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EL permanently parks suspected drunk bus driver

East Liverpool school board members Pat Persohn and Mario Hernandez get familiar before Thursday’s regular meeting with their new district assigned Chromebooks equipped with BoardDocs. Colleague Larry Walton suggested that a third-grader be assigned to each board member, as they appeared to be struggling with the new system a tad. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Although a court of law hasn’t established Donald E. Goodwin’s guilt, the city’s school board decided Thursday night to terminate his employment as a bus driver.

Board members approved a resolution dismissing Goodwin under the district’s union contract for classified employees.

Goodwin, 62, of Northside Avenue, recently was arrested with an on-duty OVI, after a coach noticed him acting strangely while preparing to transport the boys basketball team to Carrollton for a game. City police were contacted and charged Goodwin after he failed field sobriety tests and tested with a positive blood draw for the presence of alcohol at East Liverpool City Hospital.

He has been scheduled to return to East Liverpool Municipal Court on Feb. 11 for a pretrial for his OVI, child endangering and reckless operation charges, all which are misdemeanors.

The blood alcohol levels were under the required .08 minimum to level the charge on the breathalyzer; however, due his commercial status, there is a lower threshold.

In the resolution regarding Goodwin’s termination, the district also detailed that “Item 9.03 of the Master Agreement clearly outlines offenses that warrant immediate discharge” including intoxication, being under the influence of a controlled substance, or the sale, possession or use of any substance (including alcohol) while on duty as such offenses.”

The board also said that operating under the influence is among the disqualifying offenses listed by the Ohio Department of Education’s pupil transportation operation and safety rules. The district said that Goodwin’s driver’s certificate has been suspended for 10 years in its agenda; although a check of the East Liverpool Municipal Court online case docket shows the case has not been adjudicated yet.

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Goodwin’s defense attorney, C. Joseph King, theorized that Goodwin and his union representative would be present the meeting. However, they were not in attendance at the meeting, which lasted about 15 minutes.

In regards to the board’s decision regarding his client, King explained, “It doesn’t make sense to me,” especially since he noted the maximum penalty on a first offense OVI was only a three-year license suspension.

Board members and Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig offered no comment on the issue during the meeting, breezing through it just like most other routine action.

King has appealed Goodwin’s administrative license suspension, which he said typically only is administered after the suspect either refuses a test altogether or test over the legal limit. He contends that wasn’t the case with his client.

If convicted in East Liverpool Municipal Court, Goodwin faces $3,150 in fines and 18 months in the county jail.

Among other personnel-related actions, the board accepted the retirements of Vickie Latshaw, custodian of the administrative offices and truck driver, and Regina Schmelick, high school custodian, as well as classified appointments of custodian Alissa Butler, crossing guard Cassandra Felekey, food service employees Patty Milhoan and Darlene Vantilburg and high school baseball reserve coach. The following substitutes also joined the payroll: Debra Deuley, food service; John Burkett, food service, crossing guard and custodian; and Michael Cunningham, custodian.

In addition to accepting an agreement with ACCESS for fiscal year 2021, which includes annual fees on 313 phones (including voice services), digital transmission, educational management and payroll services totaling in excess of $106,000 less any applicable e-rate discounts, members also adopted a resolution opposing the state of Ohio’s EdChoice scholarship (voucher) program.

The board also agreed to appropriate a $16,393 National School Lunch grant the district received to purchase walk-in coolers for installation at Westgate School.

The board’s next regular meeting is Feb. 27.

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