TRUMBULL COUNTY Shut out of event, business sues East Liverpool schools

By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A Hubbard music business has sued East Liverpool school district, claiming the school board deliberately excluded the company from participating in an event where parents of band students meet musical equipment sellers.
Mazi Inc., doing business as Calcutta Music, 515 N. Main St,, filed the lawsuit Monday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. It has been assigned to Judge John Stuard.
The suit says he school system arranges an event once a year for local musical equipment sellers to give presentations to parents of pupils interested in joining or becoming active in the school band.
In August 1998 and 1999, the company was allowed to participate and grossed $3,850 in 1998 and $9,799 in 1999 in rental revenue.
Denied access: In August 2000, however, the company called to confirm their involvement in the event and was denied access.
The suit says company officials were told that the school district said a local business in the East Liverpool area would be the only music store allowed to participate.
Donald Lowe, East Liverpool schools superintendent, said parents have the option of buying or renting musical equipment from any store they choose. Lowe said that Calcutta Music was not invited to the event for the 2000-01 school year because the company did not follow up on promises to maintain and service equipment at the school the previous school year.
The suit adds that the district's decision to allow only one store to participate in the event violates state law, which says that school officials should "not act as a sales agent, either directly or indirectly for any person, firm or corporation."