While talks of a lease agreement between Oxford Schools and Weiming Education Group to build international student housing are still up in the air, Oxford resident Diane Myers has started a petition urging the school board to vote against the project.
‘I started the petition because I wanted to know if there were other people in the community who were against the Weiming dorm project and who were alarmed by the superintendent and the school board’s conduct regarding this project,? Myers said.
Since posting the online petition on Dec. 11, Myers has garnered 175 signatures.
‘I have not actively been going door-to-door to collect signatures. It has just been something that I put on Facebook to see what kind response I would receive,? she explained. ‘There is no exact number of signatures needed, I would like to get enough signatures to let the school board know that the community is against the project and would like the board to vote against it.?
While there is no current ‘end date? for obtaining the signatures, Myers is simply trying to procure as many as possible and give them to the board prior to further plans being made on the project.
Why the opposition?
Myers said she is against the project because she feels the district’s focus should be on ‘Oxford students and improving test scores and overall ranking.?
‘I think our leaders are spending way too much time on this deal rather than working on improving Oxford academics,? she said. ‘I do not believe that this project will benefit our students.?
She has also been alarmed that any information given about the project ‘is always given after the fact.?
‘Did they ever ask the community if this was something they even wanted?? she asked. ‘Many did not even know about the contract with Weiming Education Group.?
Finally, Myers said she is against the project because of the ‘questionable? conduct of both the superintendent and the school board with regard to the project.
The first example of this is Superintendent Dr. William Skilling working as a paid consultant for Weiming while serving as the current superintendent. Myers believes this is a ‘conflict of interest and unethical.?
However, Skilling’s contract with the district does allow him to work as an outside consultant and Skilling did end his consulting relationship with Weiming prior to the district entering into a contract with them.
The second thing that makes Myers question things was the early contract extension for Skilling, which was given by the board back in April.
‘The board pulls his contract two years early and renew(s) it to 2019,? Myers said. ‘Suddenly, the dates and times of meeting where Dr. Skilling’s contract is going to be discussed and is known to have opposition, start randomly changing to the point that one time was changed at the last minute and people were unable to find the meeting.?
The ‘secret selling of the superintendent’s house,? is another questionable act to Myers.
‘It was placed on Craigslist, but when questioned by the Oxford Leader, Dr. Skilling says he is not going anywhere. Just months later, the superintendent announces his retirement and is quoted (in the paper) as saying he had been planning his retirement for the last couple of years.?
The last and most recent event that Myers is concerned about was ‘the big rush to hire Tim Throne as superintendent (at the Dec. 10 board meeting) without even bothering to interview other qualified candidates.?
‘Once again, this was added to the board meeting’s agenda at the last minute, so that people would not know about it,? she said. ‘I was outraged after watching it (on Oxford Community Television) and feel that the community deserves better. It is obvious from the board meeting that the school board and the superintendent are not interested at all in the community’s input, but only in their own agendas.?
To sign the petition or to read more about it go to www.gopetition.com/petitions/-oxford-community-schools-citizens-opposed-to-the-weiming dorm-project.html