Our recommendation: Springboro voters should say 'yes' the first time to school levies

Springboro Citizen wrote:

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I really want to believe you are not a Springboro Citizen. Your post is incredably insensitive and mean spirited. Please take the time to research the Cook Family Fun Day, who it is dedicated to, why, and who it benefits. I find it hard to imagine someone in our community could be so insensitive and callused whatever thier political position or views. Very ....very poor taste.

It does not benefit the Cook Family, which is how it was presented four years ago after the tragic death of Mr. Cook. At that time, they made it seem as though the family would starve and be on the street and that's why they were having the fund raiser. I remember sitting in the stands at a football game and cute little elemtary kids were coming around with handmade posters begging for money.

Now, it seems like Mr.Cook was a wonderful philanthropist and we should honor his memory by donating to an unknown cause. I say unknown, because the letter of incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May1, 2012, after committing to the turf deal, only says that they will donate for activities for the children of Warren County. It really doesn't matter what they say when collecting, they are not legally bound to give those funds to Springboro Schools.

I have nothing against the Cook family. I don't know themc. I just want to know exactly where my money is going when I make a donation.

Money wrote:

Why should the Boosters get the money from concession sales at football games for example? It is school property, a school event, etc. I wouldn't be shocked if the school actually bought the products they sell. Why does the school not directly control this revenue stream and put it in the athletic budget. We have put a mandantory tax on parents of children participating to play but yet money from camps, concessions, etc is funneled to coaches and boosters and then spent on what they want instead of used to pay for athletic expenses. We even give X number of tickets to the PTA to sell and use all those funds at their descretion. I thought the intent of boosters was to fund raise outside of the school(donations, carwashes, casino nights, etc) and earmark those monies for certain sports, items, etc. I don't know alot about it but I am sure glad we have a BOE that is not in the good old boys club! The communication about reduced pay to play fees was excellent and I hope they can continue cleaning this mess up.

Speaking only to your comments above, booster clubs at probably every high school in the country provide the labor in the concession stands, sell school apparel, etc. at ball games. The money generated is the Booster's money. I assume the Boosters pay for the food/shirts sold and therefore only benefit from the profit generated. Note that at some schools there are separate booster groups for each sport and some have consolidated booster clubs such as at 'Boro. I have heard pros and cons of each approach.

Wrong wrote:

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Now, it seems like Mr.Cook was a wonderful philanthropist and we should honor his memory by donating to an unknown cause. I say unknown, because the letter of incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May1, 2012, after committing to the turf deal, only says that they will donate for activities for the children of Warren County. It really doesn't matter what they say when collecting, they are not legally bound to give those funds to Springboro Schools.
I have nothing against the Cook family. I don't know themc. I just want to know exactly where my money is going when I make a donation.

Just to clarify...
You're stating that the Cook family is "NOT LEGALLY BOUND" to transfer proceeds to Springboro schools from the upcoming August 21st Cook Family Fun Day.

Wrong wrote:

<quoted text>
It does not benefit the Cook Family, which is how it was presented four years ago after the tragic death of Mr. Cook. At that time, they made it seem as though the family would starve and be on the street and that's why they were having the fund raiser. I remember sitting in the stands at a football game and cute little elemtary kids were coming around with handmade posters begging for money.
Now, it seems like Mr.Cook was a wonderful philanthropist and we should honor his memory by donating to an unknown cause. I say unknown, because the letter of incorporation filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on May1, 2012, after committing to the turf deal, only says that they will donate for activities for the children of Warren County. It really doesn't matter what they say when collecting, they are not legally bound to give those funds to Springboro Schools.
I have nothing against the Cook family. I don't know themc. I just want to know exactly where my money is going when I make a donation.

Don't make a donation, then you don't need to worry about it. If you did make a donation to the cook family fund, it would go towards activities for children of warren county just like their legal filing says. Pretty cut and dry.

black ink vs red ink wrote:

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Just to clarify...
You're stating that the Cook family is "NOT LEGALLY BOUND" to transfer proceeds to Springboro schools from the upcoming August 21st Cook Family Fun Day.

Why would it? They are raising money to pay off the turf at Wade Field. not the losses from the Boosters. By having a little fund raiser where all are invited to come and enjoy the camaraderie of neighbors, play some games with the kids, watch some kids play competitive games, eat, drink, and otherwise be merry. And all the money goes to pay the city off.

Not a bad deal, all and all. The community gets a first class athletic facility, the attendees at the Family Fun Day get some entertainment, good food, and drink, and the city gets paid back.

Remind me again who the big loser is in this endeavor?

hmmm..the springboro three are playing games again..make up a "crisis" and then "solve" it...consessions, pay to play, etc...give me a break...i'm over their made up drama. Go ahead and quote another policy..lmfao

With all these intelligent posts by, what I hope are different folks, why in the world is this community unidated by incompetent leaders? It's like the movie..."It's a MAD MAD World"...

