Our recommendation: Springboro voters should say 'yes' the first time to school levies

To parents of Springboro athletes and other interested parties (1097 recipients):

I feel compelled to respond to the SOS (Save Our Sports) invitation offered by Athletic Booster President Susanne Edwards. I do not discourage anyone from attending her event, and I encourage you to hear her out.

According to the Springboro Athletic Boosters Association Constitution and By-Laws, "the purpose of this club shall be:

1. To encourage school activities which provide training in sportsmanship, clean thinking, and the spirit of friendly competition.

2. To bring a closer relationship and understanding between the school and the community.

3. To assist in school athletic activities without attempting to direct the technical functions or policies of the school administration, its teachers, or its coaches.

4. To be the sole source of voluntary financial support for the Springboro Junior High and High Schools' recognized athletic activities.

5. To recognize the value of all extracurricular sports activities which train the student for a worthwhile maturity.

6. To actively seek sportsmanship on the part of spectators as well as players.

7. To promote athletic activities at all levels of this school system".

These are worthy goals for our Booster organization, and hopefully, Ms. Edwards call to action is to further this purpose.

That said, the Athletic Boosters do not speak for the school board and they do not speak for Springboro Schools’ Athletic Department. If you or the booster’s leadership have questions for the Board about its direction or policies I encourage you to come to our July 17th meeting and ask those questions. It is held at 7pm in the High School library.

Transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct are critical in everything the school district does, including our athletic programs and the closely associated booster organization. When parents volunteer thousands of hours and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, they need to have confidence that their effort and the money they raise will be directed to its intended purpose.



When we all work together, each performing our own role working in a unified direction, our athletic programs will flourish.



Jim Rigano

Springboro School Board Member

"When we all work together, each performing our own role working in a unified direction, our athletic programs will flourish." - Jim Rigano

Why were Suzanne Edwards and Tiffany Carlisle NOT at the school board meeting last night "working in a unified direction" for our athletic programs?

negative charge wrote:

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At the on-set of last Tuesday's S.O.S. meeting, the very first S.A.B. speaker emphasized a need for a "positive tone" throughout the evening. The audience was instructed to refrain from asking questions of the speakers, so thus the S.A.B. could in effect steer the mood of the meeting any way they chose to. It would be up to the respective consciences of the speakers (or audience heckers) if this pseudo-"positive" were to make a shift toward anything resembling transparency!
Wow! Leave it up to Tiffany Carlisle!
Carlisles's tremendously negative comments on Fox45 revealed the true purposes of this gathering. And what were those purposes?
- A desperate effort by the beleaguered S.A.B. officials to rally (generally unorganized) Booster parents to their aid
- To garner as much attention as possible away from the current embarrassing Booster donation scandal
Whether she meant to or not, in her interview with the media, Tiffany Carlisle blew through the Booster's smokescreen!

Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

Inquiring Minds wrote:

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Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

Their purpose it strictly self-promotion. Schoolyard bullies at work.

Inquiring Minds wrote:

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Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

To demonstrate to the community how they feel about the concepts that are being espoused. These people seem to be against any type of accountability in our support organizations. These people seem to be against any degree of openness in our support organizations accounting and reporting. These people are not serious about detailing to the public what they wish to spend money upon. These people do not trust the great unwashed to be sophisticated enough to understand how their organizations spend their money.

In other words, they like the old system best. You worker bees work and give us all your money. We super smart sophisticates will take care of the rest.

Yeah, that seems to have worked out quite well for a few, but cost the rest of us trusting hayseeds hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At last night's meeting, did Scott Franz actually say that he was OK with "transparency" but that "coaches should be given money to spend their way?".... Is this guy for real??? or just "filming for dumb and dumber" auditions????

Just Asking wrote:

At last night's meeting, did Scott Franz actually say that he was OK with "transparency" but that "coaches should be given money to spend their way?".... Is this guy for real??? or just "filming for dumb and dumber" auditions????

That's a great idea. Why don't we take it to the next level. We get about $10,000 per student in revenue. Let's just give each teacher $10,000 per student. I bet they will want bigger classes then. They will have to buy all their own supplies, textbooks, classroom materials and supply their own insurance. They will also have to pay their own share for debt, maintenance, utilities, etc. kids can pack their lunch, so no need for a cafeteria. That will work out just fine, wont it? And for the coaches, let them take the pay to play money for each sport and spend it however they want to. They will also be responsible for maintenance, upkeep, utilities etc.

