MILLBURY – Two new Lake Board of Education members were sworn in Monday, then swore to get down to work.

"We’ve entered into some tough times with the levy issues, obviously, but I wanted to be a part of
it," said John Ervin at the organization and regular monthly board meeting.
He added that he didn’t seek a board seat to make "sweeping changes" or initiate his own
agenda.
Scott Swartz said the five-member board will have some tough decisions to make in the wake of November’s
defeat of a five-year 4.75-mill levy that would have brought in $1.1 million annually. The district is
facing $2.19 million in state funding reductions.
"They’re not all going to be easy. They’re not all going to be popular," Swartz said of the
decisions.
But, he said, they would be done with the best intentions.
Lake lost two levy requests in 2010 and is expecting a $900,000 deficit by the end of this year. Even if
new money is approved by voters sometime in 2012, it won’t be collected until the following year.
"It’s going to be a tremendous challenge," said board president Tim Krugh.
At last month’s meeting, he said layoffs were likely sometime this year.
Also at the meeting, the board:
• Fired a playground/cafeteria monitor for falsification of sick leave. Kelly Stickler, who also helped
with crossing guard duties, called in sick when she was actually on vacation, Krugh said. She had been a
Lake employee for 16 years. The board took action after a two-hour executive session, which also
included discussions on negotiations and a conference with an attorney about pending legal action.
• Heard Witt say he has received several comments about the American flag not flying all day, every day
at the complex off Ohio 795. He said a maintenance person, who is a Vietnam veteran, puts the flag out
every morning and takes it in around 3 p.m. The district would have to pay an employee a minimum of
three hours, per contract, to come in on the weekends and holidays to handle the flag. Witt said once
the new high school is open, the flag site will be lighted and it can fly 24 hours a day. "We want
to make sure we’re respecting the proper flag etiquette," he said.
• Re-elected Krugh president and elected Eric Hirzel vice president. The board will continue to meet the
third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. in the middle school media center.
• Was recognized by Witt for service with certificates. "The sacrifices they have made for this
school are unmatched," he said, citing the members’ hundreds of hours of volunteer service.
• Approved donations of $450 to the John Hughes Memorial wrestling account and Disney babies valued at
$90 from Calvin United Church of Christ.