County Initiative Proposes Strong Executive Form Of Government
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
An initiative that would change the structure of county government has been touted as a way to make it more functional for the residents and businesses it serves.
During a January 17 Maumee City Council committee of the whole meeting, council members heard a presentation by Thomas Palmer and Dr. Richard Ruppert of the Lucas County Citizen Review, a group drafting the new plan.
“This is a proposal and nothing about it will diminish the power any municipality currently has,” Palmer said.
The plan calls for the county to change to a charter form of government, which would require a vote by citizens to be enacted.
Under the proposal, voters would elect a county executive to serve as a single accountable leader responsible for overseeing county operations.
Voters would also elect a nine-member county council comprised of six district and three at-large members with legislative responsibility.
“Each district would have its own representative to provide direct input to county government to allow equal representation across the county,” Palmer said.
The county council would establish an internal audit office responsible for auditing the operational and financial performance of the county executive.
The offices of the auditor, treasurer and recorder would be consolidated into one department, which would be headed by a chief financial officer, or CFO. The county executive would appoint the CFO.
The county executive would also appoint the county engineer, sheriff and medical examiner. The county prosecutor would remain an elected position.
The judges of the Court of Common Pleas would appoint the clerk of courts, with responsibilities divided between the CFO and the court.
When questioned about the salary and work experience requirements related to the county executive position, Ruppert said the individual would need a bachelor’s degree and government or management experience.
“We’re still working through those details,” he said.
The charter would determine salaries, but Ruppert believes council members could be paid approximately $30,000 each and the executive would be paid $170,000 annually. No comment was made regarding salary and compensation for the other county positions.
Each elected position would serve four-year terms.
According to Palmer, the plan would save the county $20 million.
For 20 years Summit County has used the proposed structure of government, and Cuyahoga County implemented it last year.
The Lucas County Citizen Review group will continue presenting the proposal to municipalities. In addition, money will be raised to place the initiative on the ballot.
Maumee Mayor Tim Wagener and council member Jenny Barlos were absent from the meeting.
During the meeting, council members:
• Heard council president Richard Carr recognize Maumee City Schools superintendent Dr. Greg Smith and Maumee school board president Glenn Rambo for passage of a school levy on November 8. According to Carr, since the levy passed 11 new employers have moved into Maumee, creating 241 new jobs.
• Referred the issue of the natural gas and electric aggregation program to the public utilities committee.
• Approved the appointments of Sara Kraus and Carol Trompeter to the position of firefighter.
• Approved the appointments of John Jezak, Norm Peiffer and Dan Hazard to the Monclova-Maumee-Toledo Joint Economic Development Zone board.
• Approved the appointment of Brent Buehrer to the Maumee Indoor Theater advisory board.
• Approved the appointment of Rex Palmer to he civil service commission.
• Designated Carr and Barlos to serve as council representatives to the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund Board for 2012.
• Approved a $15,000 agreement with the Lucas County Board of Commissioners for the Suburban Court Services Program.
• Authorized a $29,847 agreement with Lucas County for 2012 public defender services along with sub-agreements for the village of Whitehouse and the city of Waterville.
• Approved a contract with Provident Life through the Hylant Group in the amount of $17,615 for the emergency services insurance program.
• Approved a $8,780 contract with Northwest Electrical Contracting for replacement of the conduit, phone and fiber cable at the Dussel Drive water tower.
• Approved a $1,400 contract with Dunbar Mechanical to upgrade software at the fire station.
• Approved the $60,349.56 purchase of a right-of-way mower from Century Equipment.
• Approved the adoption of updates to the municipal code for 2011 legislation and changes to the Ohio Revised Code.
• Referred to the public information committee a request from the Maumee Uptown Business Association to produce Rock the Block 2012.
Changes In Curriculum, Teacher Evaluations On Way For School Districts
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
At the January 23 meeting, the Maumee school board heard an overview of changes the district could expect by the 2014 school year.
New local, state and national initiatives set to ramp up the curriculum through the use of technology as well as the implementation of an increased number of teacher evaluations were outlined as part of a presentation called “A Path to the Destination of Excellence.”
“This is a path we need to take as we look ahead to meet the goals set by the community, and the future of Maumee, which is our children,” said Dwight Fertig, director of student services, special education and technology.
Fertig, along with Jim Cellio, curriculum consultant with the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West, presented the information to the board. Cellio is the former principal of Maumee High School.
Students can expect the curriculum to become more rigorous for college and career readiness, Cellio said.
“The goal is to get students ready for college, career readiness, or both,” he said.
In the subjects of English, math, social studies and science, teachers will adopt a common core curriculum as mandated by the state of Ohio.
According to superintendent Dr. Greg Smith, 45 states have already adopted the program, with the idea that if a child moves from state to state, he or she will be able to enter the classroom and pick up where he or she left off.
Servicing the needs of a diverse student population was also discussed.
“We have a large transient population and if intervention is needed for them, we have to make sure it happens,” Fertig said.
The use of technology in the classroom will continue to increase as teachers incorporate computer technology into every aspect of the educational process.
“Teachers won’t be replaced; we know that. Students still need the interaction with teachers, but students communicate using technology and it’s rapidly changing,” he said.
According to Fertig, by 2014 all state achievement tests will be taken online.
“That means we’ll have 600 students taking tests online at the same time,” he said.
With the passage of House Bill 153, teacher evaluations will also change. Currently, teachers are evaluated every three years. In the 2013-14 school year, that would increase, as every teacher will undergo 30-minute evaluations twice each year.
“With pre-assessment, assessment and post-assessment, that could take four hours just for one evaluation,” said board president Glenn Rambo.
With approximately 200 teachers in the district, it could take 1,600 hours to complete the evaluations, he added.
“That’s a full-time person,” Rambo said.
The district will also consider branding itself in order to distinguish Maumee from other school systems.
“This is a snapshot of what’s coming. It will transform education as we know it,” Smith said.
Fertig expressed confidence that the staff and administration are up to the task.
“We want to be a leader in this and we will be,” he said.
Also at the meeting, the board members:
• Failed to approve the adoption of certain policies until further review takes place.
• Approved courses in personal finance and AP biology for the 2012-13 school year. Also approved replacing the current career options requirement with personal finance beginning with the Class of 2014. Students in the Class of 2013 who need to fulfill the career options requirement can do so by taking and passing the personal finance course.
• Approved the retirements and resignations of John Boles, social studies teacher; operational employees Patricia Hodnicki and Delores Tubbs; and Cindy Bramson, high school golf and quiz bowl coach, after the conclusion of the 2011-12 season.
• Approved allowing several Maumee Valley County Day speech and debate team students, a coach and judge accompany MHS students to a tournament at Bexley High School near Columbus.
The next special Maumee school board meeting is scheduled on Monday, February 6 and the next regular meeting is scheduled on February 23. Both meetings take place at 5:30 p.m. in the district office located at 716 Askin St.
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