Marion City Schools Board of Education President Schneider resigns

On Mar 25, 2022

Marion City Schools Board of Education President Leslie Schneider resigned from the board Monday, beginning the board’s search for applicants to fill her role throughout the remainder of her unexpired term.

In her resignation letter, she said her resignation would be effective immediately and she made the decision in the best interest of the district and its community.

“While I continue to value public education and the Marion City Schools, I am no longer in a position to fill my board service to its full potential and it would be a disservice to the district and our community to continue,” she said.

Former Board Vice President Kelly Mackay is now to serve as board president for the remainder of the year. The board will select a new vice president upon selecting its new member and having a full board once again.

“Leslie did a fabulous job for us, and she was active in Ohio School Boards Association at the central region level, and they will miss her too,” Mackay said.

“It’s an enormous loss, but she also has a very strong voice for education in Marion City Schools, and I think she will continue to be that voice,” she continued.

Superintendent Dr. Ron Iarussi said the district was not expecting the announcement announcement, but he supports and understands her decision, explaining he believes it was made in order to have more time to spend with her family.

“Obviously we are kind of surprised that Leslie decided to resign. I’ve had a great relationship with Leslie since I’ve been here in Marion, so I certainly appreciate that relationship and the type of dedication and passion that she’s had for the district,” he said.

“I completely understand her desire to spend more time with the family and I know she serves in so many capacities within the community on various boards and volunteers her time a lot, so I know she’s going to continue to support Marion City Schools and I know that she’s going to continue to support the community.”

Iarussi said Schneider let him know on Friday that she was considering this decision. He asked that she take the weekend before making her final decision, which she then announced Monday.

How to apply

The board must name a replacement within 30 days of Schneider’s resignation. A typeable PDF application is available online and will be open until 3 p.m. on April 8. They are to be submitted to district Treasurer Veronica Reinhart at [email protected].

A special meeting to hold an executive session was to be held Wednesday morning, and Mackay said she hoped board members would be able to use that time to schedule a night that works for all four current members to hold applicant interviews between April 11 and April 15.

The newest board member will be chosen on the night of interviews and is to be sworn in at the April 19 board meeting, needing three of the four board members to agree on the choice for it to be finalized.

Mackay said she hopes the board can find common ground even through the tension and disagreement that has characterized the board since its installment of its two newest members, Scott Weibling and Rocky Ratliff, in January.

“We will at least need three to vote on whomever this applicant is, and if we don’t get three votes, then it would go to Judge Fragale to decide,” Mackay said.

“I’m working toward consensus here.”

Iarussi noted that while the selection is a board power and responsibility, he hopes that the board will receive applicants who have as much passion and desire to serve the students in Marion City Schools as Schneider.