Schools chief quits, board president faces allegations
For a day when school wasn’t even in session, Groveport Madison schools had an eventful Wednesday. Its superintendent resigned to deal with a family matter, and the school board president fielded an allegation of self-dealing from a member of the public.
While the timing is coincidental, the two events “are not remotely related,” said district spokesman Jeff Warner.
The Groveport Madison board unanimously voted to turn over documents to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien’s office to review accusations that board President Bryan Shoemaker used his elected position to benefit his business and himself. Even Shoemaker voted in the affirmative.
O’Brien said on Thursday that the Ohio Ethics Commission would be a more appropriate place for the case, and it likely will be forwarded there.
The case began when someone going by the name of Ray Crump, saying he represents a group of Groveport taxpayers, twice requested documents from the district in January, asking for invoices for mowing and landscaping between 2010 and 2015 and for information related to the sale of metal shelving units over a year ago. Once he received the information, Crump emailed Shoemaker on Jan. 31.
Among the charges Crump levied in the email: “You ordered/coerced/intimidated employees ... into doing work on facilities that benefited you. You ordered GM (Groveport Madison) employees to do work while you were an officer in GMYA (Groveport Madison Youth Association), as well as ordering work done on fields while your men’s league team was playing baseball.”
Crump also accused Shoemaker of removing shelving from the district without permission, saying he did not pay for it until a records request was filed.
Crump gave Shoemaker a deadline of Feb. 9 to resign, or else he would go to district administrators, the Ohio Ethics Commission and the media.
Instead, Shoemaker forwarded the email to administrators and other board members, saying, “I have zero intention in resigning.”
A call and email to Shoemaker from The Dispatch weren’t returned. An email to Crump at each of the email addresses he used to communicate with the district and Shoemaker bounced back.
On an unrelated note, the board voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Bruce Hoover, who has held the position since 2012.
Hoover said in his resignation letter: “After the death of my son Nathan this past March, I believe it is time to seek new opportunities and a fresh start for both (wife) Chris and myself.”
Nathan Hoover was 22 when he died on March 14, 2017, from complications of Batten Disease, a nervous system disorder that he was diagnosed with at age 6.
In the letter, Hoover recommended Deputy Superintendent John Hurd as his interim replacement. Warner said the board is prepared to take that vote on Wednesday.
“There are a lot of major projects coming up for the district,” Warner said, including making facilities decisions to handle crowding, and Hoover thought it would be better to leave while many are still in the early stages.
“I know the board recognizes the accomplishments the district has made under Bruce’s leadership, and they wish him only the best,” Warner said.