By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - After squeezing out a 23-vote board of education election victory, Mason school parent Deborah Delp is working to bring residents here closer to the school board.

The mother of four won her first publicly elected post in November, and after being sworn onto the five-member Mason Board of Education she immediately initiated an unusual series of public gatherings, outside the board's twice-monthly meetings.

The 52-year-old former president of the Mason Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and longtime school volunteer points to the low public participation at school board meetings, which are usually held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Mason High School.

Delp met with about a half-dozen parents last month at Kidd Coffee, 322 Reading Road in Mason, and is holding another meeting there at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17.

"I wanted to find a way people could informally ask questions and comment on the schools," said Delp, who also works as an office manager with the Ohio State University Extension Office in Lebanon.

But fellow board member Marianne Culbertson said: "I don't necessarily agree with holding separate meetings. A board of education should act as one voice; otherwise, it causes confusion.

"We certainly welcome her to the board, but we would like to work as a group," Culbertson added. "We have a lot of respect for all her volunteering work over the years and her work as a PTO president, but the community elected five school board members who are always available."

Culbertson, a 10-year veteran of the board, noted that board members' phone numbers and e-mail addresses are available to the public via the Mason Schools Web site, www.masonohioschools.com.

Parents, however, raised no objections to Delp's meetings.

Nancy Kingsolver, a parent of three Mason students, said, "The more communication the better. Frankly, what's the harm in it?"

Delp won a close election on her second try for a school board seat. She edged former Mason Board of Education President Eric Kantor, 2,785 votes to 2,762.

"I'm not making any decisions for the board and I'm not trying to create another board meeting," she said. "I see so much good coming from openness rather than any sort of risk from it."

Deborah Delp

NAME: Deborah Delp

PUBLIC OFFICE: Mason Board of Education (first term)

WORK: Office Manager for the Ohio State Extension Office in Lebanon

AGE: 52

FAMILY: Married to Ted Delp with four children with three graduating from Mason and one a freshman at the high school.

WEBSITE: www.debbiedelp.homestead.com

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E-mail mclark@enquirer.com