YOUNGSTOWN — Ronald Shadd, board of education president, responded Tuesday to comments made by Youngstown mayoral candidate Julius Oliver that school board members are not getting the job done in moving the district in the right direction.

Oliver criticized the inability of the school board to make academic improvements, and Mayor Jamael Tito Brown for not getting rid of current school board members when he had the opportunity.

Shadd argued the school board has been fighting to eliminate House Bill 70, which, according to its opponents, was designed to take away power from elected boards and provide appointed CEOs and academic distress commissions control of school districts.

Shadd initially did not mention Oliver’s name during his comments, saying he did not personally hear comments made during Monday’s candidate night debate involving Brown, businessman Ryan Kelly and Oliver, D-1st Ward.

Board member Brenda Kimble, however, identified Oliver as the candidate who criticized the board.

“What this board has done is our best to preserve the legacy of the district,” Shadd said. “We had to fight for the right for our citizens to have a public education system.”

Shadd argued court battles that the Youngstown Board of Education has fought have been followed by East Cleveland and Lorain school districts, both of which also have been taken over by the state due under the HB 70 legislation.

Shadd further stated that many Democratic leaders who once supported the legislation have had their names taken off of it and even some Republican legislators have joined the fight to repeal it.

“It’s hard work to continue to fight for what is right,” Shadd said. “We stayed in the fight and Ohio is better off for the fight against this unfair legislation.”

School board member Jackie Adair, who watched the debate, clarified that Oliver said he opposed HB 70, but argued the current school board should not be in place.

In other business, the board with a vote of four against, one in favor and one abstention, denied a request from Valley Foods for a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement for an expansion of its building at 335 E Boardman St. The company is looking to add 7,360 square feet for food production and 6,640 square fee for an addition for freezer / cooler space. The total cost of the project is $4,474,447.

The abatement’s structure is 50 percent for the first five years and 100 percent in the second five years.

In the request for the abatement, the company noted that $77,000 worth of unforeseen cost for a sewer relocation and fencing will affect its ability to hire additional employees.

The company has 31 full time employees and six part time employees. The projected number of new employees being hire due to the project is 35. New payroll projected from the new job commitment is $1,024,400.

The work is expected to be completed in September. The company is expected to hire new employees over three years.

Adair voted against the abatement, saying companies too often attempt to pay taxes on improvements, leaving the city’s residents to foot the bill on supporting the school district.

Shadd gave the only vote supporting the tax abatement.

Youngstown City Council be next will vote on the abatement request.

rsmith@tribtoday.com