FACT VS.

FICTION

One fact that both “sides” in Marlington seem to be able to agree on is that the current elementary buildings are in
need of repairs and improvements. The blame game of who is responsible for letting the buildings get to this point is
futile and unproductive. A solution must be reached for the sake of students, as well as for our community to be able
to heal and move on from this debate. Recognizing that we have an attainable and cost-effective way to improve our
current buildings is reasonable and responsible. Making sure that Marlington residents understand the truth about
this plan is important.

As with most hot-button issues, and especially in the day and age of social media, much information gets spread, and
it can be difficult to decipher fact from fiction. This document addresses some of the fictional information being
spread on social media and otherwise. Citizens for Responsibility PAC is responsible for the content of this
document.
____________________

FICTION: Renovating our current buildings would cost almost more than the cost to build a new school.

FACT: Major improvements, including roofs, heating, air conditioning, lighting, windows and doors, to ALL THREE
elementary buildings are included in a $5.8 million bid from Plug Smart (which is the company entrusted by the District
in 2019 to successfully handle the addition of air conditioning and new windows at Marlington High School). In 2018,
the bond issue that voters rejected for a new, consolidated elementary building would have cost $17 million, plus
approximately $9 million in interest. This amount is the local share of the building which taxpayers would have paid
through property taxes. The state would have financed the remaining $14 million of the cost from taxpayers’ income
tax contributions.1

____________________

FICTION: The Board majority (Carolyn Gabric, Josh Hagan and Danielle Stevens) only cares about Marlboro Elementary
School and has no plans to repair and improve Lexington Elementary and Washington Elementary.

FACT: The Board plans to use funds from the NEXUS pipeline revenue, as they become available, to pay for
improvements to all three elementary buildings. Because it was known that the Marlboro Elementary building for
sure would be empty until September (as Governor DeWine had not yet announced school closure for the remainder
of the school year), the NEXUS funds received in 2020 were earmarked for the improvements at Marlboro. 2

The Board voted (3-2) to sign “Letters of Intent for Engineering Services” with Plug Smart for the Washington
Elementary School and Lexington Elementary School improvement projects (Scott Mason and Karen Humphries were
the opposing votes).3 The Letters of Intent enable Plug Smart to begin the engineering process on those buildings, so
that the improvements can begin as more NEXUS funds become available to pay for the improvements. The next
payment of NEXUS funds will be made in the fall of 2020, and subsequent payments will be made twice yearly.

1
October 2018 Marlington News & Views
2
March 26, 2020 Marlington Board of Education Meeting
3
www.marlingtonlocal.org/Board Minutes (Printed Format)/Regular Meeting April 16, 2020
1
 ____________________

FICTION: A project manager position was “created by the new board to coordinate repairs and renovation projects”
at a cost of $100,000.4

FACT: By contracting with Plug Smart, it is NOT necessary to hire a separate project manager, since Plug Smart will
provide a project manager as part of the $5.8 million bid.5

____________________

FICTION: A new, consolidated elementary building can be “realized with no additional cost to taxpayers/no taxpayer
increase”.6

FACT: This claim was touted on literature of the Thomas Hippely/Mark Ryan campaign, the Marlington Forward PAC
which promoted Hippely/Ryan for re-election, and reinforced on the For Marlington Schools Facebook page. The
claim that funds from the NEXUS pipeline tax revenue could cover the local share of the cost of a new elementary
building ($17 million cost in 2018, plus approximately $9 million in interest) was, and still is, impossible. The pipeline
revenue was projected to be approximately $14 million in the first five years of operation, with a significantly lower
revenue stream thereafter. However, it was widely understood and discussed at Board meetings as far back as
October 2018 that NEXUS would likely appeal to have the amount lessened, and they certainly did. (For more
information on the status of this appeal, please visit our website tab titled “Update of status of tax revenue from the
NEXUS pipeline).

____________________

FICTION: The decision to reopen Marlboro Elementary will bankrupt the District.

FACT: While operating three elementary buildings for many years, Marlington Local Schools amassed and maintained
what has been deemed a “healthy cash balance”, “the strongest balance sheet of any school district [in the county]”7,
and “a very healthy cash carryover”8. This balance remains strong, with a current cash carryover balance that stands
between $6 and $7 million, according to District Treasurer Kathryn Brugger.

It should be noted that the May 2020 five-year forecast prepared by Treasurer Brugger is very different than those
prepared by the last few District Treasurers. A major factor which affects financial forecasting right now is the effect
of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Treasurer Brugger explained, this will cause many school treasurers to present very
conservative forecasts at this time. Treasurer Brugger and Superintendent Knoll have stated that it is inaccurate to
assert that reopening Marlboro Elementary created the potential deficit reflected in the current five-year forecast. 9

4
Paid ad by Marlington Forward PAC in the Alliance Review on February 15, 2020
5
Explanation by Plug Smart representatives during the March 26, 2020 Marlington Board of Education meeting
6
As stated on campaign literature for Thomas Hippely/Mark Ryan, as well as literature paid for by Marlington Forward which promoted the
re-election of Hippely/Ryan
7
According to public statements by former pro-consolidation Board members Mark Ryan and Jim Fisher
8
According to public statement by Treasurer Kathryn Brugger at the March 26, 2020 Regular Board meeting
9
May 21, 2020 Marlington Board of Education Meeting
2
Board members Josh Hagan and Danielle Stevens have pointed out that money isn’t the only factor that should be
focused on when it comes to reopening Marlboro Elementary. Having the building opened provides more square
footage in which our youngest students can spread out and safely socially distance upon returning to school. These
Board members have found it reasonable to invest in the safety of students and staff, while looking for other cost-
saving measures that might help to close the deficit if it continues to be a part of the District’s financial forecast.

____________________

FICTION: The new Board majority held a meeting to fire Joe Knoll and Treasurer Kathryn Brugger.

FACT: The new Board majority had no intention of firing Joe Knoll or Treasurer Kathryn Brugger, as erroneously
reported by the newspaper. A clarification article about the real purpose of the April 9, 2020 meeting was printed,10
containing a statement from Superintendent Knoll, Treasurer Brugger and Board President Gabric confirming that the
purpose of the meeting had been misunderstood by the newspapers. However, the Marlington Forward PAC (aka
For Marlington Schools) still advertised and moved forward with their highly-publicized parade, intent on stopping
the non-existent plans of termination.
____________________

FICTION: The new Board majority pushed Joe Knoll out.

FACT: At the Board’s April 9, 2020 Special Meeting, announced with the purpose of a “team-building focus”, Carolyn
Gabric thanked Mr. Knoll for his leadership and hard work and stated that she looked forward to working with him in
the future. Josh Hagan and Danielle Stevens also made statements expressing thanks to Mr. Knoll and anticipation of
coming together for healing in the community.11

The Board voted 3-2 to approve a District Leadership Team Compact on April 16, 2020, pledging to work together with
Mr. Knoll (and Treasurer Brugger) “collaboratively” and to “develop trust and cohesiveness among the Board,
Superintendent, and Treasurer.” Board members Scott Mason and Karen Humphries voted against the Compact,
citing their opinions that it was unnecessary. 12

____________________

FICTION: The Board is forcing undue work on administrators by having two meetings per month, as opposed to the
previous “one meeting per month”.

FACT: Since at least 2016 (which is as far back as Board meeting minutes are available on the District’s website), the
Marlington Board has held two meetings per month. Prior to February 2020, the Board met on the third Thursday of
each month at 5:30 for a special meeting and at 7:00 for a regular meeting. Each of these meetings required separate
preparation by administrators, along with a completely separate agenda. The new Board majority has chosen to hold
these two meetings on two separate days – the first and third Thursdays of the month. The administrative team still
is preparing for two meetings per month, but the preparation work now is not necessary to be done all at once.

10
https://www.the-review.com/news/20200408/marlington-local-clarifies-says-it-wont-fire-superintendent-joe-knoll
11
www.marlingtonlocalschools.org/Board Minutes (Printed Format)/Special Meeting April 9, 2020
12
www.marlingtonlocalschools.org/Board Minutes (Printed Format)/Regular Meeting April 16, 2020
3
 ____________________

FICTION: “We are stronger together.”13

FACT: This statement isn’t altogether fiction. The Marlington Local School District would be much stronger if we could
come together in compromise and support the reasonable and cost-effective plan to improve our school buildings for
the benefit of students and staff. Rather than continuing the controversy that has raged for years now, finding
common ground on this matter is crucial and has been a goal of the new Board majority.

