43
Youngstown school board members continue to bash CEO Mohip
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Board of Education members continued to bash CEO Krish Mohip Tuesday evening, contending he lacks transparency.
Mohip was out of town and could not be reached to comment.
Board member Dario Hunter said after repeated attempts to get questions answered, Mohip has refused to answer them.
“I have seen someone who is for his own personal reasons and personal purposes and personal agendas is not interested in open communication,” he said. “Having open communication would open him up to a [public relations] image he doesn’t appreciate and doesn’t want.”
Board member Jacqueline Adair said after a request to Mohip for communication was left unanswered, she is leaving it up to him to “extend an olive branch” to her.
Hunter said he hopes Mohip changes his position on communication and shows the board “a different side than he has shown so far.”
“I do believe in a quote by the late great Maya Angelou, who said, ‘When they show you who they are, believe them the first time,’” he said. “I think CEO Mohip has shown us who he is.”
Hunter proceeded to refer to Mohip as someone who acts “juvenile, childish and capricious,” because “he is the all-powerful CEO.”
Board President Brenda Kimble, who has remained quiet during the past few meetings when Mohip’s alleged lack of transparency has been discussed by Adair and Hunter with Mohip present, voiced her concern as well.
“When [Mohip] first came here, he was pretty open and transparent, and I don’t know what happened to have him give a speech that he was over the district and in total control,” she said. “Before that, he was transparent. He was trying to work with this board. Maybe something happened between there the board doesn’t know about.”
During a previous meeting, Mohip cited rules in House Bill 70, also called the Youngstown Plan, which give him managerial, operational and instructional authority over the district.
Adair voiced concern over the accountability of Mohip’s actions in the district for the next three years.
In the Youngstown Plan, the school board is still accountable for the success or failure of the school, despite Mohip’s position.
“That needs to be addressed with him, and if he doesn’t get that – if he still wants to stand firm, then I think there comes a point where we need to stop this and take this to Atty. Ted Roberts and get some kind of legal decision.”
Hunter and Kimble agreed they still want to improve communication with Mohip.
“I would like to see us build back what we had before so we have that open line of communication,” Kimble said.
In other news, the board approved a motion in a 3-2 vote for a 75 percent tax abatement for the DoubleTree Hotel project, underway at 44 E. Federal St., downtown.
Youngstown City Council already approved the abatement.
The school board could have awarded an additional 25 percent abatement, making it a 100 percent abatement, but most board members strongly opposed even the discussion of it.
“I just do not see the six of us ever in agreement with that tax abatement,” said Michael Murphy, board vice president.
Board member Jerome Williams suggested having a meeting with developer Dominic Marchionda of NYO Property Group to create a better abatement plan more suitable for the district.
“I think we should still take time to take a look and say, ‘Can we help our kids with some of these businesses?’” he said.
Board member Ronald Shadd agreed, saying the hotel may be a way to stimulate the economy for the city.
Adair said she was not willing to discuss the issue with Marchionda any further.
“You have to pay your fair share, Mr. Millionaire,” she said. “I have to pay mine [taxes]; you have to pay yours.”
Hunter also dissented.
“We are in the business of educating children, not in the business of stimulating private business,” he said.