Middletown Land Transfer Case |
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:48:46 AM - Middletown Ohio |
By: Tara Kunkle
A Middletown attorney named Thomas Allen was recently interviewed by Meagan Engle of the Middletown Journal. Allen told a panel of judges that Middletown City School District’s request for a transfer of 1,600 acres of land is a case unlike any other. On March 10th there were oral arguments held in the 10th District Court Appeals. Middletown appealed the decision to deny the transfer of land mostly east of Interstate 75 from Franklin City Schools.
The focus for the Franklin and the Ohio State Board of Education attorneys were mainly on Middletown’s claim that the lower court abused its discretion and what that means. In September the lower court upheld the denial. Allen announced the decision to deny the transfer was contrary to law because key points were ignored by the referee who first recommended the transfer be denied. For example the “Middletown Promise” which is a program that is currently being examined for feasibility that would give scholarship money to students who stay in Middletown City Schools kindergarten through 12th grade.
Middletown has promised to reimburse Franklin for lost revenue. It is estimated to be about $230,000 a year. Judge Patrick McGrath was unsure whether Franklin could trust that Middletown would reimburse them for the lost revenue and for how many years.
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