A third member of the board overseeing Youngstown’s schools has resigned. The district’s CEO is also considering taking a new job out of state.
Barbara Brothers announced her immediate resignation from the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission Wednesday, less than a week after two of her colleagues did the same.
Appointed to the board by the mayor, Brothers tendered her resignation to Tito Brown's Office, according to a district official.
Chair Brian Benyo and Vice Chair Jennifer Roller also stepped down from the board Friday, Benyo citing business obligations in his resignation letter to Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria.
"In addition, I believe this would be a goo dpoint in the (3) year term of the CEO for new leadership to step in place on the ADC to support and take ownership in the process that is underway in Youngstown," he wrote.
In her letter, Roller offered recommendations to DeMaria, including providing a stronger parnership between the ADC and the state, help commisison members access necessary experts in the areas of school budgeting and assesment, and creating and continually reevaluating long-term goals for the district.
Roller, who works with the Raymond John Wean Foundation, said she intends to scontinue to be a resource for the commission and aid in its work.
The ADC was appointed to help oversee the turnaround of the academically distressed school district after years of failing test scores thorugh House Bill 70, referred to by some as the Youngstown Plan. The bill sets forth the process for what is a essentially a takeover of failing school districts, taking the powers of the local board of education and superintendent and giving them to an appointed CEO, with the exception of the ability to place a levy before voters.
In June of 2016, the Youngstown ADC hired current CEO Krish Mohip, who announced Tuesday he may also be leaving the district. Mohip is one of two finalists to lead Boulder Valley School District, in Boulder, Colorado.
While Mohip has not resigned, he said in a written statement he began looking for a new job after his Youngstown home was vandalized for a third time in November.
Replacement board members will be appointed by DeMaria and Brown.
Should Mohip resign, his replacement will be determined by the Youngstown ADC.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to include information about the resignation of ADC Member Barbara Brothers, and details from the ADC members' resignation letters.