How about that folks?

Inquiring Minds wrote:

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Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

How about Babbs standing in front of the podium showing us all she hasnt a lick of a clue about board procedures in work sessions vs the actual meeting. Its crystal clear Springboroians voted in the most qualified candidates last fall.

ridiculous wrote:

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Their purpose it strictly self-promotion. Schoolyard bullies at work.

Say it again!.. and again! Never forget that the work of these schoolyard bullies have the "concern and support" of our minority school board members, Scott Anderson and Don Miller.

How can we expect the Boosters Board officers to respect school board authority; when the BOE presiding officer shows no respect by violating BOE by-laws and policies relating to school and community relationships?

Never forget the 2012 March Madness of board members Scott Anderson and Don Miller as they led the personal attacks on the BOE majority! Anderso/Miller attempts to distract and discredit our children first budgeting plan for transparency (and to over-rule the voice of the community as a whole) FAILED!

Never forget that we now need a "November 2013 Victory" to vote throw out of elected office the two Springboro schools board members (Anderson/Miller) who oppose doing what's right for our school children and community! We need to fully "sweep our school house clean." Think Victory 2013!

swee pea wrote:

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How about Babbs standing in front of the podium showing us all she hasnt a lick of a clue about board procedures in work sessions vs the actual meeting. Its crystal clear Springboroians voted in the most qualified candidates last fall.

Amen! Now We All Know...Who the next two representatives are that need to be voted out of office in November 2013!

Both Scott Anderson and Don Miller have fully supported Lisa Babb and her Community of Bullies in their "redundant" interrogation of board members who are doing what's right for our school children and community. Both Scott Anderson and Don Miller have voted against our children first and our board goals as they have tried to undermine the same agenda for our children's future that they voted for in the BOE annual organizational meeting!
November Victory 2013! It's time for our defeated BOE members Anderson and Miller to go!

Just Asking wrote:

At last night's meeting, did Scott Franz actually say that he was OK with "transparency" but that "coaches should be given money to spend their way?".... Is this guy for real??? or just "filming for dumb and dumber" auditions????

Again...you are attacking people who merely stand up and ask questions. Only shows how scared this school board is of anyone questioning their actions. Keep it up community! They want everyone to bow to them. It is quite obvious that our school board needs to get off sites like these and spend their time trying to work together with EVERYONE to improve our school system instead of name calling.

Say It Again wrote:

<quoted text>
Say it again!.. and again! Never forget that the work of these schoolyard bullies have the "concern and support" of our minority school board members, Scott Anderson and Don Miller.
How can we expect the Boosters Board officers to respect school board authority; when the BOE presiding officer shows no respect by violating BOE by-laws and policies relating to school and community relationships?
Never forget the 2012 March Madness of board members Scott Anderson and Don Miller as they led the personal attacks on the BOE majority! Anderso/Miller attempts to distract and discredit our children first budgeting plan for transparency (and to over-rule the voice of the community as a whole) FAILED!
Never forget that we now need a "November 2013 Victory" to vote throw out of elected office the two Springboro schools board members (Anderson/Miller) who oppose doing what's right for our school children and community! We need to fully "sweep our school house clean." Think Victory 2013!

Don't have to worry about Anderson, when he smells blood in the water, he runs away. He'll try to find another soft political office to run for, unopposed of course.

hiding wrote:

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Again...you are attacking people who merely stand up and ask questions. Only shows how scared this school board is of anyone questioning their actions. Keep it up community! They want everyone to bow to them. It is quite obvious that our school board needs to get off sites like these and spend their time trying to work together with EVERYONE to improve our school system instead of name calling.

Again!...What a stinker you are spreading this BS!

Again and again, YOU are "attacking" bloggers "identity" on this website in your efforts to discredit "community" ...as you spread lies and rally against EVERYONE who questions the wrong doing of the boasting boosters bullies!

