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By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:42 p.m. EST, Nov 06, 2009
Two challengers in two local school board races — both accountants — not only unseated an incumbent, but they also led all candidates on their respective ballots in Tuesday's election.
Dale Petty won in Cuyahoga Falls, followed by board members Barb Gunter and Curtis Grimes, leaving incumbent Kellie Patterson without enough votes to stay on the board.
In Copley-Fairlawn, Jessica Vargo got the most votes, which left room for only two of the three incumbents. So, Vargo's in, along with Charles Dressler and Sue Emich. John Trecaso, the board president, is out.
Vargo watched the early returns Tuesday night and saw her fortunes steadily climb from fourth place behind the three incumbents.
''The next thing I know, I'm in second, and then first,'' she said. ''I was pleasantly surprised that I surpassed them.''
Although parents had complained about the quality of the board's communication with the community, most voters in the district don't have kids in the schools, Vargo said.
She wondered whether those voters would simply look at the district's ''Excellent with Distinction'' rating from the state and its relative financial stability and decide to stick with the incumbents.
''For many, on the surface, it looked like the board was doing a good job,'' Vargo said.
But she and the other challengers all took up the cause of improving communication.
She also thinks her experience as a certified public accountant and current treasurer of East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church also helped win votes at a time when all Ohio districts are facing financial difficulties.
Cuyahoga Falls, another district rated as excellent, also added an accountant to its board.
On his Ohio.com profile, Petty said he is a ''third-generation accountant with 36 years of business experience.''
He said that about nine years ago when he was first approached about running, he couldn't really imagine how his job would be relevant to overseeing a school district.
He certainly did in 2005 after an independent consultant revealed the district had a deficit of more than $4 million. As a result of that scandal, the district created the '' Financial Forecasting Advisory Committee,'' a group of five representatives of area businesses who review the district's financial projections.
He also served for about half a year on the school board as an interim member in 2005, but chose not to run for election then because of family commitments, although he continued on the advisory committee.
''It's really remarkable to me,'' Petty said of the difficulties facing superintendents and treasurers. ''The rules change every day for them in terms of school funding and budgeting and negotiating.''
He said he ran this time because he was hearing doubts in the community about the effectiveness of the board, which in 2007 sought the services of a professional mediator to learn how to get along better.
''I really tried to stay above the strong personalities that have impacted the behavior and activity of the school board,'' Petty said.
His election bumped off Kellie Patterson, one of the board's most outspoken members. She was elected to a four-year term in 2005 as part of a reform wave that swamped the board after the fiscal crisis was revealed.
Patterson sued the board in 2008, alleging that members discussed improper subjects and took illegal votes behind closed doors in executive session. She also alleged that the board produced incomplete minutes of meetings and did not sufficiently inform the public about the board's agenda for meetings.
The suit seeks a court order compelling the board to follow Ohio public records and public meetings laws.
Patterson will be representing herself on Thursday when that case is scheduled for trial at 9 a.m. in Summit County Common Pleas Court before Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands.
Meanwhile, Patterson congratulated Petty on his win.
''Probably more school boards need accountants,'' she said.
She said she was partly disappointed with the outcome and partly relieved that she'll have time to devote to other matters.
She posted a brief concession speech on her Internet blog on Tuesday titled, The Fat Lady Sings.
''Thanks to all my supporters and especially those that helped me drop literature this year. It's been a roller coaster 4 years and it is bittersweet that it has come to an end. Best wishes to Dale Petty and the school district on keeping that 'excellent' rating!''
She said the blog was part of her campaign promise four years ago to keep the public informed about what the board was doing.
''I may still blog,'' Patterson said. ''I don't know if it will always be related to school board issues.''
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Two challengers in two local school board races — both accountants — not only unseated an incumbent, but they also led all candidates on their respective ballots in Tuesday's election.
Dale Petty won in Cuyahoga Falls, followed by board members Barb Gunter and Curtis Grimes, leaving incumbent Kellie Patterson without enough votes to stay on the board.
In Copley-Fairlawn, Jessica Vargo got the most votes, which left room for only two of the three incumbents. So, Vargo's in, along with Charles Dressler and Sue Emich. John Trecaso, the board president, is out.
Vargo watched the early returns Tuesday night and saw her fortunes steadily climb from fourth place behind the three incumbents.
