Gilligan to Blackwell: No dumping

Guest blogger Ben Fischer reports:

One of the most consistent complaints of the Cincinnati Board of Education is that Superintendent Rosa Blackwell doesn’t always communicate very well.

She did it again on Monday, said board member John Gilligan. As a result, 37 employees who were expected to have their pending layoffs rescinded will remain in limbo for two more weeks.

“It’s one of the basic rules that the board has tried to lay down: No surprises,” said Gilligan. “Don’t bring us stuff and dump it on our desk the night we’re supposed to act on it.”

At Gilligan's suggestion, the board delayed until July 9 action that would have officially rehired those workers. They’re all currently employees of the district, but had been told in March that they might not have a job in the coming school year.

(It’s not unusual for schools to “non-renew” certain employees as officials develop a budget, only to hire them back once the financial picture stabilizes.)

Typically, Blackwell's list of recommended personnel actions contains minor procedural items concerning rank-and-file workers. This was no such list: Included were athletic director David Dierker, general counsel Cynthia Dillon and chief operations officer Tom Gunnell, among others.

Gilligan, who generally speaks well of Blackwell, said that's the point: She should have anticipated a high degree of board interest and apprised them of her plans well in advance.

Blackwell did not speak on the topic during Monday’s meeting. District spokeswoman Janet Walsh – who is also on the list – said she forwarded an interview request to Blackwell today. Gilligan said he has no intention of challenging the workers' actual employment, he just wants to follow protocol.

“It is my understanding she will be trying to get some clarification on that matter prior to the 9th,” Walsh said.