The current school board’s performance on finances, academics, transparency, and community relations has been very poor and yet, they have put forward several points they feel are accomplishments. We would like to address those points.

1] “Made $2.6 million in budget cuts.”

Not really. NO significant cuts have been made since 2022 and, since that time, inflation and existing staffing costs have SIGNIFICANTLY eroded most potential savings. Marlington is NOT actually saving $2.6 million per year, which is why the district has had a HUGE spending DEFICIT for the last three years (-$882,000 in 2025). Even the superintendent Mr. Swisher stated:

“We can’t just take that off the bottom line of our five-year forecast because of inflation and [staff] step increases…It’s not as simple as saying, ‘You saved $2.6 million every year.’ It’s just not a realistic way to tell anybody.”

The Ryan-Humphries-Krupko campaign ISN’T going to tell you that.

2] “Authorized $6.7 million in district improvements at all buildings.”

Let’s be clear. Mark Ryan, Karen Humphries, and Cathy Krupko are ALL on record calling our elementary schools “old,” “buildings we don’t need,” and supporting their closure in favor of a costly, HIGH TAX, new consolidated building. Krupko even called repairing our elementary schools “mismanagement” of financial resources. Of the $6.7 million mentioned, $5 million went to the high school roof. The remaining $1.7 million was largely spent on paving parking lots, NOT our elementary schools.

3] “Hired Mr. Swisher.”

Based on emails from Karen Humphries and former superintendent Dr. Shreffler obtained through a public records request, it’s clear Dr. Shreffler was micromanaged out of the district. He is on record with The Repository stating his reason for resigning was the “board majority” members that include Ryan, Humphries, and Krupko. It is also documented that Mr. Swisher has had out-of-school social relationships with members of the board majority in the past. He was hired by the board majority with NO prior superintendent experience while interviewing NO other candidates.

4] “Adopted new math and reading curriculum.”

The board majority voted to approve a new K to 5 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum last year after admitting NO ONE on the school board read what’s in it! Based on the 2025 state report card, OVER HALF of Marlington sixth grade students are NOT proficient in ELA or math.

5] “Established new vocational computer program…”

The board majority started a computer coding program that it claimed would provide students with certificates with which they could get coding jobs after graduation. Unfortunately, after one year, the program is already OBSOLETE. Experts from Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines, among others in the tech industry, are predicting that artificial intelligence (AI) will be ELIMINATING the vast majority of coding and programming jobs over the next decade. How is that preparing our students for the future? The board majority FAILED to be forward thinking when they created this program.

6] “Restored community support through unity and team leadership.”

How can Mark Ryan, Karen Humphries, and Cathy Krupko restore “unity” when they are three of the most polarizing personalities in the community? Make no mistake. Sadly, the community remains divided because of the board majority’s ongoing support of consolidation and the closure of our community schools which remains widely unpopular and fiscally unsound.