However, the District’s current theme “Stronger Together” was borne out of a motive to send the subliminal message
to the community that Marlington would be stronger by closing its township elementary buildings in lieu of one
consolidated elementary building. It has become clear, though, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, that
Marlington is in a stronger position to keep our youngest students safe by having them spread across three elementary
buildings instead of one, or even two. The opportunity to more effectively socially distance students and staff will not
be enjoyed by neighboring districts which already have consolidated their elementary students into one building.

It has been suggested by state leaders14 that blended learning (students learning partially at school and home) could
be officially mandated or recommended. If this is done based on a person-per-square-foot ratio, Marlington has a
greater chance of being able to avoid the need for blended learning at the elementary level. This would prevent the
hardship and inconvenience the practice presents to many families across the District.

And, of course, the educational benefit of students being in a smaller student population where they can receive more
individual attention cannot be overstated.

____________________

FICTION: Carolyn Gabric’s goal is to destroy Marlington because of her son’s employment status with the District.
Carolyn wants revenge.

FACT: It has become common practice on the Facebook page of the group opposing the Board majority to obliterate
the reputations of individuals and/or entire families which have spoken out in support of the majority of the
community’s desire for three township elementary schools. False accusations of ethics violations, illegal activity and
even mental instability go absolutely unchecked as this group seeks to turn community members against the very
people who are standing up for them. Carolyn Gabric has not escaped the cruel scrutiny and dishonest character
assassination.

It has been over sixteen years since Carolyn’s son worked for the Marlington District. Since then, he has lived and
maintained a very successful teaching career in the state of North Carolina.

Carolyn has served on the Board for fifteen years. She consistently has been re-elected by healthy margins because
the Marlington voters realize that her actions speak louder than the false words of her accusers. Carolyn is known for

13
Motto on campaign literature distributed by the Thomas Hippely and Mark Ryan campaign
14
the-review.com/Here’s what Ohio schools might look like when classes resume/May 13, 2020
4
supporting Marlington’s students by regularly attending many extracurricular events, offering donations to the
District, and sponsoring an annual scholarship for a Marlington student (Lee and Carolyn Gabric Scholarship15).
Carolyn has spent most of her time on the Board as a “minority” member and video/audio records prove that Carolyn
consistently endured criticism, belittling comments and accusations by her fellow Board members, all while
maintaining a steady and professional voice as she represented the community.

One must ask what gain Carolyn has had all these years in “destroying the District” when, in fact, it is her reputation
that has been the target for destruction. Why would Carolyn continue to endure such a negative atmosphere and
disparaging treatment for the better part of her fifteen years of service, if revenge is all that she truly is here for?

The “fact” in this situation is that revenge has never been Carolyn’s motive for service. Her motive has been to support
students and to bring a voice to the Board table which represents the values and desires of the majority of the
Marlington community. Board minutes, video/audio recordings, and voting records prove that Carolyn has done just
that.

Recently, a local businessman and a former Board member sent a letter to Carolyn requesting that she resign her
position or risk being sued. For more information on this matter, please see our website tab titled “Lawsuit
threatened; Carolyn Gabric urged to resign”, as well as the follow up information underneath this tab, “Click here to
read the Board’s response to Marlington Matters”.

____________________

FICTION: The Marlington Board is not being transparent.

FACT: The Board has discussed business at length, and voted accordingly, at meetings open to the public, except
business that, by law, is to be discussed in executive session. Audio of the full Board meetings (except executive
session meetings) is made available on the District website (www.marlingtonlocal.org) soon after the meetings are
held. Minutes in printed format also are added to the District website once approved by the Board at their subsequent
meeting. Arrangements have been made for all meetings held during the COVID-19 pandemic to be streamed live for
viewing by the public on the Marlington Technology YouTube channel. This is done in accordance with Ohio Substitute
House Bill 197 which was passed on March 25, 2020.

15
https://www.marlingtonalumni.org/lee-and-carolyn-gabric-scholarship.html
5