Larry Sykes

Anybody notice a pattern here?

Ah, ask and ye shall get. I wondered this morning, that Dan Burns' investigations discovered in Cleveland had to start earlier and we find out they have. According to the Blade, Burns investigated Robert Torres, Darlene Fisher, Steven Steel, Steve Flagg, and Francis Dumbuya. I was not on the list. I don't know how I feel about this. Read more in the Blade. But now we go from stealing to having the district get all J Edgar Hoover on people. That is an interesting shift of events.

Remember this theft happened while Larry Sykes and Eugene Sanders stood up with their financial oversight committees and said everything is good, trust us. TPS continued to say trust us, then Dan Burns gets caught in Cleveland. TPS scrambled saying we have no clue how much he took from us. Well now we trust you never will look after our money even when you tell us to trust us. For many years, board members including Larry Sykes said that the rest of the State looks up to us. Well I don't know how may districts had 700k stolen from them right under their noses.

Another local name name is now involved in the Burns scandal, Steve Cotner who performed background investigations. In Cleveland he performed 20k of services which were not rendered. One has to wonder if he was related to another Sander's employee Craig Cotner who was one time district academic officer.

3 great late thoughts about the election in the Toledo Journal this week. One thought:
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Who is going to champion the issues that Darlene Fisher fought for? Please do not say Larry Sykes. He fell down the stairs and broke his good leg selling ''I’ll be a watchman for minority inclusion'' wolf tickets on the missed $641 million school rebuild opportunity program and now he just won another chance to break his other leg! Some things you simply do not need to repeat.

Two days after the election, I drove by Scott high school, which I do a few times a day, but this time it was different. It felt like the lights had gone out. With the election of Bob Vasquez, Virginia Hill and Larry Sykes, to the school board, who will advocate for the neighborhood's high school, Jack Ford, Lisa Sobecki?

The following quotes came from the City Papers' April 6, 2005 edition in an article titled, "The harried citizen’s guide to Toledo Board of Education President Larry Sykes"

"She got caught like Janet Jackson, with her [profanity filter won't let it be posted] out." talking about Francine Lawrence

"She reminds me of a dog that can’t pass a fire hydrant without urinating on it." referring to Anita Lopez

"She has gotten those jobs not on her ability but basically because she’s a Mexican with a law degree and a female." referring to Anita Lopez

Larry Sykes, most likely the dumbest person to have ever held elected office in the area as well as one of the biggest racists in Lucas County, has ticked off a lot of people. He has ticked off so many people that one person took his/her time to create a sign highlighting Larry's comments using one of Ben Konop's large signs, and then nailed it up on at least one telephone pole (in the Broadway/Segur area to be specific). A user on this site had the opportunity to see it and grabbed it for me. I really wish I knew about this before the election because I would be happy to have posted this before. The poster, which you can see a larger version of by clicking on the attachment below, details Larry's wonderful remarks about Anita Lopez, calling her a Mexican and only able to get jobs because she was a Mexican and a female (again those are Larry's words not mine). Anyway, now that he is back on the school board, for the next 4 years he will be sure to cause much embarrassment and humiliation to the board and the district given his past antics. Everyone have your cameras ready because Larry Sykes is a viral video waiting to happen.

Open Letter to the Black Community and anyone else interested in fair play, fair dealing and the truth,

I had the opportunity of attending the Toledo Board of Education's interviews for filling the vacancy left by the abdication of Steve Steel, the inveterate politician.

The interviews were held with Bob Vasquez presiding over the proceedings. Present were Ms. Darlene Fisher, Mr. Bob Vasquez, Ms. Lisa Sobecki and Mr. Jack Ford.

Larry Sykes who caused chaos, confusion and discord on the Toledo Public School board has been appointed to the Lucas County Children Services Board. Who makes these appointments? In no way should this man be on any board that has anything to do with children, especially our most vulnerable children.

There are well documented instances where he has denigrated women and Hispanics and not so well documented anecdotal information where he has belittled adopted children and children in general.

Here is a report of the TPS board meeting today scheduled for 8:00-10:00AM

The meeting began at 8:05 with Steven Steel, Larry Sykes and Darlene Fisher in attendance, with myself, Blade reporter and a TV station in the audience. They took the roll, pledged allegiance to the flag and then the fun began.

Toledo Public Schools needs to retool its negotiations with William Harner. We are at the point where the credibility of TPS is clearly on the line. And, as much as I admire the extensive work of Larry Sykes at LMHA, at TPS, at the Metroparks, it is past time for Sykes to take a break and catch up on some peace and quiet.

I know Sykes has the heart of a lion but enough is enough. Larry, you have meant more to the community in your cumulative effort than just about anyone else in the past 25 years. Your served the schools, on the city parks board, Metroparks, minority banking

Let me tell you a little tale that I hope does not come true.

New TPS boss may hit salary ceiling

From the story in the local daily:

David McClellan, president of the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, told The Blade that an agreement between the school system and its unions prohibits the board from paying Mr. Harner more than former superintendent Eugene Sanders until union members get a raise.

Note: I release all photos on this page from copyright. Use and duplicate as you wish.

After today's retreat, when I left the building, I noticed one of our board members parked in a handicap spot (see photos). I guess rules don't apply to that board member. A lot more happened at the meeting, but that will be in a different report.

Can you guess which one it was? Yes, you were right Larry Sykes. Maybe he has a handicap sticker in his car, I did not see one. So take this as you want. I will tell you I have never seen him park in a handicap spot at board meetings.