EAST LIVERPOOL SCHOOLS Ruling raises questions over nonrenewal of pact

The judge ruled that a meeting in which the board voted not to renew the former superintendent's contract was illegal.
LISBON -- Don Lowe's status as superintendent of East Liverpool schools is in question after rulings by visiting Judge James Mascio in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.
The East Liverpool Board of Education voted Feb. 27 to not renew Lowe's contract, and has since hired Doug Hiscox as superintendent. Hiscox, of Leetonia, has been in the position about a month. He was superintendent of Canfield schools.
Board Member Richard Wolf filed a lawsuit in June against fellow board members, stating the Feb. 27 meeting and other special meetings were improper.
Judge's ruling
Judge Mascio ruled that the board violated Ohio law regarding public notification of meetings, or the open meetings laws, in three school board meetings and the action of those meetings is invalid. One was Feb. 27.
Jim Hartford, Wolf's attorney, said Judge Mascio did not address how his ruling affects Lowe's status, a question that must be addressed separately at a later time.
He said that since the judge's ruling means any action at the Feb. 27 meeting is invalid, the board's vote not to renew Lowe's contract is meaningless.
Judge Mascio also ruled that special meetings of March 5 and April 5 were invalid. He said the board did not provide proper notification of those meetings, stating they were emergency meetings.
He said the board had plenty of time to take action at previous regular meetings, so there was no need for the emergency sessions.
Must pay fines
Judge Mascio ruled board members pay $500, the amount set by Ohio law for violations of the open meetings law; and attorney fees. A hearing to determine reasonable attorney fees will be 1:30 p.m. Monday in common pleas court.
Hartford said Judge Mascio was assigned to Wolf's case because Judge C. Ashley Pike and Judge David Tobin of the common pleas court cited conflicts of interest: Lowe is a former Columbiana County commissioner.