicitor at the time confirmed an investigation was underway, and the matter could have been referred to the state Ethics Commission. Through her lawyer, Yanni denied the allegations.

Once in office, Yanni quickly became a polarizing figure. For 2019, she was in charge of the Vendor Relations Committee, responsible for overseeing district contracts, at the same time the board awarded a busing contract to Krise Transportation. Pete’s Garage, a competing company, sued the district alleging bid-rigging in the award process — a case the district ultimately lost. Throughout the dispute, Yanni publicly defended the board’s position, but according to deposition records, her sworn testimony contradicted those earlier statements. At her final meeting, she demanded that Superintendent Erin Keating provide a recommendation on a resolution — something Keating had made clear for weeks she was not qualified to do. When Yanni tried to dismiss the matter as not her responsibility, Keating reminded the board that members, including Yanni, had the resolutions for three days and raised no objections until the meeting.

For critics, Yanni’s exit underscores a broader pattern of dysfunction, where personal conflicts and political maneuvering overshadow the district’s responsibility to provide stable leadership for students, parents, and staff. The board is now seeking applications from city residents interested in filling her seat until her term expires.