''The next thing I know, I'm in second, and then first,'' she said. ''I was pleasantly surprised that I surpassed them.''
Although parents had complained about the quality of the board's communication with the community, most voters in the district don't have kids in the schools, Vargo said.
She wondered whether those voters would simply look at the district's ''Excellent with Distinction'' rating from the state and its relative financial stability and decide to stick with the incumbents.
''For many, on the surface, it looked like the board was doing a good job,'' Vargo said.
But she and the other challengers all took up the cause of improving communication.
She also thinks her experience as a certified public accountant and current treasurer of East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church also helped win votes at a time when all Ohio districts are facing financial difficulties.
Cuyahoga Falls, another district rated as excellent, also added an accountant to its board.
On his Ohio.com profile, Petty said he is a ''third-generation accountant with 36 years of business experience.''
He said that about nine years ago when he was first approached about running, he couldn't really imagine how his job would be relevant to overseeing a school district.
He certainly did in 2005 after an independent consultant revealed the district had a deficit of more than $4 million. As a result of that scandal, the district created the '' Financial Forecasting Advisory Committee,'' a group of five representatives of area businesses who review the district's financial projections.
He also served for about half a year on the school board as an interim member in 2005, but chose not to run for election then because of family commitments, although he continued on the advisory committee.
''It's really remarkable to me,'' Petty said of the difficulties facing superintendents and treasurers. ''The rules change every day for them in terms of school funding and budgeting and negotiating.''
He said he ran this time because he was hearing doubts in the community about the effectiveness of the board, which in 2007 sought the services of a professional mediator to learn how to get along better.
''I really tried to stay above the strong personalities that have impacted the behavior and activity of the school board,'' Petty said.
His election bumped off Kellie Patterson, one of the board's most outspoken members. She was elected to a four-year term in 2005 as part of a reform wave that swamped the board after the fiscal crisis was revealed.
Patterson sued the board in 2008, alleging that members discussed improper subjects and took illegal votes behind closed doors in executive session. She also alleged that the board produced incomplete minutes of meetings and did not sufficiently inform the public about the board's agenda for meetings.
The suit seeks a court order compelling the board to follow Ohio public records and public meetings laws.
Patterson will be representing herself on Thursday when that case is scheduled for trial at 9 a.m. in Summit County Common Pleas Court before Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands.
Meanwhile, Patterson congratulated Petty on his win.
''Probably more school boards need accountants,'' she said.
She said she was partly disappointed with the outcome and partly relieved that she'll have time to devote to other matters.
She posted a brief concession speech on her Internet blog on Tuesday titled, The Fat Lady Sings.
''Thanks to all my supporters and especially those that helped me drop literature this year. It's been a roller coaster 4 years and it is bittersweet that it has come to an end. Best wishes to Dale Petty and the school district on keeping that 'excellent' rating!''
She said the blog was part of her campaign promise four years ago to keep the public informed about what the board was doing.
''I may still blog,'' Patterson said. ''I don't know if it will always be related to school board issues.''
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Orrville, Oh
Posted 09:44 PM, 11/06/2009
Accountants; are not; the ONLY people; that know; that school boards; paying for the more stock dividends (money); Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers); market quarterly; in the wholesale and retail price; of EVERY; product and service; Human Beings use for life. And Government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools; infrastructure; and provide government services; and national security. That gets only product or service; with money derived from wages or independent business profit; Makes free, fair, and affordable commerce IMPOSSIBLE; Makes funding schools, infrastructure, and etc. IMPOSSIBLE; Makes balancing every budget IMPOSSIBLE; Makes union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and America’s grandchildren’s children LIFE UNAFFORDABLE; and created the $40 trillion social security and the $9.3 trillion national debt. America’s grandchildren’s children are responsible to pay interest with this debt until they are 18 years old. Then pay the debt with the $7.30 per hour government mandated labor wage.
There is no reason to believe America’s grandchildren’s children that go to bed hungry can afford life; and pay this debt; with the $7.30 per hour; government mandated labor wage; in a hundred million years; with money derived from wages or independent business profit!
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 11:04 PM, 11/06/2009
Loren take your meds. Patterson will be sorely missed. Bean counters make me nervous, but I'm willing to give him a chance.
