School Board Member Breaks Leg While Promoting Bond Issue

School Board member Betsy Shaughnessy suffered a serious ankle fracture this week while promoting the November school bond issue. 

“I was putting up signs this past Sunday for the (November) bond issue,” Shaughnessy said. “I fell in a deep hole on a front lawn. It was an accident.”

Shaunessy said her husband called for an ambulance and she was taken to the hospital. After an evaluation, her doctor determined she needed surgery on her lect foot that required a plate an almost a dozen screws.

Surgery was Sept. 24 and Shaunessy is back home resting.

“I’m being taken care of in a royal manner,” she joked, saying family and friends were being very helpful.

The injury has curtailed her campaigning to support the November bond issue which if passed, could lead to the rebuilding of three elementary schools and fund half of the high school, expected to cost $79 million.

The Ohio School Facilities Commission approved $50 million in matching funds earlier this year. The district must pass the bond issue in November to approve the funding.

“We need to get the $50 million for the city and finish what we started,” Shaunessy said.

She said she cannot bear any weight on her foot for another four to six weeks.

“As soon as I have a weight bearing cast I will be back out campaigning,” she said.

Her anticipated choice of cast colors? Purple and gold.

Shaughnessy took the opportunity to again ask voters to support the levy.

“Please support the bond issue,” she said. “It’s a chance to finish what we started.”