Wick lashes out at fellow board members

NORWALK — Tuesday's Norwalk City Schools board of education meeting was short and sweet Tuesday night — until the end when board member Lisa Wick had her turn to speak. She was last on the agenda to talk about EHOVE Career Center news, but she turned that time into an attack on her fellow board members. "I took an oath to do what is best for the students and their education," Wick said. "To be that voice for them. I promised to do the best that I could in knowing that I did everything with a conscience. "I am not here to be the judge — no one should. That judge is God's job. Yes, I said God in our public schools. "In order for me to continue in this position, I will continue to be truthful and speak out when needed. Much of this has gone on behind closed doors. A lot of discussions happen behind closed doors, where I learned from day one that is where it stays. Period. Well, that does not happen with this board. "I am leaving some stuff out because I am taking the high road and I'm not going to stoop to this level. "So I am going to continue down this path. I am better than this. All you have to do is ask for the records, emails and put the pieces together. Read what the school board position is supposed to do. We're supposed to govern the district, not run it, not micro-manage it. If you want to know why Mr. (George) Fisk is leaving just ask him. We are losing a good man and I wish you well and I hope that you find support from a whole true board when you go and I wish you the best. "I have had the opportunity to meet our congressman Jim Jordan on a few occasions. When he heard I was on the school board he said I was either crazy or I was doing the Lord's work. I replied to him that it was a little of both. I will not be shaken and my focus will always be about the students and their education." Fisk, who attended his final school board meeting Tuesday, is leaving as superintendent after six years to take another job in the Canton area to be closer to his family. School board President Ralph Ritzenthaler said after the meeting he had no comment about what Wick said. This is not the first time Wick has spoken out. During the March board meeting, Wick said it is time the government backs off with all of its rules and lets children be children again. Wick, who also refused to wear a mask during previous meetings, breaking district policy set by the board, said she was sorry if she was going to offend anybody then went on to speak her peace. "Teachers should be able to focus their lessons on our students, on teaching, instead of nagging students to keep their masks in place," Wick said. "Too often it seems decisions are being made with little regard to average citizens who do not have political pull." Wick said too many decisions are not based on science and data, and they have often changed midstream "when the right people complain." "Suicide for the ages of 10 to 14 years old up by 178%, overdoses, where Huron County is No. 7 in the state of Ohio, alcoholism, domestic violence keeps rising," she said. "It comes down to money." This came at the end of a meeting where students and staff were praised by Fisk for following all of the rules and doing the right thing. "I know our superintendent's hands are tied ... who's running our state and our government," Wick said. "I want the facts and I want the truth. When are we going to say 'enough is enough?' Are we going to continue to watch freedoms slip through our hands?"