Board of education chooses new member

The newest board member previously worked with a computer network serving public schools in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- The board of education has picked a mechanical design engineer as its newest member.
Gary Koch of Mary Drive was chosen Wednesday from a field of six applicants to replace J.C. Gibson, who resigned from the board at the end of last month, citing personal reasons.
Koch will serve until the end of this year. The November election will determine who will serve the remaining two years of Gibson's term.
The selection followed public interviews of the candidates.
"I just want to use my best judgment and just try to use common sense," Koch said.
School system: Koch has a son who will be a junior at Lordstown High School in the fall. He is administrator for Electronic Data Systems, Warren, and worked from 1992 to 1993 as the project manager for an information network, serving public schools in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
Koch told board members during his interview that he and his family moved to Lordstown because of the quality of the schools, teachers and staff.
Treasurer Mark Ferrara swore Koch in Wednesday.
The appointment means four of the district's five board seats will be on the November ballot.
The terms of Scott Thomas and Roxanna Holton expire at the end of this year. Timothy Rech, who was appointed late last year to replace another board member who resigned, also must run.
Other action: Board members elected Rech vice president, a position that had been occupied by Gibson.
A resolution authorizing employment of an elementary administrator at $240 per day was removed from the agenda. The administrator was to help with new school year preparation.
The elementary school principal post, occupied by Joe Agresta on a per-day basis during the last school year, was cut in the district's attempts to save money. The district has been in fiscal emergency since December.
Superintendent Ray Getz requested removal of the administrator item after William Wenger, chairman of the state commission overseeing district finances, said at a meeting earlier Wednesday that he couldn't support it.