Just stop projecting moral authority over others (that you do not possess)and just tell the truth--Enough of your ignorance of the law has been shown! Just Shut Up at public meetings and Just Show Us the Money!

hiding wrote:

<quoted text>
Again...you are attacking people who merely stand up and ask questions. Only shows how scared this school board is of anyone questioning their actions. Keep it up community! They want everyone to bow to them. It is quite obvious that our school board needs to get off sites like these and spend their time trying to work together with EVERYONE to improve our school system instead of name calling.

I am amazed that the board can sit there day in and day out and listen to the inane comments that flow from the levy ladies' mouths. They always appear to have never listened to the entire program, picking instead a half statement here and there to babble on about. Context and content seem to be foreign to their thought patterns and utterances.
The leaders of the pack speak volumes and say nothing. They offer no insight, only vague expressions about how they feel about things. Questions that were answered earlier in a presentation are asked again. There exists none of the spirit of cooperation of which they demand of everyone else. They live to delay, obfuscate, and complain.
The questions that indeed need asked never seem to make it to their lips.
1) Why are 2000 plus students failing in our system?
2) What happened to hundreds of thousands of dollars looted from the booster accounts?
3) How can we have a surplus when every time the levy supporters spoke they foretold doom and gloom without a new levy?

The levy ladies, no matter how well meaning, were on the wrong side of the issues before the elections last year, and they have not gotten right since.

Inquiring Minds wrote:

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Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

Obviously, those purposes were for their rallying SOS cry: "Save Our Scams!"

And exactly which "scams" are the booster/community bullies trying to save?

Well, It appears, after listening to the ones speaking at the July 17 BOE meeting, that these Booster bullies want to continue "business as usual" going about supporting individual "choice of sports coaches" ...... instead of working to support our schools' "overall athletic program" operating under the school district's athletic director.

For sure, the defenders of unethical and illegal "status quo" will jump on this to "beat down" those who are doing what's right for our "athletic program as a whole."

So-o-o, which one of you babb bullies will step up to the plate first? In the words of your former chief bully.....Batter Up!

Obviously, those purposes were for their rallying SOS cry: "Save Our Scams!"

And exactly which "scams" are the booster/community bullies trying to save?

Well, It appears, after listening to the ones speaking at the July 17 BOE meeting, that these Booster bullies want to continue "business as usual" going about supporting individual "choice of sports coaches" ...... instead of working to support our schools' "overall athletic program" operating under the school district's athletic director.

For sure, the defenders of unethical and illegal "status quo" will jump on this to "beat down" those who are doing what's right for our "athletic program as a whole."

So-o-o, which one of you babb bullies will step up to the plate first? In the words of your former chief bully.....Batter Up!

Just Watching wrote:

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What happened to hundreds of thousands of dollars looted from the booster accounts?

I'm guessing this is the primary goal of the police investigation.
However, one thing is clear... there most certainly wouldn't be a need for a police investigation at this point in time if both fiscal transparency and personal accountability had been prioritized, central factors within the code of ethics of the Boosters.

Inquiring Minds wrote:

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Why did Lisa Babb and Mary Johnson (among others who spoke at the board meeting) continue "carlisles's tremendously negative (almost accusingly) attitude during their comments? What were those purposes?

IMO Maybe she hasn't shed all of the frustration surrounding that very close, very respectable 3rd place finish last Nov.
IMO Maybe before taking a position, maybe she might want to consider thinking new issues though and displaying a bit more more objectivity.
It's a long time until Election Day, if one is generally perceived as being an "againster".

Just Watching wrote:

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I am amazed that the board can sit there day in and day out and listen to the inane comments that flow from the levy ladies' mouths. They always appear to have never listened to the entire program, picking instead a half statement here and there to babble on about. Context and content seem to be foreign to their thought patterns and utterances.
The leaders of the pack speak volumes and say nothing. They offer no insight, only vague expressions about how they feel about things. Questions that were answered earlier in a presentation are asked again. There exists none of the spirit of cooperation of which they demand of everyone else. They live to delay, obfuscate, and complain.
The questions that indeed need asked never seem to make it to their lips.
1) Why are 2000 plus students failing in our system?
2) What happened to hundreds of thousands of dollars looted from the booster accounts?
3) How can we have a surplus when every time the levy supporters spoke they foretold doom and gloom without a new levy?

This is what I have seen as well. They film every move of the BOE hoping to catch something they can hang their hats on but what they are really doing is looking stupid, desperate and like Obama.
They need to get a life, preferable their own.