As a citizen, taxpayer and teacher of 20 years in Springfield Township, I was horrified by the “bullying” behavior of Mayor Kolomichuk, council woman Marlene Hill, and the citizens of Lakemore at the school board meeting on July 24. I commend the school board members and Mr. Stauffer for maintaining their composure and professionalism. As for the mayor, Ms. Hill and the community members who made threats in the presence of children, shame on you!

Our school system’s monies are being controlled by the state commission. This is not a new situation yet the mayor and Ms. Hill seem to believe that the school board can openly defy and ignore their rulings. Where have these two been for the last several years? Just because tehy don’t like the message, don’t “shoot the messenger” (in this case the school board). Why is it that Ms. Hill and the mayor seem to think that the school board members are personally responsible for declining property values or for the present state of funding?   

The village of Lakemore has consistently voted school levies down. Ms. Hill knows that but shifted the blame pointing out that they only represented a small portion of the voters. Yes, that is true, but I don’t recall her ever publicly supporting a levy. As a matter of fact I don’t recall any public official of Lakemore ever openly supporting a levy. And now can they guarantee passing a levy? What powers they must possess!

Ms. Hill made the symbolic gesture of “turning her back” on the board members. So what’s new? She should turn her back and keep walking out of the district. What kind of public figure encourages their constituents to turn their backs and enroll their children elsewhere? Go ahead.

Send your kids outside the district, take away more public school dollars and cause your property values to decline more! This makes sense?

She also blasted the teachers union. Our union members donate their own personal dollars, attend caucuses, letter writimg, and phone calls to the governor and state congressional members on behalf of the public to eliminate the current funding situation. When was the last time she went to Columbus on behalf of the school district? Has she ever written a letter, made a phone call or gotten a group of citizens together to protest the current situation on behalf of your community? Probably not. Instead she attacked our union and accuse our leadership of “conspiring and making back door deals” against Lakemore. Conspiracy theories? How ridiculous!

Teachers are professionals. We are required to obtain proper certification, take state tests, obtain additional education out of our own pockets and submit to background checks to protect those that we serve-our children. She’s angry that our union protects our children from just anyone coming in to teach them?

As for Mayor Kolomichuk, he plans on showing up to school on the first day with the media for what purpose? He said the school board has no plan. What is his plan? Is it to embarrass the school board and our teaching staff? Haven’t we gotten enough negative press? This is a state problem. Maybe his time would be better spent meeting with other superintendents and mayors in Summit County to problem solve this growing situation. It’s not just about Springfield Schools. Other districts are feeling the impact as well. Tallmadge just cut their busing and charges their athletes through “pay to play”. Mr. Stauffer rescinded those cuts in our districts to appease the public. Has anyone voiced their thanks? Tallmadge is a bigger and more affluent city. Does he think they mismanaged their money as well? What about Greens’ projected deficits? Does he read the paper or get outside of Lakemore?  Are all school board members fiscally irresponsible? Maybe he should ask them all to resign since he has such a handle on school funding! 

Bullying and threatening serves no purpose for anyone other than the bully. It gives the bully a sense of empowerment and intimidates others who might want to speak up.

While the so-called leaders of this community posture and look for new ways to create divisions in an already divided community, the teachers and administrators will greet our students with respect, commitment and pride. Notice that we will not be refusing to teach or encourage them to move to other districts. We will remain here and do what we have always done- support our children.

Let’s put the blame where it belongs and put the pressure on the state of Ohio and its leadership to change the current school funding situation. The so-called leaders of Lakemore need to work on their “people skills” and present themselves in a more positive and productive manner, not as bullies on the playground.

Debbie Frank
Springfield