Youngstown school board tosses 2 panel members, violates Sunshine Law

YOUNGSTOWN

Two members of the Youngstown City School District Academic Distress Commission are out, replaced by new appointees.

Brenda Kimble, school board president, sent letters Monday to Susan Moorer and Betty Greene, the board president’s appointees to the commission, thanking them for their service and telling them that new representatives were being named.

Ron Miller, who was director of the former Youngstown Area Urban League, and the Rev. Kenneth Simon of New Bethel Baptist Church are the new members.

“In the 2014 Academic Plan, State Superintendent [Richard] Ross suggested that the district broaden its community connection in helping the district meet its educational goals,” Kimble’s letter said. “We, as the board of education, have made a decision to appoint new representatives from the community this year.”

The Vindicator obtained copies of the letters and Kimble’s email to Superintendent Connie Hathorn’s secretary by making a public records request to the school district. Kimble directed that a reporter must complete a written public records request form to get a copy.

According to Ohio’s Public Records Law, commonly called the Sunshine Law, however, such requests need not be made in writing.

“A person need not make a public records request in writing, or identify him or herself when making a request,” the 2014 Sunshine Law manual says.

Both former commission members are invited in Kimble’s letters to the Feb. 24 school board meeting where they will be recognized for their service.

Kimble’s email to Hathorn’s secretary says: “... please alert Dr. Hathorne (sic) that tis (sic) letter is going out today ... Doc is suppost (sic) to have a celebration for them.”

Read more about the school board's actions in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.