14 apply for vacancy on Niles school board

By Jordan Cohen

A 15th person withdrew his application.

NILES — A field of 14 candidates ranging from retirees to a 19-year- old college student has applied for the vacant seat on the board of education — an appointment the board expects to make at its meeting Thursday.

The position became vacant when Dori Gatta MacMillan resigned Dec. 2 for what she described as personal reasons.

A 15th candidate withdrew his application after learning he could not maintain his athletic coaching position in the Niles schools if he were selected, according to Superintendent Rocco Adduci.

The deadline to apply for the post was Monday.

The candidates, who are required to be Niles residents and registered voters, are:

UJames Altier Jr., Lawnview Avenue, logistics and processing worker.

UTraci Butter, Butterfield Circle, certified public accountant.

UVeronica Caruso, Kearney Street, retired day care center operator.

UPatrick DeChristofaro, Hartzell Avenue, Youngstown State University student.

UJoseph Havasi, Bruce Court, land manager,

UNancy Iezzi-Dom, Roosevelt Avenue, retired teacher.

UEric J. Lanham, Spruce Court, marketing manager.

UEdrea Mentkiewicz, South Street, caseworker.

UAnthony Perrone, North Carnegie, vocational skills specialist.

UJohn Pierko, Forest Avenue, environmental sector manager.

UAgostino Ragozzino, Frederick Street, accounts payable manager.

URocky Riviella, Butterfield Circle. Trumbull County engineer’s office controller.

UCarmen Roberts III, Roosevelt Avenue, state of Ohio examiner.

UJacqueline Watkins, Helen Avenue, retired teacher.

Adduci said he is pleased with the number of applicants, which he described as “the largest number for one board position I’ve ever seen.”

The superintendent said two board members will interview all candidates Wednesday and make a recommendation to the rest of the board. The superintendent does not participate in board member selection.

Under state law, the board must fill the vacant position within 30 days of the resignation or the choice will be made by Judge Thomas Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court.

The Thursday meeting is the only regular board session in the 30-day period, and Adduci said he believes the board will be able to make a decision.

Whoever is selected as MacMillan’s replacement will only have the board position until Dec. 31, 2009. The seat is up for election in November 2009.