School board oversight questioned
Superintendent accused of skipping work to visit casino.
Community members voiced concern Tuesday about the leadership of the Tecumseh Local School Board in the wake of accusations that Superintendent Brad Martin allegedly skipped work to go to casinos 100 times and may have stolen money from various school groups.
“It happened on their watch,” said Kevin Becker, a district resident who ran for a school board seat in 2013. “There should have been better oversight ... It’s just poor management.”
Becker said he would like to see the entire board resign and has heard similar sentiments from others in the district.
The board informed Martin of numerous allegations against him in a letter sent Monday. He’s been on paid leave since mid-December and the board, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation began looking into a report of missing money. No charges have been filed.
Among the revelations in the letter was the accusation that Martin had spent time at casinos on more than 100 days he was supposed to be working in the past two years, and lying and falsifying records to cover it up. He is also accused of misappropriating or stealing money from numerous school support groups.
“If it’s proven to be true, then I’d be more concerned with how it happened, and is more of it going on that no one is paying attention to?” said Earl Lumpkins, of New Carlisle. “That would be just a slap in the face after all the times they’ve asked for more money.”
Tecumseh voters have rejected 11 consecutive attempts at new operating money for the district, but approved last year renewals of two existing property tax levies in May and November.
Lumpkins also questioned why the frequent absences didn’t raise a red flag.
“That’s about a fourth of the time he wasn’t there,” he said. “That’s a lot for somebody not to notice.”
The board’s letter doesn’t indicate when or how the district became aware of the missing money or the trips to the casino.
“A lot of people are holding the board responsible,” Becker said.
About a dozen people showed up for the board’s meeting Tuesday night, but no one addressed the board.
“We will drive right through this the best we can,” said Peter Scarff, who was elected board president Tuesday night.
He said the board intends to remain as open as possible with the community about the ongoing investigation.
Outgoing Board President Dan Studebaker also spoke at the meeting. “We’re moving forward,” he said, praising the strength of the district’s staff and administrators for continuing their work through the investigation.
Board members declined to comment directly on the case, citing the pending criminal investigation, but released a joint statement Tuesday.
“The board is not able at this time to comment further on the allegations sent by the board to Mr. Martin on January 5. The board wishes to continue to report updates to the staff and community, as the matter progresses and information unfolds, to the extent that it may do so,” the statement says.
They said they won’t take any action until after a pre-disciplinary hearing Friday evening and are scheduled to meet on Saturday.
There was a brief discussion Tuesday night before the board approved a three-year renewal of the $20,000 surety bond that insures the district in case the board president, vice president, superintendent, assistant superintendent or one other unspecified administrator fail in the performance of their duties.
Several board members asked if that amount could be increased, and Treasurer Debra Schock said it could.
As the news of the allegations spread Tuesday, many residents said they were disappointed.
Anthony Molla, 34, of New Carlisle questioned why there wasn’t more oversight.
“You would think that they would keep a better eye on the people they have working for them,” Molla said.
Liam Dawson, 15, a freshman at Tecumseh High School, said he heard about the investigation and initially just wondered what might have happened.
“It was a little shocking, but not really surprising,” he said.