Youngstown BOE member: Challenging state commission unwise

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school board’s fight with the state fiscal oversight commission controlling district spending is escalating.

The board voted Tuesday to hire the Cleveland law firm of Johnson, Miller & Schmitz to represent it as it challenges the oversight commission’s plans to increase its authority over district operations.

The dispute centers on a transportation support services contract to Community Bus Services Inc. of Youngstown. The commission believes the board's bidding process that led to the contract award was flawed, and warned the contract would likely be rejected if submitted for approval.

Board members Richard Atkinson and Andrea Mahone voted against hiring the law firm, with Mahone suggesting it might be unwise to challenge the oversight commission.

For the full story, read Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.