Despite what McFerson states, efficiency in the decision process does not trump the public's right to know. The point of an open government is for the public to see the debates that lead to decisions. Closing doors just make me wonder: What are they doing with my money?
What next? The board's first action at each meeting declares all materials "confidential" and then the board moves to a closed office. Seems Greg Scott and company care nothing for the law. It's all about the almighty tax dollar, the taxpayer be damned.
Olentangy school board imposes gag order on themselves
Friday, December 5,
2008 12:46 PM
By Randy Ludlow
The Columbus Dispatch
The Olentangy Board of Education's secret superintendent search has been cloaked beneath another layer of secrecy.
Prior to retreating behind closed doors to interview the first applicant Monday, the board approved a motion that prohibits members from identifying the candidates.
The board of the Delaware County school district is scheduled to interview three more candidates for superintendent in executive session Saturday morning.
The secrecy motion approved by a 5-0 vote on Monday also declares as confidential "applications, other documents and any and all information discussed, reviewed or considered "
Dimon McFerson, the former Nationwide Insurance CEO and board vice president in charge of the superintendent search, said confidentiality is vital to securing a new leader for the district.
McFerson, the only board member who knows the names of all candidates, said none would have interviewed for the position without assurances of secrecy due to fears of compromising their current jobs.
The two finalists for superintendent will be publicly identified, he said.
The motion to silence board members and declare as secret information from documents they review "is not a gag order at all," McFerson said.
The motion, which declares "preserving confidentiality is necessary to the proper conduct of government business," is based on Ohio's so called revolving-door law.
The law is designed to prohibit former government employees and officials from personally profiting by acting as lobbyists before agencies for which they worked until one year has passed.
Greg Scott, the board's lawyer, said a section of that law also prohibits current public officials from disclosing information declared confidential.
Board member Jennifer Smith said she reluctantly voted for the motion after Scott informed members they could face criminal charges or lawsuits for damages from superintendent candidates if their names were disclosed.
"I have not supported this process and this secrecy," she said. "But, I don't have $100,000 to hire legal counsel" to defend against any prosecution or lawsuit, she said.
Following an Ohio Supreme Court decision, the board apparently has avoided creating any public records concerning its superintendent search by giving resumes and applications back to candidates. McFerson said no records exist.
The board has scheduled an executive session for Monday evening to interview a fifth candidate for superintendent. Follow-up closed session interviews also are scheduled for Dec. 13, 15 and 17.
The three interviews on Saturday will follow a meeting beginning at 8:45 a.m. in the library of Glen Oak Elementary School, 7300 Blue Holly Drive, Lewis Center.
The board interviewed superintendent candidates earlier this year, but rejected them all. Assistant Superintendent Jenny Hooie is acting superintendent.
The search was required when Superintendent Scott Davis, 36, retired in April due to his health. He is fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
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