The North Royalton Board of Education voted to select Carlin Culbertson as the new Board member, replacing John Higgins, who resigned from the post effective May 20. Higgins was elected at the November, 2023 election. Higgins accepted a job in Cincinnati and is moving from the area.
Culbertson, a North Royalton resident, is a Certified Public Accountant, and has been working at a public accounting firm for nineteen years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Akron, with a minor in Entrepreneurship. His civic and professional involvements include serving as a past board member (2017-2023) and board president (2022-2023) for the Adoption Network of Cleveland, as well as a past board member for Cleveland Hearing and Speech (2020-2023).
He is currently the Director of Finance for Summit Construction Company, who “focuses on public K-12 schools, vocational schools and facilities construction,” according to his application. He has two children currently attending the North Royalton schools.
Culbertson is a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors Political Action Committee and the North Royalton Elementary and Middle School PTAs. He also served on the North Royalton School’s Community Facilities Advisory Committee after the school bond issue passed.
At the May School Board meeting, Higgins stated that “it’s been a pleasure and I’ve enjoyed every minute of service. . . My children and my family have had the pleasure of being in this district for the past three to four years and I’m going to miss you guys greatly.”
According to Ohio laws, the Board members vote to replace the Board member within 30 days of the date of the vacancy. It states that candidates must be registered to vote and live within the boundaries of the North Royalton City School District, which contains part of Broadview Heights. An application process took place in accordance with the state law, and had to be submitted to North Royalton School District Treasurer Biagio Sidoti by 3:00 p.m. on May 21. The following applications were submitted:
Bridget Wu, Michelle E. Killin-Keith, Richard Gurin, Jayson Saul, Aldo M. Filappelli, Jeffrey Andrew Roth, Amy Kunz, Carlin Nathan Culbertson, Andrew Joseph Furio, Vincent Patrick Weimer, Michele Knapp Boat, Susan Margaret Kozimor, Kevin Joseph Sexton, Rachel L. Steinlage, and Michael B. Telep.
School Board members held interviews on Thursday and Friday, May 23 and 24. The Board then voted to make their selection at a special meeting on Friday, May 31. Culbertson will be sworn in at the June 17 Work Session.
Culbertson was selected to serve until December 31, 2025. Voters will determine who will fill the seat for the remaining portion of the unexpired term at the November, 2025 election. That term will expire on December 31, 2027.
“He has a financial background, various community service on boards and young children in the district,” said North Royalton School Board President, Jackie Arendt. “With fifteen applicants, the board had a lot of amazing candidates! We were happy so many people want to work to support our public schools.”

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer