School Board Votes Down LOV Newark's Proposed Lease

League of Volunteers [LOV] Newark's proposed draft agreement with Newark Unified School District was shot down at the Newark Unified Board of Education's Tuesday night meeting.

The nonprofit organization's money woes surfaced in late March after it was announced that LOV Newark owed the school district approximately $67,000 in unpaid rent for its use of the former Ruschin Elementary School campus for its offices and the MacGregor Alternative Education Center for Bingo games.

A proposed repayment plan and draft lease agreement was presented to the five-member school board Tuesday. Click here for the draft lease agreement.

That draft agreement would have permitted LOV Newark to pay $10,000 toward past due payments and pay $1,800 per month from Bingo revnues it would generate by continuing to rent space at MacGregor.

However, the lease agreement was rejected after trustees Charlie Mensinger, Nancy Thomas and Gary Stadler voted against the item.

"This is nothing personal. This is strictly a contract. This is strictly money off of our kids' backs and it's got to stop," Stadler said.

LOV Executive Director Shirley Sisk, LOV President Betty Cole and three additional Newark residents spoke about the item prior to the board's vote.

Sisk admitted to the unpaid rent and said the nonprofit is actively looking for a new space and asked for the board's approval on the lease agreement.

"We will be able to meet this obligation and we will be able to provide these services to the community," Sisk said.

But the three community members who spoke all sought the board's disapproval of the lease agreement.

"I don't think anyone would doubt that LOV Newark has contributed to the community.. but i respectfully ask you do not approve this lease agreement," Cindy Parks said.

LOV Newark has rented space from the Newark Unified School District at the former Ruschin school since October 2005. Its last day at the site is scheduled for May 31. The school, which sits on a 10-acre parcel, was closed in 1989.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• School Board to Vote on Draft of Lease Agreement with LOV Newark
• LOV's Executive Director Responds to Dispute With School District