Did schools become “political football” over Obama speech?

By Marie Rossiter | Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 11:24 AM

A lot has been said over the past few days about President Obama’s Sept 8 speech to students in VA that was shown to schools across the country. Questions were raised about the speech’s motives, presentation, language and more. School districts scrambled to react to parent and community concerns over whether or not students should be required—or even allowed—to watch it during the school day.

Once the speech was over and the dust began to settle, Mason school superintendent Kevin Bright defended the district’s response to the latest political hot potato.

“We spent an inordinate amount of time on this issue,” Bright said. “We tried to develop a balance and be all things to all people. We were a political football.”

Bright said the Sept. 2 announcement by the White House regarding the speech didn’t allow the district to properly accommodate the president’s address. With a long holiday weekend coming up, he said, there was little time to put together the resources necessary to deal with the logistics of showing the speech: from the actual broadcast down to the notification of parents. In this “difficult political environment”, Bright said, more time was needed to prepare teachers, students and parents for the event.

Mason school board member Marianne Culbertson said the district could have done a better job with communication, but also stood by the district’s actions.

“While we respect the office of president, we also respect our families,” Culbertson said “I don’t think we handled this in the absolute best way we could. But, it was a learning experience and hopefully in the future, we can all better prepared.”

Did schools become a “political football” over this issue? What do you think?

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Councilman’s daughter recommended as prosecutor

By Rich Gillette | Thursday, September 3, 2009, 12:00 PM

The Mason Court Liaison Committee, including Mayor Tom Grossmann, Vice Mayor Pete Beck and Councilman Mike Gilb, has agreed assistant prosecutor Bethany Bennett will serve as interim Mason prosecutor, according to City Manager Eric Hansen. Bennett will receive the same salary Peeler did, which amounts to $73,000, the majority — $58,000 — comes from city coffers. The city has set an Oct. 1 deadline to receive resumes from interested attorneys. Hansen said the city will likely not choose a successor for Peeler until the end of the year. Law Director Ken Schneider said he received resumes from Bennett, Juliette Dame, a former Mason assistant prosecutor, Michael Davis, Jerry Shade and Doug Adkins. “She was recommended early on, and the discussion centered on her because of her being in place right now and being able to run with it,” Schneider said. “Everyone was considered.” The full city council will vote on Bennett’s appointment, according to Schneider — except for Councilman Don Prince, who is her father. He won’t participate in any way.

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Campaign fundraising season begins

By Rich Gillette | Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 05:26 PM

Supporters of Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel will hold the seventh annual Hutzel Jamboree from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Kilburn Lodge, 3811 Halls Creek Road, Morrow. According to a postcard sent by the Keep Rachel Hutzel Prosecutor committee, it’s an afternoon of food and fun for the family. Midnight Thunder will provide entertainment and there will be hayrides for kids. Hutzel has announced previously she is considering a run for the Ohio 12th District Court of appeals in 2010.

See story herehttp://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?paction=doc&pdocid=12676920AB906F70&p_docnum=16

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Ask your politician a question

By Rich Gillette | Friday, August 21, 2009, 04:00 PM

The Warren County Chambers of Commerce and the Area Progress Council will host a Legislative Coffee with elected officials from the local to federal level. Residents can ask each elected official a question. Scheduled at this point are: Congresswoman Jean Schmidt Sen. Shannon Jones State Rep. Ron Maag Commissioner Mike Kilburn Commissioner Pat South Commissioner Dave Young The event starts at 7:30 a.m. (yes, some people get up that early) with networking and the program is scheduled from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Warren County Administrative Building in Lebanon.

What question will you ask?

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Ohio governor candidate to visit Warren County

By Rich Gillette | Thursday, August 20, 2009, 11:36 AM

Former U.S. Rep. John Kasich will be making a campaign stop in Lebanon Friday, Aug. 21. Kasich, who is running for Ohio governor in 2010, and his wife, Karen, will be at the Village Green at the Warren County Historical Society, 105 S. Broadway, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Friday for a “meet and greet” event. Kasich is making several stops around the state in preparation for the 2010 election. Kasich will make a short speech before being available to meet local residents. The public is invited at attend. The event is hosted by the Warren County Republican Women’s Club and Warren County Young Republicans.

Here’s a link to his Web site: http://www.kasichforohio.com/site/c.hpIJKWOCJqG/b.5199849/k.BFBA/Home.htm

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Little Miami conducts survey, still asks for levy

By Ryan Cook | Thursday, August 13, 2009, 11:27 AM

After conducting a community survey that showed more residents support an income tax than a property tax, Little Miami schools is still asking for a 5-year, 7.95-mill incremental levy in November (click here to read the story). The main reason is that the district needs money now, and collection of an income tax takes 18 months before the district gets any money. While 61 percent of residents polled said they can’t afford any additional taxes, 60 percent said they would consider supporting a levy. More people (59 percent) said they would support an income tax (52 percent) than the property tax option the district is asking for. Of those polled, 34 percent were parents of students in the district, and while 59 percent of them were identified as “strong supporters” of a levy, that only represents about 20 percent of the parent-population, according to district Treasurer Shaun Bevan. The results of the survey are preliminary and expect to be finalized soon, Bevan said.

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Dominos falling for local Republicans

By Ryan Cook | Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 09:17 AM

With state Rep. Shannon Jones being appointed to the Ohio Senate, a domino effect has begun among Warren County Republicans. Jones was named Monday, Aug. 10, as the replacement for the deceased Sen. Bob Schuler. Now two local politicians - Mason Vice Mayor Pete Beck and Lebanon Councilman Jeff Monroe - say they will apply for the 67th seat in the House of Representatives, which covers a portion of Warren County from Springboro to the southern part of the county. Monroe is also up for re-election on council. The deadline to file for Lebanon council has passed, with four other people - incumbents Amy Brewer, Charleen Flick and Jim Norris, and newcomer Michael Swanger - running for the four seats. If Monroe were to be appointed to the House, he would have to remove himself from the Lebanon election, leaving the other four candidates to fill the four seats uncontested. As vice mayor, Beck is a member of Mason’s council, but his seat is not up for election in November. Someone would be appointed to fill his seat by current council members.

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