While I have not previously made any entries in Roland Hansen Commentary about the Lucas County Educational Service Center (aka Lucas County ESC or LCESC), those who have followed my cyberspace musings are aware that I have made comments about the Lucas County Educational Service Center and the LCESC Governing Board on Toledo Talk, on Swamp Bubbles, on Roland's Ramblings, and several other places around the wide wonderful world of the web. My comments have been rather diverse, both complimentary and not complimentary, about the office operations, staffing, services, programs, administration, and the Governing Board as a body and also some individual members of the Board.
My first foray into the LCESC here on Roland Hansen Commentary is in regards to Angela Zimmann, the newest member of the Governing Board of the Lucas County Educational Service Center. Dr. Zimmann was elected to the LCESC Governing Board in November 2007 and took office in January 2008. During her campaign, Angela Zimmann certainly had her plate full. She was completing her doctoral work at Bowling Green State University, teaching English classes at BGSU, attended to family matters including the maintenance a family life as wife and mother as well as experiencing some tragic personal losses in the illness and passing of a parent, and maintained a campaign schedule complete with appearances, fundraisers, and a campaign web site in the form of a blog. That is only a sampling of some of the multi-tasking performed by Angela Zimmann during the campaign season. I find the fact that she could serve concurrently in so many roles to be rather remarkable and admirable.
That aside, the primary purpose of this entry is to highlight the blog that Angela Zimmann created and has maintained since assuming her duties as a member of the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board. You really should take a look-see at the blog Lucas County Educational Services Center Updates by Angela Zimmann.
My hat is off to Dr. Zimmann. Kudos and compliments and much appreciation go out to her for her efforts on opening and maintaining public discourse in her position as an elected official and in providing information on the LCESC to the public.
Now, as an aside and not related to the titled entry:
I still do not understand how there is no conflict of interest and how it is ethical and legal for Joan Kuchcinski, another member of the LCESC Board, to be receiving payments of hundreds and totaling in the thousands of dollars for professional services rendered as an individual while maintaining a position on the very same Governing Board that also authorizes those payments!!!
6 comments:
Roland, I am honored by your words - they are especially meaningful coming from you. Please remember that advice and ideas are always welcome...
Thanks for your comments, Dr. Zimmann. I appreciate your efforts in providing information of LCESC programs and services as well as more transparency for the Lucas County Educational Service Center.
Might I suggest that a written legal opinion from the appropriate authorities be obtained on the issue of LCESC Board Member Joan Kuchcinski receiving payments through the LCESC for employment services she renders for Praxis?
The LCESC Governing Board serves as the fiduciary agent for local Praxis activities, votes on accepting Praxis grants, votes on Praxis expenditures, and votes on payments to individuals receiving wages for Praxis duties and that includes Joan Kuchcinski herself.
XREF: AG Opinions: School Board Member Conflict of Interest.
Roland, I don't want to say much in a public forum out of respect for my fellow boardmembers, so I invite you to email me - I am wondering, though, if Judy has been aware of this situation why no legal opinion has been sought heretofore?
Dr. Zimmann,
I do not speak for nor do I answer for Judy. If you are wondering as to anything in regards to her, I suggest you communicate with her directly as one Governing Board member to another.
That aside, I am aware that attempts to address the issue have been made on more than one occasion over a long period of time and have met with less-than-adequate responses.
In regards to my own attempts to obtain clarification on the issue of payments being made to Joan Kuchcinski, I can tell you that for quite some time now, I have expressed my concerns at one time or another to more than one LCESC high-level administrator and member of the governing board, as well as to others. Additionally, I have expressed my concerns in other public formats. To date, my own informal attempts as an individual to get an adequate and satisfactory answer have been unsuccessful. I suppose, as an individual taxpayer, I could formally ask the Lucas County Prosecutor and/or Ohio Attorney General about this matter but I have been hoping to get it resolved at the Governing Board level, which is after all ultimately responsible for its own actions.
Fair enough - and please, call me Angela! :)
Okay, Angela, I'll address you as Angela. But you worked so hard for your doctorate and it is such an accomplishment that I recognize, admire, and respect, so when I do address you as Angela always know that I have much respect for your accomplishment.
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