HARRISBURG - Former Dover Area School board member Bill Buckingham struggled to clarify Thursday how he raised $850 at his church for copies of the textbook "Of Pandas and People" even though earlier he gave a deposition saying he didn't know how the books were donated to the high school.

Plaintiffs' attorneys are trying to prove in the First Amendment case that the board was religiously motivated in its decision to change the biology curriculum to include a statement about alternative theories to evolution.

Buckingham lobbied for the use of "Pandas," which supports intelligent design, as a companion to the textbook "Biology." But in the summer of 2004, the district decided not to spend taxpayer money on "Pandas."

During testimony in federal court Thursday, Buckingham said he went to his church, Harmony Grove Community Church, for help.

"I said there is a need, if you want to donate that's fine," Buckingham testified. "There is a need."

Buckingham specified that he never "asked" for money from the congregation. It gave $850.

Thursday, Buckingham testified that he wrote a check dated Oct. 4, 2004, to Donald Bonsell, the father of board member Alan Bonsell, for that amount with a note saying the money was for "Pandas" books.

The money had come from the congregation, Buckingham testified. Because it was in cash except for one check, he said he didn't know the donors' names.

Buckingham

Advertisement
said he collected money only at his church because that's where his friends are. The church makes various donations, not only religious ones, he said.

He testified that he gave the check to Alan Bonsell to give to his father.

Plaintiffs' attorney Stephen Harvey pointed out that, during a January deposition, Buckingham said he didn't know where the 60 donated copies came from.

"You have no idea?" Harvey asked during the deposition.

"I have thoughts, but I don't know," Buckingham said.

"What are your thoughts?" asked Harvey.

"I think it could have a tie to Alan Bonsell, who was board president at that time," Buckingham said.

"Why do you think - I know you're not saying it was, but why do you think it might have had ties to Mr. Bonsell?" Harvey asked.

"Because he was the president of the board at the time, and I just deduced from that," Buckingham said.

Outside court, Alan Bonsell declined to comment about the check.

His father, Donald Bonsell, said Thursday night outside court he did not know the details about the check because his wife handles the family finances. Donald Bonsell said he wouldn't comment if he donated the books.

In court, Harvey asked, "Mr. Buckingham, you lied to me at your deposition ... isn't that true?"

"How so?" Buckingham said.

"By not telling me you took a collection," Harvey said.

"I did not take a collection," Buckingham said.

Outside court, defense attorney Richard Thompson said he believed Buckingham was trying to give specific answers to specific questions.

He attributed the discrepancy between the testimony and the deposition to Buckingham's treatment in December 2004 for an addiction to the painkiller OxyContin. Harvey deposed Buckingham in January.

Buckingham knows he wrote the check to Donald Bonsell and he must have forgotten that during his testimony, Thompson said.

"I don't think it was damaging at all," Thompson said of Buckingham's comments on donations.

Reach Michelle Starr at 771-2045 or mstarr@ydr.com