It's Official: Madak to Step Down, Patterson to Step Up

During last night's regular meeting at , the Lakewood Board of Education gave the bittersweet announcement that will be resigning at the end of July.

The news comes at a critical time for Lakewood’s schools as they’ll soon grapple with state funding cuts that could pose significant budget problems in the years ahead.

“In different parts of our lives as we go through different experiences, we come across singular folks that really have a tremendous impact that you can really learn things from,” board member Ed Favre said. "Joe Madak is that person to me. More importantly, the school district has definitely benefitted from him being here.”

Following the announcement, the board warmly and unanimously voted to appoint assistant superintendant Jeff Patterson as Madak’s successor starting August 1.

Madak led the district from 1995 to 2004, organized a citywide school building construction plan that’s in its third and final phase and was persuaded by colleagues to return in August of 2009 to help balance the beleaguered general fund.

To help pull the district out of a multi-million dollar deficit, he and treasurer Rick Berdine worked to pass a 6.9-mill levy last May and cut $8 million from the district’s $70 million budget. 

However, the levy and the millions in cuts will only help to right the budget for the short term as Ohio’s school districts have been told to brace for a 10- to 30- percent cut in state educational funding over the next five years, Berdine said.

Madak, who’s contract was set to expire July 31, 2012, said he's stepping down for personal reasons.

“My wife and I have led separate lives for two years now, and it was either step down this July or work for the next two to three years to work out these state funding cuts," he said. "I chose returning to California to be with my family and I will work over the next six months to help with the transition as Jeff Patterson —whom I fully endorse and have complete faith in — takes the lead.”

Officials know the budget situation is going to get bad, but just how bad is the question. Berdine said the state cuts, if too deep, could create a “disastrous” budget problem for the district.

“We’ve been told to forecast scenarios with 10 percent state funding loss, 15 percent and 20 percent,” Berdine said. “There were people talking as high as 30 percent. We’ve looked at 10’s through 20’s. Our current five year forecast projects a 10 percent funding loss, and if that’s accurate, we know we have about a $2.4 million structural operating deficit we have to deal with for next year.”

“If it becomes 20 percent, that number is more like a $4.4 million (deficit for next year). We’ll do better with the $2.4 million than we will the $4.4 million, obviously…further funding losses will only force us to make more decisions…we just won’t be able to offer the breadth and depth of services we do now. It just won’t be possible.”

Rumors have swirled as to what may hit the chopping block, but officials agree the cuts will be painful as all the “fat” has already been trimmed off the school budget.

This July, when the state funding cuts are officially announced, Patterson, Berdine and Madak will most likely start cutting into the “muscle” of the budget, meaning more pay freezes, layoffs and the cutting or elimination of school programs.

“In spite of these challenging issues, I feel fortunate moving into this position because we have a visionary board of education willing to do what is best for our students, we have an excellent school treasurer and cabinet, we have effective building principals and a very, very talented staff,” Patterson said.

"Thank you for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to working with you in the years to come to serve our community’s greatest resource — our children.”