In the continuing saga of the eligibility of a Dunbar football player, the Dayton Daily news, decided to write their fifth story beating the dead horse, but never conclusively telling anyone who killed it.

This site posted both the internal investigation and the Ohio High School Athletic Association findings, as well as the organizational chart ten days ago. Board member, Joe Lacey claimed he’d never heard that the athletic director had directed the Dunbar coaches to throw the game at half-time so that Belmont and Dunbar could both go to the playoffs. How he’d not heard was incomprehensible, since the board had a lengthy argument both in public and in executive session over the fitness of the coaches- who had continued on as basketball coaches.

Re-reading the report by Director of School Security Jamie Bullens, it does seem to focus almost entirely on the eligibility of the player- and not address the game throwing attempt. How this can be excluded is a mystery- as it would go to the credibility of any of the people involved. When I read about the thrown plays- I assumed Dunbar just made some bad plays- but, then the Dayton Daily decided to pull down the footage from WDPS-TV and re-edit it with a whole bunch of cuts and commentary, as if it’s new news this week.

Here is the un-cut version with the questions that should be asked at the end:

Dunbar went on to win. The people of Dayton lost. The fact that a star athlete wasn’t eligible shows how badly we fail our kids. Word has it that since the seventh grade, he’s never made it through an entire season eligible to play. That’s the true failure here.

And, while this video has the citizens of Dayton upset, this is all just smoke and mirrors. The real eligibility question is if Dr. Adil Baguirov is eligible to be on the School Board- as I posted on April 5th, 15 whole days ago.

No news outlet has touched the story. The school board is pretending they don’t know about the information presented – even though I clearly notified them, and questioned the legality of their last meeting if he was allowed to participate.

But, what it comes down to is this: is this the kind of school district we can be proud of? Is this a district that instills faith in leadership? Would you want to send your kids to a district where a coach tells the team to throw the game? And, then, the coach, the athletic director, the district athletic director and the superintendent- all basically get a slap on the wrist?

The video is disgusting. How this wasn’t presented as part of the evidence to the school board in considering the future employment of the people involved is criminal.

The actions of this school board are criminal- in the public discussion of the severance contract for David Lawrence (who btw was previously in charge of eligibility for athletics- before he was sent to the doghouse by Rhonda Corr), the conflict of interest of Dr. Baguirov in negotiating the bus buy outside of district channels, and questions about the disposal of real estate by the district.

Because of these many violations of the public trust, it’s time to begin the process of having a judge intervene and remove all seven members of this school board. It’s not been done very often, making precedent hard to follow, and it requires over 4,500 signatures of registered voters to make it happen. The teachers union, who is currently in stalled negotiations with the district, has had enough of the circus run by this board- and has pledged to have its members circulate the petitions.

We hope to have the petition language ready for the delayed board meeting next Wednesday, the 26th of April at 5:30 pm. The teachers are inviting all to come to show their support for the union and to support them in asking for regime change at the board of ed.

And while the throwing of a football game isn’t a reason to rally, the fact that this district has been on the verge of State takeover for years- and the leadership team who brought it out from under the gun- were dismissed by this board- to be replaced by disruption, disrespect, and now disgrace, it’s time to end the charade.

Let’s have a judge evaluate the practices of this board and decide if they are fit to serve.

If you need any indication of the level of disgust- Baguirov, Lacey, Lee and Rountree last ran four years ago unopposed.

As of today April 25, the Board of Elections lists 13 15 people who’ve pulled petitions for the four seats, and the petitions aren’t due until August 9th 2017. Here are the names, addresses and pull dates:
Bold is incumbents.

Mohamed H. Al-Hamandi 26 Hawthorn St. Dayton 45402 4/17/2017
Shondale Atkins-Dorise 817 Mount Clair Ave. Dayton 45417  11/23/2016
Paul F. Bradley 227 Green St. Dayton 45402  4/17/2017
Donald Domineck Jr. 1035 Superior Ave. Dayton 45402  4/4/2017
Ann Marie Gallin 40 Gebhart St. Dayton 45410  3/2/2017
William E. Harris, Jr. 1125 Cornell Dr. Dayton 45406  4/17/2017
Donna M. Hill 540 Heather Dr. Unit 3 Dayton 45405  4/25/2017
Claudia Hunter 4621 Prescott Ave. Dayton 45406  6/29/2016
Joe Lacey 207 E. Sixth St. Dayton 45402  4/21/2017
Tommy J. McGuffey, Jr. 1625 Tuttle Ave. Apt B Dayton 45403  1/11/2017
Thomas M. Nealeigh 1326 Ruskin Rd. Dayton 45406  12/6/2016
Jocelyn S. Rhynard 107 McDaniel St. Dayton 45405  2/9/2017
Dion Sampson 224 N. Williams St. Dayton 45402  2/22/2017
Jo’el Y. Thomas-Jones 33 W. Babbitt St. Dayton 454052/24/2017
Karen L. Wick 222 Warren St. Dayton 45402  4/17/2017

It’s safe to guess that the four petitions pulled on Monday are being run as a slate. Al-Hamandi just moved to Dayton, Bradley, Harris and Wick would be the group to watch. (full disclosure- I do work for Wick’s business Coco’s and have worked with her and the seedling foundation for years).

Ann Marie “Mario” Gallin, has been on the board previously. Of the 15, I know 10. Do I expect all to file, no. Do I expect all who file to get certified on the ballot- no. Do you have to pull the petitions publicly to file (could there be dark horses?) No.

Be sure to watch this race as it may turn into yet another “Kids First” type money burner.

However, if the board is removed, any and all may apply to be appointed to the board until the election, which should make it all very interesting.