Struthers school levy defeat an eye-opener for the board

Of the 12 school levies on Tuesday's primary ballots in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, voters approved seven. That's the good news. The bad news is to be found in Mahoning County, where three of five levies were rejected. Struthers and West Branch school districts suffered the biggest losses.
Indeed, in Struthers, Superintendent Sandra DiBacco-Tusinac is anticipating the state issuing a declaration of fiscal emergency, which means the school board and administrators would have to follow the dictates of the Ohio Department of Education.
"We're devastated," Dr. DiBacco-Tusinac said Tuesday night. While it is too early to tell what prompted the 2,655 voters in the district to say no to the request for an 8-mill additional levy to pay for current expenses, we have to wonder whether DiBacco-Tusinac's improper conduct contributed to the public's negative attitude.
She faces a public reprimand and a 60-day suspension of her educational licenses for providing false information to the state education department. The penalties were recommended by Atty. Stephen Teetor, who served as a hearing officer for the Ohio Board of Education. Teetor did not go along with the department of education, which had sought a revocation of all DiBacco-Tusinac's educational certificates
The lawyer contended that while the superintendent provided false information about Struthers teacher Cheryl Richards, she has already paid a substantial price through adverse publicity.
As we said, we don't know what effect this controversy had on the voters, but at a time when taxpayers are demanding greater responsibility from public officials, we would not be surprised to hear that those who voted no were influenced by the school board's apparent support of DiBacco-Tusinac.
Given the serious nature of the misconduct, the board should have terminated the superintendent's employment.
Now, it will have to deal with the consequences of a state-appointed fiscal oversight commission making the crucial decisions pertaining to the school system.
Narrow margin
Other casualties in Mahoning County were the Jackson-Milton and West Branch school districts. However, the 84-vote loss in Jackson-Milton should encourage officials to return to the ballot with the 5.4-mill, 28-year bond issue for new school facilities. But in West Branch, the 1,663-vote defeat suggests that the district has a lot of homework to do before it can be assured a passing grade for the 1.5 percent, five-year income tax issue to pay for operating expenses.
Campbell and South Range school districts celebrated victory Tuesday night, but we would caution officials against viewing the results as a clear vote of confidence.
We offer that same advice to the five school districts in Trumbull County that persuaded voters to give them the money they need to operate. Bristol, Liberty, Mathews, Newton Falls and Weathersfield school systems must not forget that such victories can be fleeting because they will, at some point, have to return to the voters. If they are viewed as being irresponsible in the way they spend public dollars, they will suffer the wrath of the taxpayers.
Of the two districts that were not so fortunate Tuesday, Lakeview may still end up in the winner's circle because only 10 votes separate the loss from the win and there are votes still to be counted.
On the other hand, the 412-vote margin in Brookfield means that the school board must regroup and analyze why the issue lost.
Despite the approval of the seven school issues in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, there is still strong anti-tax sentiment in the region. School board members, administrators, teachers and other employees would do well to pay attention to what is being said and what is being demanded of them by the public.