By Jim Szabo
One of the reasons I ran for school board is because I felt that there was a disconnect with the residents. Unfortunately, I feel that disconnect still exists. The calls for my resignation from other Board members are just such an indicator and shows that they are more concerned with what they want, rather than what the residents who elected me want.
I believe the educational welfare of the students is predicated on the resources made available from the community. I also believe that the greatest asset outside the classroom is the residents. They provide the catalyst for the educational welfare of the students; tax dollars. As fiscal stewards, I believe the Board of Education’s job is to manage these resources and allow the administration, teachers, and professionals of the district to provide the best education possible with those resources. My concern is the educational welfare of the students’; I’m just a firm believer that the residents play an equal role in it as well. They must be recognized and respected as such and I will make no apology for it.
I would ask my fellow Board members that if you regard my statement as supposedly not putting the children first, then is the body of the public to infer that you are then placing the taxpayers (our bosses) last?
With regards to the public meeting in Macedonia, I stood up to talk with the resident who was hardly visible behind a supporting column in the room. The ‘resident’ identified herself as a teacher in the district and was supportive of having all-day kindergarten in the district. I agreed that all day kindergarten is a desirable objective but asked since we currently charge for it, where would we get the money to do it? I disagree with the characterization that that was an attack, but at least I talked with the individual face to face and did not hide behind the closed doors of district emails to mock, curse, or impugn.
There was no intent to criticize Mr. Pendleton. My understanding was that the Board’s objective in the Macedonia meeting was to promote open dialog and allow residents to speak directly to the Board. When the meeting approach appeared to be to have residents discuss “issues” in groups among themselves rather than have a dialog with the Board, I openly expressed my concern that the approach was counter to the original Board objective. The Macedonia meeting approach was reminiscent of a similar open meeting a few years ago that promised residents the opportunity to voice their concerns over the contentious operating levy. Unfortunately, that previous levy meeting turned into a classroom-like experience limiting expression that angered the majority of people there. I did not want a re-play of that experience. I wanted the residents (and taxpayers) to have free dialog and exchange, not controlled dialog.
Next brings to issue public records requests made by residents and myself.
The District Mission Statement is referenced with the question of how it encourages it or reinforces my request. It reads, “Inspiring every student to value learning, community, and excellence”. As far as I’m concerned, valuing the community includes respecting its members and their differing opinions. Are we to expect it out of the children but not ourselves or are they just catchy words? The result of my public records request indicates what I feel is a disappointing pattern of discourse exhibited by current and former Board members and the superintendent. It involved electronic district communications recently and over the years about parents and myself (prior to being elected) who were critical of the district. I found the language was inappropriate, unprofessional, and unnecessary. While some on the Board charge me as lacking in courtesy, respect, and professionalism because I question or vote my conscience, they are strikingly silent about those who have actually put their lack of courtesy, respect, and professionalism to the pen when it comes to some residents.
Continuing on with divergent opinions and my supposed inability to operate in such an environment, I wish to illustrate that it is not I with that issue. The two Board members that have called for my resignation also chastised me for my vote against our current district policy. Stating in an article that ran in the Sagamore Voice in January of 2016, “I think it looked horrible for you to vote ‘No’ on those policies.” as well as “There’s a sense that we’re not united as a Board.” The last quote painfully contradicts the words in a prepared statement implying I should resign when he says, “I am not saying at all that we need to be unified on every topic.” It is unclear to me where the gentleman stands. Over the years there have been many conversations directed to me about the concept of ‘Board Unity’ and the image that it needs to present to the community. I will not sacrifice my responsibility to the residents for a collective mentality to promote image. As I responded in the Sagamore Voice, “I will not be intimidated or bullied when it comes to how I vote”.
Regarding the accusation of challenging the treasurer’s integrity –
I requested electronic communication (expecting it to be email) specifically between individuals and dates. The treasurer responded in a timely fashion with the request. However, the communication was sent in the form of an excel spreadsheet that did not have the complete conversations available, words and sentences were cut off with every correspondence. I requested the same information again, asking for it in email form and stating my reason is because that the previous request was incomplete and has the ability to be altered. My intent was to protect the treasurer in this regard. I have had nothing but praise for her and her outstanding record speaks for itself. How this is a challenge to her integrity escapes me.
The Ohio School Boards Association was brought up regarding its Code of Ethics and what it means to be a school board member. The OSBA is nothing more than an advocacy group that serves Ohio’s public school board members and the diverse district’s they represent through superior service, unwavering advocacy, and creative solutions. The ethics have been used as another example of my so-called unsuitability in regard to its statement that, according to the OSBA, “. . . my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students . . .”I challenge the Board to give me an example where I have not had concern for the educational welfare of the students. Interestingly, there are other ethics mentioned such as, “Avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof”, and “Refrain from using my Board position for the benefit of myself, family members, or business associates”. Some might say that those ethics could apply to other Board members but were conveniently ignored since I was the one asked to resign. More importantly though is the oath that we took as Board members; the oath to the constitutions of the United States and Ohio. That is our legal covenant as elected representatives of the community; and should there be any doubt about our role, let me reiterate the first three words of each document, WE – THE – PEOPLE.
Make no mistake; the issue at hand here is how we treat our residents publically and privately and the showpiece of unity; the rest is a distraction intent on damaging my credibility. I was neither appointed nor picked for this position; I was elected. I was elected by the residents of the community because I believe they were tired of the actions and attitude of the previous Board and wanted a change. As elected officials the Board must represent and work for all of us; respecting the economic and financial concerns of the residents and balancing it with the needs of our schools.
The Board and superintendent need to have a serious conversation about how we treat the taxpayers of our community without misguided accusations and cries for resignations. While there have been differences of opinion on certain issues I plan on continuing in my current capacity as a BOE member as I was elected to do. I am always more than willing to meet and talk at any time should anyone wish to do so.
