Academic commission chairman resigns, replacement named

Academic commission chairman resigns, replacement named

Youngstown

The commission charged with developing a plan to move the city schools out of academic distress has a new leader for the second time in three months.

Richard Ross, retired superintendent of Reynoldsburg Schools near Columbus, announced his resignation as commission chairman this week. Adrienne O’Neill, a commission member, will take his place.

Stan Heffner, state superintendent of public instruction, had appointed Ross last November to lead the academic distress commission, the only one in the state. It was established in 2010 after the district failed to meet adequate yearly progress for four consecutive school years.

Debra Mettee, superintendent of Springfield Schools, had led the commission since its 2010 establishment but resigned late last year.

Ross couldn’t be reached on Tuesday.

“Superintendent Heffner has asked Dr. Adrienne O’Neill to replace Dr. Richard Ross as chair of the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission,” Patrick Gallaway, an Ohio Department of Education spokesman, said in an email. “Supt. Heffner will appoint a new commission member to ensure that he has three representatives on the commission as required by Ohio law.”

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com