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Findlay City Schools Administrators Peddled FFE Investigation Falsehoods at Feb. 6 Town Hall
At a town hall on February 6, which was intended to drum up support for the upcoming Findlay City Schools (FCS) tax levy, FCS administrators were caught in blatant misrepresentations about district finances while attempting to downplay questions about last year's controversial FFE investigation.
When pressed about the true cost of the investigation, Treasurer Pam Harrington claimed taxpayers had spent only $11,089.
This figure isn't just misleading—it's demonstrably false. Documents obtained through public records requests—which FCS fought vigorously to prevent releasing—show a Columbus law firm billed the district $24,462.54 just for legal services related to the FFE investigation for December 2023 alone.
The legal invoices were obtained only after a protracted legal battle that forced FCS to comply with Ohio's public records laws. The documents were provided as part of a narrowly-defined public information request specifically limited to the FFE investigation. Given that FCS meticulously scrutinized every document before release and actively fought to withhold information, the inclusion of these invoices indicates they are directly connected to the FFE investigation, despite their attempts to heavily redact the specific line-items.
Superintendent Hatton's willingness to even discuss the FFE matter came with a revealing admission: "Since it's connected to finances, obviously we will answer these questions." This statement starkly exposes the administration's cynical approach to transparency—questions about district operations apparently only deserve answers when they might impact the passage of a tax levy.
Superintendent Hatton Tried to Rewrite Reality
In the same town hall, embedded above, Superintendent Hatton claimed he held "several conversations" with Kevin Manley at the "end of the school year" about providing additional administrative support. This statement collapses under the slightest scrutiny - Manley resigned on April 11, with nearly two months of school remaining. No educator in Ohio would consider early April the “end of the school year”. This isn't simply a minor discrepancy; it's a calculated attempt to rewrite history.
Kevin Manley’s letter of resignation, submitted April 11, 2024.
Deception by FCS Administrators Reveals Deeper Issues Beyond the FFE Investigation
The integrity of the entire FFE investigation process remains compromised. When FCS administrators deliberately misrepresent costs, fabricate timelines, and conceal contradictory evidence, they undermine not just public trust, but the very foundations of administrative accountability. The documents obtained through legal action tell a story vastly different from the official narrative that's been presented to the community.
Findlay students and parents deserve leaders who value truth over convenience, who respect taxpayers enough to provide honest answers regardless of timing or political benefit. The community's right to accurate information shouldn't depend on whether it serves administrative interests. The FFE situation reveals not just isolated errors, but a systemic approach to information control that should concern anyone who values institutional transparency, regardless of their position on other district matters