Mayor Don Plusquellic Names Committee to Evaluate School Board Candidates

(Akron, Ohio) Twenty-one citizens have been named by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic to a Committee which will evaluate citizens for the Akron School Board contest in November. The Committee to Evaluate School Board Candidates will be chaired by Dave Lieberth who chaired the Imagine.Akron:2025 program for the city in 1999-2000.

In making the appointments, Plusquellic noted that he had attempted to create a balance in the group to represent the many diverse constituencies in the city. Every ward in Akron and every public school cluster will be represented on the committee. Of the 21 nominees: 13 are registered as Democrats, 7 as Republicans, and 1 is Independent; 10 are parents of children presently attending Akron Public Schools; 12 have served on committees for the Akron Public Schools, and 10 have been active in PTA groups; 7 are employed in the private sector, 5 are employed in the public sector, 6 are employed by non-profit organizations, and 3 are retired or work at home.

Among the members of the committee are a former Republican mayor of Akron, two former members of the Akron school board, and the president of the Akron Council of PTA's.

The members of the committee appointed by Plusquellic include: Jody Bacon, ARDB representative and President, Akron Community Foundation; Bruce Bolden, Member, APS Strategic Planning Team; Rick Buchanan, PTA President, Portage Path Elementary; Malcom Costa, President & CEO, Akron-Summit Community Action Agency; Rev. Arthur S. Green, Pastor, St. John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; Jean Jordan, Retired Teacher; Rita Kelley, Director of Newspaper in Education program, Beacon Journal; Jim Laria, Clerk, Akron Municipal Court and former member, Akron School Board; Rev. David Loar, Senior Minister, Fairlawn West UCC; Gina Kaye Maddox, Corporate Trainer, First Merit Bank; Roy Ray, CFO, Cleveland State University and former Mayor of Akron; Toby Rosen, CPA and Federal Bankruptcy Trustee; Mark Salchak, Realtor and Chairman, APS Facilities Steering Committee; Jackie Silas-Butler, Executive Director, Caring Communities of Summit County; Shirley Simon, Akron Bar Association representative and Director, Street Law Project; Frances Simonson, President, Akron Council of PTA's; Dr. John Watt, Professor of Education (retired) University of Akron, and member, Akron School Board, 20 years; Joseph White, Executive Director, Summit County Children Services Board; Douglas Wagner M.D. and president, Firestone High School Aquatic Assn.; Debbie Westfall, parent and teacher, Akron Public Schools; Bernett L. Williams, Executive Director, Akron Community Service Center & Urban League. There will be one or two members added by next Monday.

The mayor announced formation of the committee August 7 after officials of the Akron Regional Development Board suggested that Plusquellic consider creation of a process to review candidates, and to publish evaluations for use by voters and by potential supporters of School Board campaigns. This effort follows the work in early July by Development Committee Steve Albrecht, who undertook an effort on behalf of the business group to recruit candidates for the School Board race.

The mayor said he expects the committee to be convened by Lieberth within the coming week. He has challenged the group to complete its evaluation by October. The Committee will develop its own procedures for establishing criteria for school board candidates and developing an evaluation process. Plusquellic will not participate in the meetings of the committee or its deliberations.

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