Youngstown school board challenges oversight commission

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school board is challenging what appears to be an attempt by the state fiscal oversight commission overseeing district spending to extend its control over district operations.

A resolution on today’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission agenda says the commission is assuming the power to approve all school district requests for proposals and bidding documents, including specifications, process, timeline, evaluation criterion, advertising and processing protocol for all transportation services and equipment.

The school board maintains that directive exceeds the oversight commission’s authority.

The board voted 6-1 Tuesday, with member Jacqueline Taylor casting the dissenting vote, to approve its own resolution which says the board will retain legal counsel to research Ohio law relating to the commission’s power and will meet with state education and legislative officials to resolve questions related to this matter.

Members Anthony Catale, Richard Atkinson, Lock P. Beachum Sr., Michael Murphy, June Drennen and Dominic Modarelli all voted for it.

Ironically, the legal expense would have to be approved by the oversight commission which clearly has control over the spending of district taxpayer funds. Taylor said it wasn’t right to ask the commission to approve that expenditure.

Central to the dispute is the school board’s attempt to award a transportation support services contract.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com