Lorain CEO: Letter not meant to 'induce fear,' Board president calls for resignation

LORAIN — The school district CEO walked back claims employees could go without pay due to the board's ongoing lawsuit. David Hardy Jr. sent a letter Wednesday explaining he did not mean to "induce unnecessary fear" with a letter earlier in the week alleging staff could go unpaid due to the school board's ongoing lawsuit and restraining order against him. "There are differing legal opinions, in regards to the constraint ramifications of the restraining order, and the precarious situation we are in by employing a temporary, part-time treasurer," he wrote. "Monday's letter was sent not to induce unnecessary fear, but to alert you of a potential crisis on the horizon." The temporary restraining order is part of a larger suit the school board filed against Treasurer Josh Hill, Hardy and South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools to try to prevent Hill from leaving the district. The case was continued last week, with a hearing scheduled Sept. 11 in County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski's courtroom. It is unclear who the temporary, part-time treasurer is or if that person has been officially hired. The temporary restraining order, granted Aug. 15, bars Hardy from meddling in anything to do with the treasurer position or board affairs. Hardy and the school district did not return a request for comment or clarification Wednesday. School Board President Mark Ballard said the issue of a part-time treasurer came up before and was a deciding factor in filing for the restraining order, as there was concern that person would be instructed not to work with the board. If Hardy has hired a new part-time treasurer after the restraining order was granted, the move could be in violation of the order. "I don't know who he's hedging and if he told me today was Wednesday, I wouldn't believe it," Ballard said Wednesday. "It could potentially be someone that's already in our office that has a treasurer's license or it could be this person on the outside that has come across my desk as a potential option in this whole matter." Hardy went on to note he, South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools, Treasurer Josh Hill and the board have been able to work toward mediation, submitting a request to the Ohio Supreme Court's Government Conflict Resolution Service. Ballard said the board has yet to formally agree to the mediation. "I want us to be able to move forward with a remedied treasurer situation so that all 900 employees will receive payment, on time, Sept. 13," Hardy wrote. In his own letter Wednesday, Ballard noted the restraining order does not stop the district from spending money so "it is unclear why CEO Hardy would claim that payroll would not be processed." Under Ohio Revised Code, employers are required to pay employees at least twice a month, unless a contract or trade specifications requires a different schedule. Ballard said the quickest way to remedy the situation is for Hardy to resign, otherwise imploring him to "put your pen down." "This could all be fixed and all 900 people would be out of jeopardy; Josh would be out of jeopardy; the board, the community could come together; students would be in peace and harmony if one guy decides to just leave," he said. Contact Carissa Woytach at 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.