Hasn't She Suffered Enough?

It looks like the Massillon City Board of Education will be discussing possible discipline for School Superintendent Lisa Carmichael, for using profane language in describing board member Marshall Weinberg. As the Massillon Review is a family blog, we won't repeat that language. Suffice to say, anatomically speaking, it is "the opening at the end of one's digestive tract used to control the expulsion of feces."

Carmichael lost her temper with Weinberg at the July 7 school board meeting when he refused to do the job he was elected to do. Weinberg abstained from voting on the new teacher's contract. He didn't vote yes, and he didn't vote no. He apparently believed by abstaining, he would kill the vote, and the contract, as board member Phil Elum was not present because of a flight delay, and board member Becherucci abstained because she had family members who would be covered by the contract. Only two actual votes were registered from the 5 member board, two yes votes, with two abstentions. Marshall was incorrect in his assumptions. According to the district attorney, the contract was ratified with two yes votes, and two abstentions, because a quorum (majority of the members) was present, even though a majority did not vote.

It has been alleged that Weinberg was miffed because he didn't get to participate in the contract negotiations. The opportunity to utilize his financial wisdom and general brilliance was overlooked by Lisa Carmichael, and Marshall was none too happy.

We have two questions. Firstly, hasn't Lisa Carmichael suffered enough? She works for Marshall Weinberg. Whatever petty disciplinary action the board metes out pales in comparison with having to deal with Weinberg on a day to day basis. Secondly, did she lie? Can Marshall accurately be described as "the end of one's digestive tract used to control the expulsion of feces." If the majority of the school board can answer yes to both of these questions, Carmichael should not be disciplined.

The truth of the matter is that several board members are using this opportunity to punish Carmichael not for using an obscenity, but for opposing the "Football First" plan. Carmichael opposed making the head football coach the Athletic Director, and making the offensive coordinator (formerly Alex Wood), the assistant athletic director. This is what has put Carmichael in the cross hairs of the "Friends of the Program," the various football boosters who think they own their high school football team. She may be disciplined tonight, but it isn't for calling Marshall an ***hole, it is retribution for opposing the will of the football boosters.