An independent Web site launched by two members of the Toledo Board of Education triggered controversy at yesterday's board meeting.
Board member Larry Sykes asked why the district and three other board members, including himself, were not made aware of its existence in advance of a public announcement that went out Monday night.
"You're welcome to join the Web site," responded board President Darlene Fisher, who created the online message board www.talkingtps.com with board member Robert Torres.
Mr. Torres defended the decision not to inform his fellow board members about the Web site, which displays photos of Ms. Fisher and him at the top of the main page.
"It's an elected official's Web site," Mr. Torres told Mr. Sykes. "It is directed toward my positions on education."
The site allows users to respond to questions about the ongoing search for a new superintendent, among other topics of concern in the district.Mr. Torres and Ms. Fisher each paid $20 to establish the site, which was built by former school board candidate Chris Myers.
Mr. Myers said his motivation in constructing the message board was to inspire people to become engaged with their community and civic responsibilities.
One of the hot topics on the site and during yesterday's meeting is the prospective levy to finance a school district caught in a surging budget deficit, which is projected to climb from $12.7 million next school year to $109 million by 2011.
Francine Lawrence, president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers union, asked when the board would decide whether to put a levy on the ballot, noting that TPS teachers have gone five years without raises.
"You can't continue to balance the budget of this district by shortchanging employees," Ms. Lawrence said.
Ms. Fisher said she is looking at numbers, explaining that she wants to guarantee that the eventual proposal passes the scrutiny of voters burdened by a sagging economy.
She later added that any levy should not swallow pay raises given to TPS employees with high property taxes.
Mr. Torres said a firm date for a school levy will be presented once the administration is prepared, a comment that made Ms. Lawrence scoff, "So now you're blaming the administration?"
Deborah Barnett, the board's vice president, said the administration recommended that a levy be placed on last November's ballot, but Ms. Fisher and Mr. Torres voted it down.
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