Latest news with #Debo
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South-Western schools parents remain concerned about outside attorney's cost
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) — Parents who were concerned about the political affiliation of the advisory groups that the South Western City School Board joined last month revived concerns about another adviser to the board. 'Omar Tarazi is a very, very hot button issue,' district parent Kyra Paul said. 'He is known for being very politically charged and motivated in different ways. So by joining these organizations and by having that kind of legal counsel, I think it will 100% skew them (the board).' Tarazi is an attorney who has billed the district $166,885 between January 2024 and March 31, 2025. Parents like Paul said they were concerned with the high price tag and the lack of transparency about his services. Parents also said they worry about the alleged increased time spent in executive session with Tarazi and his record in education. See previous coverage of the concerns in the video player above. Grove City dentist retires months after patient dies Tarazi was first brought in by the district in January 2024. At $300 an hour, he quickly racked up payments over $20,000 per month for undisclosed services with the board. 'Engaging multiple perspectives has consistently benefited past and present school boards, providing a robust model for both checks and balances,' district spokesperson Evan Debo previously told NBC4 about hiring Tarazi. In July 2024, the board of education contracted Tarazi at $9,000 per month to serve on retainer. According to his contract, he can also bill up to $300 an hour for 'nonroutine services.' His contract expired in December with the opportunity to renew it. Debo said the board renewed the contract when it expired, which occurred outside of public meetings. He explained Tarazi's services are different than hiring an employee, so it did not have to be open to the public. He equated the situation to district snow shovelers, as both are procured as-needed but do not involve direct employment. Debo also addressed concerns about how much Tarazi is costing the district. South Western City Schools teachers, board clash over contract 'Since Tarazi Law has been assisting the district retroactive to 2024, the district has actually seen a savings of $191,373 in overall legal expenditures relative to the 2023 levels,' Debo said. District legal invoices corroborate Debo's statement, although the data is only up-to-date through the end of March. Legal invoices do not detail what the services are for. According to his contract, he is required to attend all board meetings, draft documents and provide legal help as requested. Parents said that since hiring Tarazi, the board appears to spend more time in executive session. They pointed to comments he made at a Big Walnut School Board meeting, alleging he is using attorney-client privilege to work outside the public eye. 'The amount of time spent in executive session since he has been hired has skyrocketed, and there is a direct correlation between the time in executive session and the lack of transparency and accountability with our board as he represents them,' parent Amanda Gooding said. Endangered black bear spotted in central Ohio for the first time in over two decades However, Debo said the district is currently engaged in contract negotiations for more than 2,700 employees across three unions. He said longer executive sessions are part of the district adequately building union agreements that retain talent and provide quality education. 'All school boards across the state of Ohio use discretionary tools such as executive session time to consult with legal counsel and thoroughly review proposals in order to secure fair and competitive agreements that support both our staff and students,' Debo said. 'Legal representation for any district is both a negotiations standard and a necessary part of the process, with the specific reasons for the session identified on every board agenda and at every public meeting when enacted.' Parents said aside from the money, they were concerned with Tarazi not having a background in education law and with his advocacy for charter schools. According to public records, he has testified twice at the Statehouse in favor of charter schools, and he, his wife and his parents have all been involved in charter schools, from volunteer positions to serving as principal. 'If you want to hire staff, teachers, administrators for whatever reason, and they've got to have the merit and they've got to be qualified,' Paul said. 'Why wouldn't you seek the same for your legal counsel?' State, federal cannabis changes threaten Ohio festival's future Tarazi did not respond to a request for comment by publication, but he spoke with NBC4 previously about not having a background in education law. 'A district has every kind of legal issue that comes up,' Tarazi said. 'There's a lot of different aspects of law, and I have a lot of experience in the area the board wants me to help them with.' Tarazi's contract will expire Dec. 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals' Coach Debo very hands-on, though Jonathan Gannon has warning for him
Arizona Cardinals' Coach Debo very hands-on, though Jonathan Gannon has warning for him The Cardinals' new DL coach brings a hands-on approach, but needs to be careful. As defensive lineman Darius Robinson enters his second season with the Arizona Cardinals, he's doing it with a new defensive line coach. Derrick LeBlanc coached the line last season, but was replaced by Winston DeLattiboudere III this year. The 28-year-old DeLattiboudere, who is called Debo, played at the University of Minnesota from 2015 to 2019 and it turns out Robinson made a recruiting visit there before committing to Missouri in 2019. Asked how the relationship is growing with Coach Debo, Robinson said, 'It's been cool. We figured out in high school; I took a visit to Minnesota. He was a player there. So that's kind of crazy to think about that. Obviously, I didn't go to Minnesota, but I'm just excited. His energy is very contagious. High-character guy. And I think he's going to get a lot out of this group and super excited.' When it was noted how very hands-on DeLattiboudere is on the field, Robinson was asked the benefit of that. 