Former School Board Member’s Email Sparks Controversy Over Superintendent

In North Royalton, Ohio, an email sent by former school board member John Kelly has ignited a debate concerning potential conflicts of interest involving district Superintendent Michael Laub. The October 4, 2023, email was addressed to three sitting board members and raised questions about Laub’s future with the district amid discussions of a retire-rehire arrangement.

The proposed arrangement would allow Laub to retire and collect a state pension while simultaneously receiving a salary as superintendent, a practice commonly referred to as “double-dipping.” At the time of the email, the board was weighing the merits of this proposal when Laub accepted a superintendent position with the Avon Local Schools.

Concerns Over Conflict of Interest

In his email, Kelly advised board members Jackie Arendt, Christina May, and Carlin Culbertson against rehiring Laub if he were to retire. He also proposed that the board consider his company, Finding Leaders, to assist in the search for a new superintendent.

Kelly highlighted that public sentiment generally disapproves of double-dipping arrangements. He noted that Laub was the one who initially suggested this option, contrary to the typical expectation that such arrangements are proposed by the school board. “The last two superintendents who preceded Mr. Laub were offered the opportunity to consider retire/rehire and both declined,” Kelly stated, emphasizing the negative community perception surrounding such practices.

Laub, in a subsequent email to cleveland.com, did not specify whether Kelly’s email influenced his decision to accept the Avon position. Instead, he expressed concerns over the inaccuracies in Kelly’s assertions, stating, “This clearly goes beyond an opinion of not supporting retire-rehire and is a personal issue.”

Reactions and Implications

Questions surrounding the ethical implications of Kelly’s email have surfaced. District resident Christine Koprowski raised concerns at a school board meeting about whether it is standard practice for a former board member to communicate with current members regarding district business. She also inquired if the three board members discussed Kelly’s email among themselves prior to its eventual distribution to the entire board.

In her response, Arendt later forwarded Kelly’s email to board members Jeremiah Sawyer and Lisa Shuck, along with Laub, six days after receiving it. Kelly acknowledged the oversight in not including all board members initially, offering an apology for the delay.

Laub reiterated his intention to discuss the email with the board. He indicated that while he would not correct every point raised by Kelly, he deemed much of the information to be “inaccurate/incomplete.” He further stated that he found it disappointing that Kelly would share such information in a manner that could potentially impact his employment prospects.

As the board continues its deliberations over Laub’s future and the implications of Kelly’s email, the situation highlights the complexities of governance in educational institutions and the impact of external opinions on administrative decisions. The community’s response to these developments may shape future discussions about leadership and financial practices within the North Royalton School District.