Youngstown school board split on superintendent's personnel moves

YOUNGSTOWN

Discovery Transitions to Careers at Volney has a new principal and assistant principal for the new year – or does it?

The appointments of substitute administrators Carol Staten to the principal position and Carl Sims to the assistant principal post were among the superintendent’s personnel recommendations before the city school board at its regular Tuesday meeting.

Jackie Adair, board member, said she’s concerned about the district continuing to hire people. She pointed to staffing surveys that have found the district employed too many people.

“I’ve asked for a staffing plan,” she said. “If there is one, I’d like to see that before continuing to hire.”

Dario Hunter, a new board member, said he has issues with the appointment of Staten to the principal job when Staten’s appointment to the academic distress commission is the subject of ongoing litigation between the school board and the teachers’ union.

“I take issue with the public image it portrays and with the action itself,” he said.

Stephen Stohla, interim superintendent, said Staten has been doing good work.

“She’s done a heck of a job over at Volney,” he said.

Stohla moved her to the principal job, effective Jan. 4. He moved Linda Reigelman, who previously served as the principal at Volney, to an assistant principal job at Chaney. It was among a handful of administrative changes Stohla made for the beginning of the year.

The board must approve Staten’s and Sims’ appointments.

Hunter said he’s concerned about the appearance of impropriety in Staten’s appointment.

“It does not give the impression of trust in the school board,” he said.

Michael Murphy, Corrine Sanderson and Jerome Williams voted in favor of the recommendations that include Staten’s appointment. Hunter and Adair voted against it, and Ronald Shadd and Brenda Kimble, who are related to Staten, abstained.

That raised the question of whether the motion passed.

Read more about the matter in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.