Sparks fly at reorganization meeting

YOUNGSTOWN — School board organizational meetings are, generally, mundane affairs.

That wasn’t the case with the city school board’s reorganization Tuesday, which drew a public demand that the board name a vice president and even a call for the resignation of one board member.

The board did unanimously select veteran Shelley Murray as its president for 2008, but initially didn’t intend to name a vice president. Murray said the board decided to delay making that decision for 30 days.

However, as the regular public meeting began a short time later, the Rev. Michael Write, who left the board in December, questioned that decision, suggesting the board had a duty to name a vice president.

Board member Dominic Modarelli suggested an executive session to discuss the issue, but his motion was rejected by the board.

Modarelli, who later said he had considered running for vice president, then nominated Lock P. Beachum Sr. for the post, and Beachum was approved in a 6-1 vote with Jacqueline Taylor opposed. Modarelli, Murray, Beachum, Anthony Catale, Richard Atkinson and Michael Murphy voted for the motion.

Immediately after the vote, Tracey Winbush of Greely Lane, a former member of the board and a radio talk show host, called for Modarelli to resign, claiming that his arrest in November on a domestic violence charge created a double standard.

Children are being held to a standard of no tolerance of violence, she said, adding, “What’s good for one is good for the other.”

Modarelli declined to comment, saying he would issue a statement after the charge against him is resolved.