'It just shows he's committed,' Robinson said. 'He's bought in. He wears his cleats to practice. So it was like; he's ready to go. Just make sure we're ready to go each day. At the end of the day, everything starts up front with the D-line. So having a coach that's doing the same thing is awesome.' So it was that head coach Jonathan Gannon was asked this week about coaches wearing cleats. He said, 'I think that's for kind of like safety reasons. I never did, but I understand why you would do it.' Please explain, coach. 'If you're running a drill and because of how the rules are, sometimes they have to be the blocking dummy. So, if (defensive lineman) L.J. Collier puts his two hands on you getting off the ball, you can slip and go down pretty quick. So that's what I mean by safety reasons. We've had a couple coaches go down already, which I don't like to see. But I keep telling them, 'Get out of the drill. You're going to get messed up.' 'I used to do that when I was a DB coach and then somebody punched me in the chin and I bit my tongue. I said, 'I'm never doing that again.' Like they'll learn sooner or later. To each their own. To each their own.' Gannon then said the two coaches that fell down on the grass weren't hurt. But they could have been, Gannon emphasized, and said, 'It's kind of scary.' One of those coaches was DeLattiboudere. He was wearing a resistance band and went to the ground in a drill with rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen III. Said Gannon, 'Walter turned the corner and Debo wasn't at the right angle and it ripped him forward and then he tried to bend with it and fell down.' Gannon compared what happened in the 2004 movie Troy where a horse was pulling a cart and the cart tipped over. 'That's what Debo looked like,' Gannon said. 'I said, 'You're gonna blow out your knee, dude.' He said, 'I got to get the angle better.' 'Yeah, you better get the angle better.' Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: Travel Vlogger Gives Inside Look At Doraemon-Themed Train Station In Japan
Who's a fan of Doraemon? Of course, we all are! Most of us have grown up watching the cartoon show on our television and desire to spend a day in the animated world. Well, we're happy to share that you can relive your childhood days at Doraemon-themed Noborito Station in Tokyo, Japan. In a clip shared by a vlogger on Instagram, we get a glimpse of the train station, which is adorned with several Doraemon-themed decorations, signs, and even the famous "anywhere door". Located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, the station is often called Doraemon Station due to its connection to the famous Japanese anime and manga character, Doraemon. According to the vlogger's caption, the station gained this nickname because it's located near the birthplace of Fujiko F. Fujio, the co-creator of Doraemon. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2009, the station was rebranded with a Doraemon theme. Additionally, some nearby attractions and locations also celebrate the Doraemon legacy, making the station an unofficial hub for fans of the iconic character. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Debo | デボ (@debosdiary) The video garnered more than 2 million views on Instagram, with several people sharing their thoughts in the comments section. One user wrote, "My dream is to visit it once." Another added, "Yes, I visited Japan and I visited this station - it's so beautiful." Someone shared, "I've been to Shinjuku; how come I missed it?" "I live next to it, nice place," read a comment. A viewer wrote, "It's my dream place now." "My childhood is coming back, bro," remarked a user.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Deebo Samuel return to elite fantasy form in 2025?
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon and fantasy analyst Andy Behrens discuss how Deebo Samuel built his reputation on his 1,405-yard season in 2021 and question whether or not he can return back to his peak form. Hear the full conversation on the 'Yahoo Fantasy Forecast' podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Debo Samuel last year, Andy in Reception Perception, 39.7% success rate versus man coverage. Advertisement That is, I kind of forgotten this, but that's the third lowest mark I've ever tried, ever, ever, ever. Like he's, he's in the Terrace Marshall rookie year zone, the Jalen Rager rookie year zone and like Debo's never been a great man beater, but I mean it was better than that previously and like the zone number is still, it's OK, but that's fallen off. And by the way, this was consistent on film. Before the pneumonia thing. Debo is such a complicated player, um, because he obviously he he built his reputation on the, the one great season, right, the 1400 yard season, he was phenomenal and he's a, you know, Debo highlights are great when when things go well for Debo Samuel, it's, you know, one of the plays of the week. Advertisement But like that one big season represents about 30% of his career receiving production, um, and the rest of the career is is full of, you know, isolated good games and a whole bunch of really quiet games and of course he did that within the context of San Francisco's offense and, and that's kind of a spin the wheel offense anyway, right? Like it's Kittle one week and it's Ayuk one week and then it's Samuel. Um, so maybe that's fine, but man, most of the production again is concentrated in one season that we are getting further and further away from, um, and those are pretty jarring numbers, uh, in terms of success rate last year, so he's got to be a lot better than he has recently been I will say that.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South-Western City School board joins groups denouncing gender identity, DEI and non-English languages
