The Washington Local Schools Board of Education is under new leadership, as newly elected members Irshad Bannister and Karen Mayfield were elected president and vice president of the board.
Newly elected members Melanie Garcia, Mr. Bannister, and Mrs. Mayfield were sworn in during Wednesday’s board meeting. Mr. Bannister was elected as president — with incumbent Mark Hughes also nominated — and Mrs. Mayfield as vice president.
Mr. Bannister, a two-time candidate, was elected with a three to two vote. Thomas Ilstrup, Mrs. Mayfield, and Mr. Bannister all voted in favor.
Mrs. Garcia, who voted for Mr. Hughes, said she believed seasoned board members should lead as president and vice president.
“I knew that one of the hardest things, and the first thing we would have to do, is vote for president and vice president,” Mrs. Garcia said. “My concerns are that I, nor Irshad, nor Karen have the knowledge or legal terminology that we need to be named president. I feel that either Mr. Hughes or Mr. Ilstrup being that they’re seasoned board members should be nominated as president and vice president.”
Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Ilstrup both declined nominations for vice president.
Mrs. Mayfield was elected vice president with a three to two vote. Mr. Ilstrup, Mr. Bannister and Mrs. Mayfield voted in favor.
Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Hughes abstained.
After the leadership was selected, the board unanimously approved a resolution opposing the expansion of EdChoice — one of four scholarship programs for the state that provides tax dollars to pay tuition at private schools.
For the 2020 academic year, the Ohio Department of Education has expanded the designated schools eligible for vouchers to 1,200 schools statewide.
With eight schools on the designated list, Washington Local Schools is projected to lose nearly $800,000 to scholarship vouchers.
Mr. Hughes said the expansion of EdChoice will be a hindrance to the district.
“As we know, the state hasn’t been good to us with us being capped,” he said, referring to how the state’s school funding formula has capped increases in aid to the district. “This is a double whammy that the entire state is feeling. This could impact us by millions of dollars each year.”
Superintendent Kadee Anstadt said the district has a short window before applications open for vouchers Feb. 1.
“We’re pushing hard between now and that time,” she said. “The resolution is kind of our kick-off campaign for the next 26 days. We’ll have a letter going out to the community digging deeper and talking about why Washington Local is a better choice and a good bargain for residents. We’ll also have a social media campaign that will include graphics.”
First Published January 9, 2020, 12:43 a.m.
