Schools

Ohio Ethics Commission to Review Nepotism Allegation Against School Board Member

Daughter of board member Ed Favre hired as recreation department athletic coordinator in 2004.

Correction: This version corrects the spelling of Leslie Krogman.

The Ohio Ethics Commission is looking into an allegation of nepotism against school board member Ed Favre in connection with the board's 2004 hire of his daughter for the recreation department.

Favre, who claims — with the board's backing — that he did nothing wrong, abstained from the vote to hire his daughter Leslie Krogman as athletic coordinator.

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Lakewood is one of a handful of school districts in Ohio that oversees the recreation department that serves city residents; the school board votes on spending, hires and other business.

Schools Superintendent Jeff Patterson told Lakewood Patch the state ethics commission contacted him Monday. He said the district will cooperate with the probe. 

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"They will make a decision whether or not to proceed with an investigation," he said. "We will turn over any information that we have and they will do what they need to do.”

Krogman's salary was unavailable late Monday. She could not be reached for comment.

“I will let the superintendent and my fellow board members handle it," Favre said. "I am trying to stay as far away from all this craziness as I can.”

Favre said he doesn’t have plans to step down from his emeritus role on the recreation department’s athletic commission. 

“I have no plans to change anything that I’m doing,” he said.

The recreation department has been a point of contention between some residents and the school board over the past couple months. Krogman's hiring has been among the issues over which the residents have leveled criticism.

The school board told the residents at last month’s meeting that it found Favre had done no wrong because, among other reasons, he abstained from the vote.

One of the residents is Kevin Roche, who has coached baseball in the district and volunteered for the rec deparmtent for seven years.

“You can’t have the appearance of improper behavior, and they’ve had that in the public for months,” said Roche, noting Favre's continued role in the recreation department's commission meetings.

“I take the nepotism charge very seriously," he said. "My personal frustration is that there’s been no action taken whatsoever.”

Roche said last week that the rec department is in shambles following the board's non-renewal of the director and the recent resignation of the athletic manager. 

Patterson recommended the board not renew Recreation Director Erin Fach's contract earlier this year. Fach has been held the position for 13 years. His contract runs through July. 

Athletic Manager Mike Callahan resigned last month.

Favre called Roche's accusations a “vicious and nasty attack” on his family. 

“This has caused stress to my family,” he added.

The school board voted Monday to hire former Avon schools Superintendent Jim Reitenbach to head both the recreation department and the school district’s human resources department. 

Reitenbach will begin his new post on Aug. 1 at a salary of $113,000.


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