Parker resigns from Wooster Board of Education
For the second time in recent months, a member of the Wooster City School District Board of Education has resigned.
During the Feb. 22 meeting of the board of education, Jim Barnard, board president, read a letter dated Feb. 20 from Parker, announcing her intention to resign.
“I write with mixed emotions to resign – effective today, Feb. 22, 2011 – from the school board,” Barnard quoted Parker as saying in her letter.
“Job and family commitments have changed immensely since my election to the board in 2007, preventing me from spending the necessary time in order to serve effectively in this office,” said Parker, citing the reason for her decision.
“Although no longer serving on the board after this evening, I plan to remain involved in the school system and welcome involvement in committees,” Parker concluded her letter.
“Mrs. Parker, it is with hesitation that the board unfortunately has to make a formal motion to accept your resignation, but before we take a vote on behalf of the board, I would like to thank you for the three years of your personal time and commitment and leadership in the changes in course that we have come through in the last three years,” said Barnard.
“We certainly recognize and understand that grandchildren came into the mix during that time and obviously, that’s a priority… and that professionally, things have changed significantly since your election to the board as well,” said Barnard adding, “we certainly wish you well.”
“Working with you as superintendent, you bring such a calm demeanor and you are incredibly reflective yet visionary at the same time,” said Superintendent Michael Tefs.
“For me, I found your leadership on this board to be terrific. I want you to know that you not only have had an impact on kids in this district, but you had an impact on the superintendent as well and I thank you for that,” said Tefs.
According to Tefs, board policy dictates the steps that need to be taken in order to fill the board vacancy left by Parker’s resignation.
Tefs noted that the policy requires the board to fill the vacancy at its next regular or special meeting, but not earlier than 10 days after the vacancy occurs.
According to the terms of the policy, the district is required to make the community aware of the vacancy and to ask interested candidates to present their name for consideration by submitting a letter of interest in writing to the district.
Tefs noted that the responsibility then falls to the remaining members of the board “to review and screen all the candidates and choose the candidates to be interviewed from the list of candidates working toward filling this at your next board meeting, which would be the March meeting.”
The board currently has a work session scheduled for March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Central Office and a regular meeting scheduled for March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Wooster High School Large Group Instruction Room.
According to the board policy, should the remaining board members be unable to agree on a selection by majority vote within 30 days of the Feb. 22 effective date of Parker’s resignation, the task falls to the local probate judge to fill the vacancy.
A notice posted on the district’s website notes that in order to be eligible for consideration for the appointment, candidates must be 18 years of age and a registered voter within the Wooster City School district at least 30 days prior to appointment.
Applications, which consist of a letter of intent, must be forwarded to the attention of Bonnie West, treasurer, Wooster City Schools, Central Office, 144 North Market St., Wooster 44691 or to West’s e-mail address at wstr_bwest00@woostercityschools.org by 4 p.m. on March 4.
Should an interested individual need further information, the notice directs the candidates to contact West by e-mail or by phone at 330-264-0869, ext. 1231.
More information can also be found on the district’s website, http://www.woostercityschools.org.
Parker’s action follows the resignation of former board of education President Dr. Michael Baus last June. Baus stepped down from the board in order to become the Wooster High School girls basketball team head coach. The board formally accepted Baus’ resignation during their June 29, 2010 meeting.
During the Feb. 22 meeting of the board of education, Jim Barnard, board president, read a letter dated Feb. 20 from Parker, announcing her intention to resign.
“I write with mixed emotions to resign – effective today, Feb. 22, 2011 – from the school board,” Barnard quoted Parker as saying in her letter.
“Job and family commitments have changed immensely since my election to the board in 2007, preventing me from spending the necessary time in order to serve effectively in this office,” said Parker, citing the reason for her decision.
“Although no longer serving on the board after this evening, I plan to remain involved in the school system and welcome involvement in committees,” Parker concluded her letter.
“Mrs. Parker, it is with hesitation that the board unfortunately has to make a formal motion to accept your resignation, but before we take a vote on behalf of the board, I would like to thank you for the three years of your personal time and commitment and leadership in the changes in course that we have come through in the last three years,” said Barnard.
“We certainly recognize and understand that grandchildren came into the mix during that time and obviously, that’s a priority… and that professionally, things have changed significantly since your election to the board as well,” said Barnard adding, “we certainly wish you well.”
“Working with you as superintendent, you bring such a calm demeanor and you are incredibly reflective yet visionary at the same time,” said Superintendent Michael Tefs.
“For me, I found your leadership on this board to be terrific. I want you to know that you not only have had an impact on kids in this district, but you had an impact on the superintendent as well and I thank you for that,” said Tefs.
According to Tefs, board policy dictates the steps that need to be taken in order to fill the board vacancy left by Parker’s resignation.
Tefs noted that the policy requires the board to fill the vacancy at its next regular or special meeting, but not earlier than 10 days after the vacancy occurs.
According to the terms of the policy, the district is required to make the community aware of the vacancy and to ask interested candidates to present their name for consideration by submitting a letter of interest in writing to the district.
Tefs noted that the responsibility then falls to the remaining members of the board “to review and screen all the candidates and choose the candidates to be interviewed from the list of candidates working toward filling this at your next board meeting, which would be the March meeting.”
The board currently has a work session scheduled for March 14 at 7 p.m. in the Central Office and a regular meeting scheduled for March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Wooster High School Large Group Instruction Room.
According to the board policy, should the remaining board members be unable to agree on a selection by majority vote within 30 days of the Feb. 22 effective date of Parker’s resignation, the task falls to the local probate judge to fill the vacancy.
A notice posted on the district’s website notes that in order to be eligible for consideration for the appointment, candidates must be 18 years of age and a registered voter within the Wooster City School district at least 30 days prior to appointment.
Applications, which consist of a letter of intent, must be forwarded to the attention of Bonnie West, treasurer, Wooster City Schools, Central Office, 144 North Market St., Wooster 44691 or to West’s e-mail address at wstr_bwest00@woostercityschools.org by 4 p.m. on March 4.
Should an interested individual need further information, the notice directs the candidates to contact West by e-mail or by phone at 330-264-0869, ext. 1231.
More information can also be found on the district’s website, http://www.woostercityschools.org.
Parker’s action follows the resignation of former board of education President Dr. Michael Baus last June. Baus stepped down from the board in order to become the Wooster High School girls basketball team head coach. The board formally accepted Baus’ resignation during their June 29, 2010 meeting.
Published: February 28, 2011
