Board votes to eliminate language in hiring policy

The board also voted to put a renewal levy on the November ballot.
CANFIELD -- The school board voted 3-2 to eliminate language in its employment policy that makes it more difficult to hire relatives.
It was the first reading of the policy revision at the board's meeting Wednesday. The second and final reading will be at the board's August meeting.
Board member David Moore said he was against the revision, which takes out language the school board added last year.
Need for revision
Other board members said they believe the language discriminates against candidates who may be the best for the job, even if they are relatives of someone who works in the district.
Board members explained that the revision would halt a second round of advertising and a second round of interviewing that the district does now to look at as many applicants as possible.
Moore said he believes spending extra money on more advertising is worth it if it brings in good candidates.
The second round of advertising had to be done in a wider geographical area if the board couldn't find enough qualified applicants in a search at local colleges and universities. But Sturm said the second round costs money and time, while good applicants who don't think they have a chance because they are related to someone in the district take jobs elsewhere.
Moore asked that board members Martha Zarlenga, Barry Tancer and Brian Kesner abstain from the vote on the revision because they have relatives working in the district.
Board president Zarlenga said the request was inappropriate. "We don't vote on any labor contracts and we don't vote on their employment," she said. But voting on a policy is appropriate by a board member representing constituents, she said. She, Tancer and Sturm voted in favor of the revision.
Other matters
The board also voted to put a 6.9-mill renewal levy on the November ballot. The five-year levy is for general operating expenses.
The district also will issue $180,000 in bonds to purchase the last 1.8 acres of property at Shields Road and state Route 46. The district bought 23 acres of the property in 2001 for $250,000. Zambrini said the district will use the land to build another school if overcrowding becomes an issue.