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Two board members say special meeting was not properly noticed; call for reschedule
Summary
Board President Kathleen Walsh and Board Member John Kirschner submitted written statements saying they would not attend the July 22 special meeting because they believe the mailed notice did not meet board policy or Ohio law; both called for rescheduling to allow full review of SRO materials.
Two members of the Groveport Madison Local Board of Education said in written statements read at the July 22 special meeting that they would not attend because they believed the meeting notice did not comply with board policy and Ohio law.
"I will not be attending tonight's special meeting for reasons," the statement from Kathleen Walsh, board president, said in full, as read aloud by a board member. Walsh added that written notice and board packets have historically been provided by mail or hand delivery "in addition to any electronic communication" because of internet and email problems, and that she "cannot in good conscience preside over or participate in a meeting that I believe was not properly noticed." The statement concluded, "Kathleen Walsh, board president."
A second written statement from board member John Kirschner, also read aloud, said, "Since due to improper notice, I will not be in attendance," and requested that his position on the record be clear. Kirschner said he had asked for evaluation data about the district's school resource officer (SRO) program beginning July 9 and had not received it in time to review.
The statements were read early in the meeting after roll call established that Walsh and Kirschner were absent. A board member told the meeting that board counsel had reached a different legal conclusion; Walsh's statement said she believed that conclusion "is not based on an accurate understanding of the district's long standing practice for providing special meeting notices." Kirschner wrote that his practice has been to require signed mailed notice for special meetings and that, had the meeting been planned in cooperation with the president as policy requires, he would have received timely written notice.
No vote on rescheduling was recorded in the meeting transcript. The comments framed subsequent discussion about SRO contracts and other agenda items, and several board members said they regretted any panic in the community and pledged to improve communications going forward.