Sounds like four coaches hired a lawyer to represent their interests in front of the state auditor. Football, baseball, and girls and boys basketball. I wonder what they are concerned with someone finding. Sport camps are pretty simple businesses, you only have a few expenses. Labor, tee shirts, and trophies on the expense side (basketballs for the basketball camps, of course). Revenue is only from the checks everyone writes to attend. I can't see this as being too
heavy or worthy of an attorney.

I wonder what gives.

Do Tour Research Firrst,
I found it funny that when I actually did the research you didn't respond. No snappy come back?

Just Watching wrote:

<quoted text>
Why would it? They are raising money to pay off the turf at Wade Field. not the losses from the Boosters. By having a little fund raiser where all are invited to come and enjoy the camaraderie of neighbors, play some games with the kids, watch some kids play competitive games, eat, drink, and otherwise be merry. And all the money goes to pay the city off.
Not a bad deal, all and all. The community gets a first class athletic facility, the attendees at the Family Fun Day get some entertainment, good food, and drink, and the city gets paid back.
Remind me again who the big loser is in this endeavor?

We'll all learn who are the losers soon enough.

Happy Days wrote:

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Speaking only to your comments above, booster clubs at probably every high school in the country provide the labor in the concession stands, sell school apparel, etc. at ball games. The money generated is the Booster's money. I assume the Boosters pay for the food/shirts sold and therefore only benefit from the profit generated. Note that at some schools there are separate booster groups for each sport and some have consolidated booster clubs such as at 'Boro. I have heard pros and cons of each approach.

I agree that is the way its done at most schools but that does not make it right. Sounds like a way to funnell off money at many schools. The "thats just how we do it" approach.

Money wrote:

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I agree that is the way its done at most schools but that does not make it right. Sounds like a way to funnell off money at many schools. The "thats just how we do it" approach.

Musn't we forget that at the July 17th board meeting our board had to work extremely hard to contain themselves from publically stating that the Boosters and the coaches were operating out of slush funds.

black ink vs red ink wrote:

<quoted text>
Just to clarify...
You're stating that the Cook family is "NOT LEGALLY BOUND" to transfer proceeds to Springboro schools from the upcoming August 21st Cook Family Fun Day.

Yes, that is correct. Not legally bound, although perhaps morally or ethically.

"Revenue is only from the checks" No...a substantial amount of cash is raised after each sports event (concessions). Typically, one person (a Booster) takes the cash at the end of the evening (or afternoon) and deposits it into an account the next day (or two days if it is a Saturday).

How much of that cash mysteriously disappears? You may find out soon.

Re the "Big Three" on the Board...they do have support of the community. Not 100% support but enough to keep them on the Board. Look for more positive changes coming.

To Disgusted who asked:
I wonder what gives?

Revenue....Where were the checks being deposited? Not with the school treasurer. Not with the Boosters. Maybe in their own accounts?
Labor fees....the coaches are not allowed to earn additional pay for extracurricular per board policy 3120.08. It is also an Ethics violation. http://www.ethics.ohio.gov/opinions/2008-01.h...
If someone else was paid, it should have gone through the treasurer. What about 1099s or W-2s?

Buying tee shirts or trophies...how were they paid for? Where are the receipts?
It should be very simple, if it was done correctly. But then, you probably would not need a lawyer. You could just produce the records, point to the school treasurer or boosters and tell the truth.

That is what gives.

No records. No accountability. Just a "but we've always done it this way".
It all comes back to the same question...WHERE IS THE MONEY?

I saw it with my own eyes wrote:

"Revenue is only from the checks" No...a substantial amount of cash is raised after each sports event (concessions). Typically, one person (a Booster) takes the cash at the end of the evening (or afternoon) and deposits it into an account the next day (or two days if it is a Saturday).
How much of that cash mysteriously disappears? You may find out soon.

After surviving thru the Baker and Lolli regimes, I don't think anything like that will come as a surprise, unfortunately.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/sports/hi...

