Unhappy leave-taking Jim Ballinger is the sort of man who is not easy to lose. And the conditions of his retirement are not an easy way to lose him. Infighting on the board of education has worn away at him. One issue led to another issue, and then seemingly to every issue. Finally, it seemed easier to go.
Conflict is inevitable, and differences of opinion are healthy.
But when they push out administrators with the devotion of Jim Ballinger, they become a poor way to operate a school district. And devotion, a highly under-rated quality, has come to be worth quite a lot on the education market. Jim Ballinger's is the hard-earned kind, not easily replaced. It comes from miles of shoe leather, hoofing around Norwood as a kid, walking to school and Xavier University games. I knew then it would not be my livelihood,'' he says with a smile.