Retired JFK principal appointed to Youngstown BOE

Two school board members said they favored another candidate for the post.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school board has chosen a retired high school principal to fill the remaining 2 1‚Ñ2 years in the term of board member Shelley Murray, who resigned.

By a vote of 4-2 Tuesday, the board selected June Drennen of 244 Tod Lane to fill the post. Drennen retired in June 2008 as principal of John F. Kennedy High School in Warren but has more than 30 years of experience in the field of education. She is a graduate of The Rayen School.

Drennen was one of 13 applicants for the appointment and one of three finalists interviewed by the board.

The other finalists were Andrea Mahone of 309 Belle Vista Ave. and Lee D. Pupio of 3432 N. Wendover Circle.

The board was unable to come to a decision at a meeting last week and recessed that session until Tuesday to try again.

Board members debated the appointment behind closed doors in executive session for 45 minutes before making the appointment in open session, prompting some in the audience waiting for the board to act to question the legality of the executive session.

Anthony Catale, board president, said he had legal opinions from both the board’s solicitor, Atty. Ted Roberts, and the Ohio School Boards Association, that the debate could be conducted in private.

Board member Lock P. Beachum Sr. made the motion to appoint Drennen, explaining, “We’re trying to avoid going to court,” a reference to the Mahoning County Probate Court’s making the appointment if the school board failed to do so within 30 days of Murray’s resignation.

He declined to characterize Drennen’s choice as a compromise, stressing, “She’s highly qualified.”

Drennen had the support of Beachum, Catale, Dominic Modarelli and Michael Murphy.

Board members Jacqueline Taylor and Richard Atkinson cast the dissenting votes.

Taylor said later she felt Mahone was “the best-qualified person” and already had expressed interest in a seat on the board by filing to run for election to one of three open spots in November.

Atkinson said both Drennen and Mahone were good candidates but indicated he preferred Mahone because of her background of working with children. Mahone is community youth director for the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.

Drennen, in her letter of application, said she has experience working with curriculum, teacher evaluation, state regulations and budget as well as work related to the state evaluation of schools for accreditation.

“I see parents and teachers as role models and would truly love to be involved in the Youngstown city cchools,” she wrote.

Before serving as principal at John F. Kennedy for nine years, she was principal of St. Edward School, Youngstown, for five years. Before that, she taught English at St. Mary Middle School, Warren.

gwin@vindy.com

A short biography of June Drennen, whom the Youngstown Board of Education chose Tuesday to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of Shelley Murray.

Education: Graduate of The Rayen School, 1960; bachelor’s degree in English from Youngstown State University,1965; master’s degree in educational administration from YSU, 1995.

Employment: Teacher, St. Mary Middle School, Warren; principal, St. Edward School, Youngstown; principal, John F. Kennedy High School, Warren.

Civic memberships: ACTION [Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods] board of directors, secretary; Friends of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County; Goodwill Women’s League.

Source: Youngstown City School District application for board member