Stewart praised as she retires as Mahoning County CSB chief

YOUNGSTOWN — Leaders of the local social-services community praised the work of Denise Stewart, who has retired as executive director of the Mahoning County Children Services Board, effective Tuesday.

Stewart, who declined to comment on her retirement, had been placed on paid administrative

suspension through today by the 13-member board at a hastily announced special board meeting Dec. 21.

After that meeting, the Rev. Lewis Macklin, CSB chairman, said Stewart, who was appointed executive director in 1998, was suspended pending a CSB investigation, but he would not be specific about what was being investigated.

The Rev. Mr. Macklin and CSB’s acting director, Tony Paris, could not be reached to comment today.

“Her work ethic and her skill are, and always have been, unassailable,” Elsie Dursi, who was at CSB when Stewart joined the child welfare agency as a caseworker in 1974, said of Stewart.

“Denise has poured herself into her career and has earned the respect of her staff,” said Dursi, a social worker, who is a close personal friend of Stewart as well as a professional colleague.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com