It seems David Napierskie tried to do the right thing.

One of eight outgoing Dover Area School Board members, Napierskie this week attempted to save the district a ton in legal fees and start mending the rift that polarizes the Dover Area School District community over the issue of intelligent design.

Napierskie was appointed to the board just a few months ago. Finding himself on the losing end of Tuesday's election along with seven others, he tried to get the board -- at its final meeting -- to reverse the course that's caused so much discord and has the potential to cost a whole lot of money.

He suggested that the intelligent design curriculum in high school biology classes be rescinded, that the board agree not to add it again and that the board direct the Thomas More Law Center to dismiss the federal lawsuit against the school district and pay the parents who sued the district a buck in damages.

It was kind of like trying to stick the cat back in the bag, but at least he made the gesture.

The board's response?

Not a peep.

And there you have it. One Dover school board on the way out, another on the way in. And the rift remains.

How disappointing.

Napierskie admitted he didn't consult with other board members before suggesting that the board can the whole intelligent design idea, but even he was surprised his motion didn't receive a second. Still, he couldn't really have been expecting the idea to get a

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warm embrace from this board.

Not the same board (for the most part) that's held firm on this divisive issue for more than a year now.

Not the same board that's watched its members leave in disgust, then appointed Stepford-like stand-ins to protect its agenda.

Not the same board that sent several of its members to the federal witness stand only to wiggle uncomfortably and forget all sorts of things under cross-examination.

And certainly not the same school board that accused both local newspapers, which compete against each other, of lying in their reporting on school board meetings leading up to the vote on intelligent design.

Napierskie wasn't on the board for much of that, so maybe he's just not as hardened by the acrimony that's seethed in the community for so long now.

Good for him for trying. It was more than the others did.

They were pretty much mum -- and have been since election night. Except for Alan Bonsell, who on Monday thanked "people around the community and around the world who have given us a kind word over the last year." (I'm pretty sure that doesn't include Pat Robertson).

Bonsell, of course, was instrumental in getting the board in this spot in the first place. And he, of all people, should work to mend fences.

But it looks like we'll have to wait for the new board to take on that task.

Judy McIlvaine, speaking on behalf of Dover CARES -- the victors in last week's election -- acknowledged at Monday's meeting that it took "a special kind of courage" to speak out for one's beliefs.

"Now is the time to get back to work and heal our community," McIlvaine said.

May it be that easy.

Lori Goodlin is editor of The York Dispatch. E-mail her at lgoodlin@yorkdispatch.com