YOUNGSTOWN SCHOOLS

YOUNGSTOWN SCHOOLS

Six candidates seek three seats on the Youngstown school board. An (*) denotes an incumbent.

Jackie Adair

Education: A bachelor’s degree and master’s in business administration from Youngstown State University, East High School graduate.

Employment: Retired as a supervisor from the U.S. Postal Service and has worked as a substitute teacher in the Youngstown district and at other schools

Family: Widowed, two adult children, three grandchildren.

Priority: To bring us up to academic excellence, keep close reigns on spending, make sure we don’t fall back into fiscal emergency, get more parents more involved in the school system.

Richard “Dickie” Atkinson*

Education: Graduate of The Rayen School

Employment: Retired corridor administrator for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Family: Wife, Eugenia; five adult children.

Priority: Achieve academic excellence, maintain fiscal accountability, promote increased parental involvement.

June Drennen*

Education: Bachelor’s degree from YSU, master’s in educational administration from Walsh College, graduate of The Rayen School.

Employment: Retired principal from Warren JFK High School and teacher in parochial schools.

Family: Husband, Richard, and two adult children.

Priority: Since learning takes place in the classroom, all teachers must be evaluated carefully and be given professional development where needed. Excellent teachers should be rewarded. All principals must become instructional leaders and be able to evaluate and help teachers to improve. Problems with the charter schools need to be addressed with the state.

Marcia Haire-Ellis

Education: Bachelor’s degree in education and master’s in counseling, both from YSU; and East High School graduate.

Employment: Self-employed owner of a beauty salon, retired from the city schools after 35 years as a teacher and school counselor.

Family: Two adult sons.

Priority: Working with the superintendent to improve academic achievement. Greater parental involvement by promoting community-friendly schools and exploring new communication ideas. Fiscal accountability beginning with a review of the performance audit and budget along with seeking creative funding sources and ideas.

Brenda Kimble

Education: Attending YSU, Chaney High School graduate.

Employment: Self-employed, Add-A-Touch Limousine Service.

Family: Husband, Malcolm; four children and three grandchildren.

Priority: Increase communication between families and the school district. Support STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] programming. Ensure that work force data is shared with families so that employment and post-secondary education goals are linked to industries that are vital, growing, that need a skilled and educated work force, and that are within the Mahoning Valley. Work with educators to identify assistance they may need to increase their effectiveness.

Michael Murphy*

Education: High school graduate.

Employment: Youngstown Water Department pump operator since 1976.

Family: Wife, Lorraine, and one daughter.

Priority: Keep the district out of fiscal emergency; watch spending. Secondly, help to keep the district moving toward an excellent rating.