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) — The South-Western City School board voted to join two organizations that promote conservative education standards, including English-only polices and formal stances against gender identity acceptance. At its April 28 meeting, the South-Western City School District school board voted to join four professional development organizations, two of which were founded by conservative Ohioans in the past five years. SWCSD is Ohio's fifth-largest school district, serving sections of southwestern Franklin County. Columbus business among best donut shops in country, according to Yelp list The SWCSD board rejoined the Ohio School Boards Association and also voted to join School Boards for Academic Excellence, the Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition and the National School Board Leadership Council. The latter two organizations were established in Ohio, and both ask members to sign pledges that align with conservative educational policies, including statements denouncing DEI and 'gender confusion.' 'Much like the makeup of our diverse 119-square-mile district, all four organizations represent many differing perspectives and views that the Board will explore in the months to come,' SWCSD communications director Evan Debo said. The Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition and School Boards for Academic Excellence are free to join. The Ohio School Boards Association, which SWCSD boards of education have joined for decades, costs around $11,000 annually, and the NSBLC has an annual $1,500 membership fee. The NSBLC fee is per person, and Debo said only one board member is joining on the district's dime, bringing total membership fees to $12,500. Board Vice President Denise D'Angelo Steele suggested joining the NSBLC, and the measure passed 4-0 with board member Camile Peterson abstaining. In joining, members are asked to sign an oath distancing themselves from 'social emotional teaching,' agree to combat identity politics and offer to open the district up to parental oversight in literature and curriculum decisions. Investigation alleges Kroger overcharges customers on items advertised as on sale The SWCSD board drew public scrutiny for joining the NSBLC, especially as the organization advocates for English-only education, writing 'Non-(E)nglish speaking students provide an unacceptable cost for taxpayers to bear.' According to SWCSD's website, the district is home to more than 3,800 students who are learning English as a second language, speaking 78 languages between them. 'At this time, the board is taking inventory of what each organization has to offer, to see what resources they can provide at a state and national level in terms of training, and then apply our diverse SWCS(D) lens to it to see how elements can be used to meet local needs for the 21,000+ students and families we proudly serve each day,' Debo said. According to the NSBLC website, the organization was founded by Ohioan Kelly Kohls. However, state business records list Kohls as a statutory agent for Jim Burgess, who is on the State Central Committee of the Ohio Republican Party. State business records also list a former Westerville-based nonprofit, Supporters of Youth Activities, as NSBLC's founding organization. Supporters of Youth Activities raised funds for various student organizations, but was canceled by the state for inactivity just months after the NSBLC was founded. While active, Burgess was the nonprofit's vice president. Cities in Ohio with the most UFO sightings Although joining the NSBLC drew public attention, the board also joined the conservative Ohio School Board Constitutional Coalition. OSBCC members are also asked to sign a pledge, promising to limit restroom and facility use by biological sex, teach American history in a way that enforces the 'exceptional nature of their country' and promote freedom of speech and religion. OSBCC was founded by Jeremiah Sawyer, a Republican school board member for North Royalton City Schools in northeastern Ohio. Debo stressed that joining these organizations does not mean the district will implement all — or any — of their ideas. However, these groups are one of several conservative ties to the school board. Board members Julie Lisansky and D'Angelo Steele were endorsed by Moms for Liberty during their campaigns for school board, an organization that left-leaning civil rights watchdog group Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as 'extremist.' Although Ohio school board elections are nonpartisan, the Franklin County Republican Party lists all SWSCD school board members except Peterson under current officeholders. It is not uncommon for parties to endorse school board candidates; all three Columbus City Schools board of election candidates who received the most votes in the primary were endorsed by the Franklin County Democratic Party. The district also pays attorney Omar Tarazi $9,000 each month for legal services. Tarazi has spoken against social emotional learning, including a statewide Protect Ohio Children forum in 2022. See previous coverage of Tarazi in the video player above. Elementary school students lace up for Girls on the Run 5K Debo said joining the four groups allows the school board to absorb a variety of resources, training materials and ideas. School Boards for Academic Excellence says it is nonpartisan and not politically affiliated. However, four of its five directors previously worked for conservative think tanks, and the fifth formerly served as a Republican Representative in the Kansas House. SWCSD's fourth member organization, the Ohio School Boards Association, sets a legislative platform annually, and many of its priorities are more left-leaning, including an embrace of equity programs. However, its annual legislative platform is set by delegates from each member school, and every policy inclusion must be approved by at least 75% of delegates. 'By joining any of these organizations, the board's vote for membership is not an indication of support for some or any of the positions or perspectives advanced by any of these organizations, nor does it remove any existing programming in place for students,' Debo said. On Monday at 7 p.m., more than 1,600 members of the SWCSD teachers union, joined by hundreds more parents and community members, plan to protest the board's affiliation with these groups at South Western Career Academy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
