1998

Please note that this post is simply articles that I've found in The Toledo Blade archives, and are not my own words, unless said otherwise. All articles have do do with the TPS BOE and it's members. Some things are good, some things are bad, and some are simply ugly. When readers forum letters were used, I removed the writers name.
1998
YOUTH’S PLAYFUL NIGHT ENDED BY FATAL SHOTS
June 16, 1998

This article is about the tragic ending to a young mans life. Maurice Purifie had just finished the 7th grade. The following week, after a night of playing basketball and spending time with friends, he was shot to death in front of the school, 4 times in the head and once in the chest.

My reasoning for commenting on this article is to commend Mr. Sykes for proposing, and the school board unanimously passing, a reward of $2,000 for information leading ot the arrest of a suspect in Maurice’s slaying. It says a lot, not only about Mr. Sykes, but the entire board.


TEACHERS IN BIG CITY MAY HAVE LOANS (REIMBURSED)
August 7, 1998

Teachers who agree to work for Toledo Public Schools, or any other big-city districts in Ohio for at least six years could get their student loans reimbursed under a bill that state Rep. Jack Ford (D., Toledo) plans to introduce.

Later in the article it goes on to say:
Mr. Ford said he worked on the bill at the request of Larry Sykes, Toledo school board member. The idea fits in with an urban-education program that the University of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools have developed, he (Mr. Ford) said.


TOLEDO GIVES A COLD SHOULDER TO MALIGNED VOUCHER PROGRAM
November 25, 1998

The Toledo board of education last night took a stand against the expansion of tuition vouchers for private and parochial school students.

Board member Larry Sykes said the board’s first responsibility is to the city school system.

“If you want to send your children to private school, I think you should pay for it,” he said.





MANY TOLEDO NOTABLES SAY “NO” TO IMPEACHMENT
December 17, 1998

With President Clinton facing impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives, a variety of prominent citizens in the Toledo area were asked these questions yesterday: Should the President be impeached and removed from office? Why or why not?

Mr. Sykes said No, with this comment “It’s unfortunate what this man has gotten himself into, but he doesn’t deserve that form of retribution from his political adversaries. I think they’ve lost focus. When we elected him we knew the baggage that he brought with him”.