North Royalton City Schools Board Member, Dr. Susan G. Clark, will be resigning her seat on the Board of Education effective June 26, 2019. Dr. Clark is the University of Akron’s recipient of a Fulbright Core Teaching Scholarship and will be moving to Norway, affiliated with Østfold University College in Oslo. Clark said she will be teaching high school teachers and students in schools throughout the country about American Education Law, the constitution and school culture.
Dr. Clark, a resident of Lodge Lane, was the Interim Dean of the College of Education and is a Professor in the Department of Higher Education Administration, LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education /K-12 Administration at the University of Akron. She also served as Director with the law firm of McGown and Markling Co., L.P.A. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron, McDowell School of Law; a Ph.D from Kent State University, a Masters of Science degree in Education from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Miami University. She joined the North Royalton Board of Education in January of 2014. She served as president during the 2017 and 2018 calendar years.
Clark’s resignation was announced at the Board’s work session on June 6, and at the June 10 regular Board of Education meeting. School Board President, Dr. John Kelly, stated that “she has been a fundamental piece of the North Royalton Board of Education. From her very first days joining the Board, she’s provided invaluable insight on how we do business. More important than that, whenever she pointed out things we could improve, she always provided concrete cause on how we could do it better,” said Kelly. He noted that her leadership as Board President during the time period where the district was seeking a bond issue was critical to its success. “Personally, we will miss her intuitive and analytical mind. . . We will miss her dry humor and the twinkle in her eyes when she smiles and, of course, her infectious laugh,” said Kelly.
“Dr. Clark, it has been a privilege and an honor to work with you these past five and a half years,” said School Superintendent, Greg Gurka, “On behalf of the students, staff, parents and the administrative team, we thank you for all that you have done, unselfishly, with no agenda, other than to make our district better. Personally, I know, having known you, I am a better Superintendent, I am a better educator and a better person.”
Clark said that her leaving is bittersweet and she does feel a “real sense of loss.” She said that it has been a real pleasure serving the district. She thanked the communities and students for “allowing me the privilege to be just one of many who help set the conditions of our school district for our students to excel.”
The laws in the state of Ohio require that the remaining Board of Education members appoint a replacement to fill this vacancy within 30 days. Interested candidates must be registered to vote and live within the North Royalton City School District’s boundaries. The application procedures to apply for the open vacancy on the North Royalton Board of Education can be found on their website, www.northroyaltonsd.org. Applications must be submitted to Treasurer Biagio Sidoti by 3 p.m. on June 25, 2019. They can be mailed to 6579 Royalton Road, North Royalton, Ohio 44133 or emailed to biagio.sidoti@northroyaltonsd.org. “We are interested in a candidate who is always willing to do what is in the best interest of the children of the North Royalton City Schools,” said Board President Dr. John Kelly. Candidate interviews will take place at the end of June/beginning of July. The swearing in of the candidate chosen will take place at the regular Board of Education meeting on July 8 at 7 p.m. The term of this appointed board member will last until December 31, 2019.
In addition to the permanent opening created by Clark’s vacancy, three other spots on the School Board will be up for grabs in November. The terms of Dr. Kelly, Heidi Dolezal and Anne Reinkober will end. All three have already registered to be on the November ballot. At this time, there is no one else running.
“There will be two ballot items in November,” said Gurka. “The one item will be to elect three board members to a four-year term. Those are the seats currently held by Dr. Kelly, Heidi Dolezal and Anne Reinkober. The second ballot item will be to elect one person to complete the remaining two years of the unexpired term of Dr. Clark. Any person who is interested in running for the vacant seat must secure and file petitions from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections specifically for that contest.” Clark’s term ends in December of 2021.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer