SALEM School officials seeking tax levy

The levy is needed to keep the district from plunging into the red, officials say.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The city schools superintendent and Columbiana County prosecutor say they're hopeful voters weighing an emergency levy won't punish the district over the actions of a former principal or the continuing criminal investigation involving the one-time school treasurer.
The district's children shouldn't be punished because of the investigation of others, Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck said Thursday.
Brobeck's comments came a day after Charles McShane, former Salem High School principal, pleaded guilty to theft in office.
They also came amid a months-long probe into the actions of former school treasurer Ted Cougras of Poland.
Cougras resigned in December 2002 just as the prosecutor's office launched a probe into his activities at the district, including the purchase of office equipment delivered to his home.
County Prosecutor Robert Herron said without elaborating Thursday that he expects an indictment sometime this fall.
Emergency levy
Meanwhile, the district is trying to gather support for passage in November of a new 7.85-mill emergency levy that would raise about $2.3 million annually.
District officials say the levy is needed to prevent the district from going into the red.
Brobeck said he's hopeful voters will see that the district is doing what it can to ensure that the ongoing probe is thorough and to repair any fiscal problems.
He added that he'll feel a sense of relief if an indictment in the treasurer's office probe comes before the election.
Details of a criminal charge could help explain matters that, so far, district officials cannot comment on because of the ongoing investigation, Brobeck said.
Herron said his office will seek an indictment when the time is right and not before.
Voting concern
But Herron echoed Brobeck's concern about voters' rejecting the levy.
"I hope people ... don't punish the kids because there were people there who decided they would plunder the school's coffers," Herron said.
McShane, 53, admitted Wednesday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court that he took more than $4,000 from the school district between fall 2000, when he was still principal, and early this year, when he was no longer principal but served as ticket manager for a basketball tournament at Salem High.
As part of a plea agreement, McShane has resigned as Lisbon schools superintendent, a post he held since January 2001 after leaving his position as Salem High principal.
McShane, who will be sentenced Oct. 16, faces up to a year in prison.
leigh@vindy.com