State commission to take control of city school board transportation pact

YOUNGSTOWN — The state fiscal oversight commission controlling city school district finances says the school board can’t hire legal counsel to challenge the commission’s legal authority.

The board passed a resolution Tuesday objecting to the commission’s proposal to amend the district’s financial recovery plan to take control over a transportation support services contract issue. The panel then hired the Cleveland law firm of Johnson, Miller & Schmitz to represent the board as it challenges the commission’s effort to increase its authority over district operations.

Today, the commission struck back, amending the recovery plan despite the board’s objection and including a provision in that amendment that gives the commission the authority to approve all district purchase orders and any and all contracts for legal services before implementation.

The commission then passed a resolution denying “the retention of special legal counsel to represent the Youngstown Board of Education for the purpose of challenging the authority” of the commission in executing that additional control.

For the complete story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com