Coming school board election could end era in Springboro

The board majority has shifted but battles continue.

There are signs of the end of an era in the Springboro school district.

The voting majority has already shifted, but the local school board continues to battle over everything from raises to textbooks to meeting schedules.

This embattled era, during which the local school district attracted attention more for its debates over creationism and other conservative issues than the quality of its schools, could end after the November election.

The only candidates who have pulled petitions to run in November for board seats held by Jim Rigano and David Petroni are Jamie Belanger and Lisa Babb, both aligned with the new majority.

“Why would I or anyone else waste our time or talents?” said Kelly Kohls, leader of the former board majority. “They are in control.”

The deadline to file for the election is a month away.

Board battles on

Meanwhile Rigano and Petroni, the remaining members of the former majority, are aligned against the new majority elected last year.

On Tuesday, Rigano read a letter from Petroni, accusing the other three board members of intentionally rescheduling meetings to exclude Petroni.

“I am frustrated that the new majority is not willing to allow debate on the topic by the full board. The random rescheduling of the meetings appears to be strategic and political – which eliminates the voice of the community in total,” Petroni said in the letter sent in June.

With Petroni again absent Tuesday, the remaining board members declined to even second a motion to include the letter in board minutes from the June meeting. There was no discussion, but in emails, the other board members and administrators have dismissed Petroni’s claims, noting similar rescheduling during past years.

Also Tuesday, Rigano was the lone no vote opposing 2 percent raises to Superintendent Todd Petrey and Treasurer Terrah Floyd, matching those to be enjoyed by other district employees during the upcoming school year.

Rigano said he will not seek re-election.

Petroni, who ran with Rigano four years ago, has not pulled petitions for the November election. He did not respond to queries about his plans.

Change in the board

Under the previous majority, the Springboro board cut costs, including on staff salaries, and rolled back a levy, while gaining national attention for discussions of bringing creationism into the classroom.

Charles Anderson, Ron Malone and Paul Stuckey were elected two years ago on a platform promising to return the district to the mainstream. The new majority has approved contracts giving raises to employees and other new spending.

On Tuesday, there was no discussion and 4-0 votes on instructional and pay to participate fees. But Rigano got resistance after raising questions about historical representations in new district textbooks.

“The author was clearly in favor of big government, of the liberal persuasion,” he said.

When Rigano, Petroni and Kohls comprised the majority, the board also attracted attention by criticizing well-known textbooks.

On Tuesday Malone said the board would rely on experts and the knowledge that the new AP history textbook was one of the most popular ones in America.

“You’re right, we aren’t going to agree, sir,” Malone said.

Kohls didn’t seek reelection in 2013, instead running unsuccessfully last year for the state Senate seat held by Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp.

Babb, who has backed previous levy tries, ran a close third behind Petroni and Rigano four years ago.

Both Babb and Belanger pulled petitions, but didn’t run in 2013, when this could have taken votes away from Malone, Stuckey or Anderson.

This time, Babb and Belanger have already begun campaigning together.

“We believe board members need to weigh the interests of all constituency groups, as opposed to only focusing on narrow philosophical viewpoints,” according to their campaign web site.

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