In a special session of the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission Chairperson Paul Marshall confirmed that the state has approved the commission’s recovery plan. All appointed commission members were in attendance for the meeting; Governor Kasich still has not appointed his designee.
One provision of the commission’s bylaws requires that financial transactions exceeding $5,000 must be approved by the commission. Superintendent Brian Garverick presented a proposal to terminate the disctrict’s information technology (IT) contract with North Central Ohio Computer Cooperative (NCOCC).
“A high level of service was expected by the district, but they, for whatever reason, were unable to deliver that. We don’t wish to belabor this, we just feel it’s time to move on,” said Garverick.
During the meeting district treasurer Rosetta Stephens explained that she has requested reimbursement for services the district paid for, but were not rendered by the contractor. Some of the funds have already been returned to the district, while others remain unresolved.
NCOCC failed to re-image the computers over the summer leading to more IT issues than normal during the school year. This created a backlog of “trouble tickets” or requests for IT services. Meanwhile NCOCC struggled to maintain the contracted staffing levels as stipulated in the contract.
The commission approved Garverick’s proposal to contract City Mills Technology, a new IT startup that will be located in Mansfield. There was some discussion about the possible risks of hiring a new company. Mark Brunn, the business designee on the commission, spoke highly of Dave Rose from City Mills Technology, and Garverick concurred. City Mills Technology does not appear to have a website at this time.
The commission also approved three purchase orders. One for bus tires, one to utilize City Mills Technology for the remainder of the school year, and another contracting them for the 2014-2015 school year.
The commission will next meet on May 28 at 4 p.m. at Ramelton. Marshall indicated that he hopes to discuss ways the district may be able to lay off less teachers at that meeting.
