Gantz named to Wooster board of education
The Wooster City School District board of education is once again up to its full complement of five members.
During its March 22 meeting, the board voted unanimously to appoint Bill Gantz as its newest member.
According to Wooster City School District Superintendent Michael Tefs, Gantz is a lifelong resident of Wooster. He and his two daughters graduated from Wooster High School, where Gantz served as president of the Athletic Booster Club.
In addition, Gantz has served the community as a member of the Wooster planning commission and the building and zoning appeals board.
Gantz is an engineer and a member of the board of directors of The Ruhlin Company, a construction management firm based in Sharon Center. During his tenure at Ruhlin, Gantz has served as the project executive for the Akron Public Schools project and has extensive experience working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC).
His experience with school construction projects made him an ideal candidate to fill the vacant position on the board.
“As a school board, we felt Bill’s background as a professional engineer, particularly one with OSFC knowledge, filled in an area of expertise we didn’t have on our board,” said James Barnard, board of education president. “His experience will also provide us with insight when we begin the building efficiency study.
“We look forward to working with Bill and learning from his experience,” said Barnard.
Gantz sees his longtime interest in the district and his professional and civic experience as pluses as he takes on his new responsibilities.
“I have always been a taxpayer interested in education,” said Gantz. “I am at the point in my life where I can dedicate the time necessary to be a committed board member.
“I do have previous board experience in other areas and for the majority of my professional career I have worked on projects relating to school facilities and have worked closely with a number of school boards,” said Gantz. “I look forward to bringing my experience and ideas to the Wooster city school board.”
Gantz fills the seat vacated by board member Denise Parker, who resigned Feb. 22 due to personal and professional commitments.
By board policy, the remaining board members were required to fill the vacancy at their next regular or special meeting.
The district accepted letters of interest from individuals interested in presenting their name for consideration through March 4. During the week of March 14, the remaining four board members conducted interviews with the candidates before settling on Gantz as their consensus choice to fulfill Parker’s unexpired term.
After being formally approved by the board during their March 22 meeting, Bonnie West, district treasurer, administered the oath of office to Gantz.
On behalf of its members, Barnard welcomed Gantz to the board and thanked him for his “willingness to serve at this time of great challenge in the world of education and certainly institutions that receive state funding and public dollars.”
Bob Reynolds, board vice president, noted that there were three other applicants who expressed an interest in filling the vacant board seat.
“I want to recognize them and thank them for their support of the district…and their willingness to serve the district,” said Reynolds.
The appointment of Gantz marks the second time in recent months that the board has undertaken the process of replacing one of its own. In July of last year, Mike Steiner was appointed to serve the unexpired term of then board president Michael Baus, who resigned from the board in order to become the head coach of the Wooster High School girls basketball team.
During its March 22 meeting, the board voted unanimously to appoint Bill Gantz as its newest member.
According to Wooster City School District Superintendent Michael Tefs, Gantz is a lifelong resident of Wooster. He and his two daughters graduated from Wooster High School, where Gantz served as president of the Athletic Booster Club.
In addition, Gantz has served the community as a member of the Wooster planning commission and the building and zoning appeals board.
Gantz is an engineer and a member of the board of directors of The Ruhlin Company, a construction management firm based in Sharon Center. During his tenure at Ruhlin, Gantz has served as the project executive for the Akron Public Schools project and has extensive experience working with the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC).
His experience with school construction projects made him an ideal candidate to fill the vacant position on the board.
“As a school board, we felt Bill’s background as a professional engineer, particularly one with OSFC knowledge, filled in an area of expertise we didn’t have on our board,” said James Barnard, board of education president. “His experience will also provide us with insight when we begin the building efficiency study.
“We look forward to working with Bill and learning from his experience,” said Barnard.
Gantz sees his longtime interest in the district and his professional and civic experience as pluses as he takes on his new responsibilities.
“I have always been a taxpayer interested in education,” said Gantz. “I am at the point in my life where I can dedicate the time necessary to be a committed board member.
“I do have previous board experience in other areas and for the majority of my professional career I have worked on projects relating to school facilities and have worked closely with a number of school boards,” said Gantz. “I look forward to bringing my experience and ideas to the Wooster city school board.”
Gantz fills the seat vacated by board member Denise Parker, who resigned Feb. 22 due to personal and professional commitments.
By board policy, the remaining board members were required to fill the vacancy at their next regular or special meeting.
The district accepted letters of interest from individuals interested in presenting their name for consideration through March 4. During the week of March 14, the remaining four board members conducted interviews with the candidates before settling on Gantz as their consensus choice to fulfill Parker’s unexpired term.
After being formally approved by the board during their March 22 meeting, Bonnie West, district treasurer, administered the oath of office to Gantz.
On behalf of its members, Barnard welcomed Gantz to the board and thanked him for his “willingness to serve at this time of great challenge in the world of education and certainly institutions that receive state funding and public dollars.”
Bob Reynolds, board vice president, noted that there were three other applicants who expressed an interest in filling the vacant board seat.
“I want to recognize them and thank them for their support of the district…and their willingness to serve the district,” said Reynolds.
The appointment of Gantz marks the second time in recent months that the board has undertaken the process of replacing one of its own. In July of last year, Mike Steiner was appointed to serve the unexpired term of then board president Michael Baus, who resigned from the board in order to become the head coach of the Wooster High School girls basketball team.
Published: March 29, 2011