Holtrey, Springboro coachess retain law firm
By Marc Pendleton
Staff Writer
One former head coach and three other current head coaches at Springboro High School have retained a law firm to represent them about “information and/or documentation” concerning their involvement with summer sports camps.
Troy Holtrey (boys basketball), Ryan Wilhite (football), Mark Pelfrey (baseball) and Tom Benjamin (girls basketball) are jointly being represented by attorneys at law Doll, Jansen, Ford & Rakay. That Dayton-based law firm also represents the Springboro teachers’ union.
On July 31, Springboro treasurer Tracy Jarvis announced that a “special audit regarding summer camps run by (Springboro) coaches” was being conducted by the Ohio State Auditors Office.
Just days before, Holtrey was informed by the Springboro school board that his supplemental coaching contract would not be renewed, although he could reapply for the position. He has been the Panthers’ head coach for the past 21 seasons.
“They are legitimately concerned about what’s happened,” said attorney John Doll, whose firm specializes in labor law.
“Things have gotten way out of hand all of a sudden. We’re trying to figure out why there’s an investigation and the scope of the investigation. Obviously, they’re concerned about their course of action. They want good legal advice and they want to make sure it’s handled appropriately.”
Pelfrey and Benjamin said they have been advised not to speak about the legal representation. Wilhite and Holtrey did not respond to contact requests.
All four are teachers in the Springboro school district. Pelfrey has been the Panthers’ head baseball coach for 19 seasons. Benjamin has been the girls coach for eight years and Wilhite the football coach for six seasons.
In mid-June school board member Jim Rigano said a check for reportedly $130,000 had been made out to the Springboro Athletic Boosters Association by a booster officer. That was in response to the board’s review of booster financial reports to the school. Information about the large donation was forwarded to the Springboro police. That led to the state’s special audit.
High school and college coaches routinely run summer camps to supplement their incomes. There is no standard procedure about divvying up camp proceeds among coaches, booster clubs and schools in Ohio. That is being reviewed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Answer wrote:

To Disgusted who asked:
I wonder what gives?
Revenue....Where were the checks being deposited? Not with the school treasurer. Not with the Boosters. Maybe in their own accounts?
Labor fees....the coaches are not allowed to earn additional pay for extracurricular per board policy 3120.08. It is also an Ethics violation. http://www.ethics.ohio.gov/opinions/2008-01.h...
If someone else was paid, it should have gone through the treasurer. What about 1099s or W-2s?
Buying tee shirts or trophies...how were they paid for? Where are the receipts?
It should be very simple, if it was done correctly. But then, you probably would not need a lawyer. You could just produce the records, point to the school treasurer or boosters and tell the truth.
That is what gives.
No records. No accountability. Just a "but we've always done it this way".
It all comes back to the same question...WHERE IS THE MONEY?

The end of the article that you posted about sums it up - "High school and college coaches routinely run summer camps to supplement their incomes. There is no standard procedure about divvying up camp proceeds among coaches, booster clubs and schools in Ohio. That is being reviewed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association."

So who is to say what is right or wrong when there is no standard???? And these are not mandatory camps. So if the money goes to the coaches and I choose to write that check to put my child in the camp - so be it.

DDN wrote:

Holtrey, Springboro coachess retain law firm
By Marc Pendleton
Staff Writer
One former head coach and three other current head coaches at Springboro High School have retained a law firm to represent them about “information and/or documentation” concerning their involvement with summer sports camps.
Troy Holtrey (boys basketball), Ryan Wilhite (football), Mark Pelfrey (baseball) and Tom Benjamin (girls basketball) are jointly being represented by attorneys at law Doll, Jansen, Ford & Rakay. That Dayton-based law firm also represents the Springboro teachers’ union.
On July 31, Springboro treasurer Tracy Jarvis announced that a “special audit regarding summer camps run by (Springboro) coaches” was being conducted by the Ohio State Auditors Office.
Just days before, Holtrey was informed by the Springboro school board that his supplemental coaching contract would not be renewed, although he could reapply for the position. He has been the Panthers’ head coach for the past 21 seasons.
“They are legitimately concerned about what’s happened,” said attorney John Doll, whose firm specializes in labor law.
“Things have gotten way out of hand all of a sudden. We’re trying to figure out why there’s an investigation and the scope of the investigation. Obviously, they’re concerned about their course of action. They want good legal advice and they want to make sure it’s handled appropriately.”
Pelfrey and Benjamin said they have been advised not to speak about the legal representation. Wilhite and Holtrey did not respond to contact requests.
All four are teachers in the Springboro school district. Pelfrey has been the Panthers’ head baseball coach for 19 seasons. Benjamin has been the girls coach for eight years and Wilhite the football coach for six seasons.
In mid-June school board member Jim Rigano said a check for reportedly $130,000 had been made out to the Springboro Athletic Boosters Association by a booster officer. That was in response to the board’s review of booster financial reports to the school. Information about the large donation was forwarded to the Springboro police. That led to the state’s special audit.
High school and college coaches routinely run summer camps to supplement their incomes. There is no standard procedure about divvying up camp proceeds among coaches, booster clubs and schools in Ohio. That is being reviewed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

If you subscribe to the Dayton Daily News, the extended dance version of the article "Holtrey, three other coaches get lawyers" can be found on page C3 of today's Sports section.