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City school board refuses to consider move to pull out of Chamber
By Denise Dick
youngstowN
An effort for the city school district to withdraw from the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber failed before it got to a vote.
Anthony Catale, board member, wanted to introduce a resolution for the board’s withdrawal from the chamber, citing that organization president’s backing of Gov. John Kasich.
Kasich’s proposed budget takes money from public schools; doubles the number of vouchers through which students, including many in the city, can attend private schools; and removes the cap on the number of charter schools in the state.
Both charter schools and vouchers divert money from public schools, opponents contend.
“It goes against the best interest of taxpayer money,” Catale said.
Lock P. Beachum Sr., board president, wouldn’t allow a vote on Catale’s verbal resolution, because he said Catale didn’t follow procedure.
The resolution should have been presented at agenda review and at the board’s caucus.
Catale said he presented the resolution to Beachum two weeks ago and that it was presented for agenda review before Tuesday’s meeting. Agenda review is a meeting among members of the administration and the board president and vice president.
When Catale spoke about his resolution during his report as finance committee chairman, other board members contended it was politically motivated.
“He’s campaigning,” said Andrea Mahone, board member.
Catale is running for the city’s 5th Ward council seat.
Board member Rachel Hanni, though, questioned why members couldn’t vote on the resolution.
Richard Atkinson, another board member, said Catale was out of order.
“This is not the 5th Ward,” Mahone said. “Do not campaign on this board.”
David Betras, Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman, earlier in the meeting had spoken against the Regional Chamber for its support of Senate Bill 5, a law that strips many collective-bargaining rights from public workers.