Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Complaints against officer keep coming
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Region makes way for latest batch of snow; cancellations rise
Cuyahoga Falls residents come home to find burning couch on balcony
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Garfield at Buchtel basketball
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:40 p.m. EST, Nov 23, 2009
The Akron school board will have to look no farther than its current president when it considers in January who should replace Kirt Conrad.
With two years left to serve on his four-year term, Conrad is leaving at the end of the year because of a new job that requires him to move.
Board President James Hardy, who did not seek re-election this year, also is stepping down at the end of the year, but he says he is willing to come back to complete Conrad's term.
''It's up to them,'' Hardy said. ''I serve at the pleasure of the board come January.''
Hardy announced in June that he would not run again because he could not be a candidate for office while working as an elections official for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
That changed in September — after the Aug. 20 filing deadline for the November election passed — when Kent State University hired him to be an administrative assistant working with the board of trustees.
''The deadline had already come and passed before this was even an option,'' Hardy said.
The board has no formal process for filling unexpired terms and could either take applications for the position or simply appoint someone.
''While I'm not actively lobbying for the appointment, I'm certainly ready and willing to serve if asked,'' Hardy said.
The Akron school board will have to look no farther than its current president when it considers in January who should replace Kirt Conrad.
With two years left to serve on his four-year term, Conrad is leaving at the end of the year because of a new job that requires him to move.
Board President James Hardy, who did not seek re-election this year, also is stepping down at the end of the year, but he says he is willing to come back to complete Conrad's term.
''It's up to them,'' Hardy said. ''I serve at the pleasure of the board come January.''
Hardy announced in June that he would not run again because he could not be a candidate for office while working as an elections official for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
That changed in September — after the Aug. 20 filing deadline for the November election passed — when Kent State University hired him to be an administrative assistant working with the board of trustees.
''The deadline had already come and passed before this was even an option,'' Hardy said.
The board has no formal process for filling unexpired terms and could either take applications for the position or simply appoint someone.
''While I'm not actively lobbying for the appointment, I'm certainly ready and willing to serve if asked,'' Hardy said.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Stow, OH
Posted 11:21 PM, 11/23/2009
The is something unseemly about Mr. Hardy assuming this seat over a person who stood for election. I understood he wanted to run but was not allowed to do so. That being said, the bottom line is that he did not run. From my perspective, that puts him in line behind Dianna Smith, Rita Hosch, Virgil Ortiz, and Mexie Wilson - the candidates who were on the ballot and placed 4, 5, 6, and 7 on November 3. The mere fact that he mentioned a possible appointment is lobbying. I hope that Mr. Hardy understands that even though he is a capable fellow, he is replacable.
akron, oh
Posted 07:53 AM, 11/24/2009
@ think - good point. Maybe the position should go to the runner up.
Akron, OH
Posted 07:54 AM, 11/24/2009
I would rather have Mr Hardy on the school board than another, Dianna Smith, who cheated her way through high school and was kicked off Kent State's golf team for cheating. What message are we sending with her in the seat? Let's choose someone who has already done a great job and who has the experience!
Akron, OH
Posted 01:15 PM, 11/24/2009
Akron16...
While I thought that (overall) Mr. Hardy had done a good job during his 4 year term, I have found some of his recent actions towards and public comments to the incoming members of the School Board to be suspect.
Telling the newly ELECTED school board members that "There is nothing that can erode their ability to do their job faster than people thinking they can go to a board member" when a citizen disagrees with a member of the UNELECTED staff of Akron Public Schools bad counsel and does not reflect the reason that we VOTE in our members of the school board to be our voice.
Since the school board hires the Superintendent and Treasurer, they are the EXACT people that should be approached when residents have a problem with the actions or decisions of those individuals that don't get resolved by those individuals.
Stow, OH
Posted 02:45 PM, 11/24/2009
I agree that board members should be accessible to cititzens who have a concern. I also believe that board members should make sure the person expressing the concern has pretty much exhuasted their avenues of redress within the "unelected staff". For example, I do not think it appropriate for a board member to act on a parent complaint about a student's grade on an assignment unless the parent has first talked with the teacher, principal, appropriate central office person, and the superintendent's office.
Stow, OH
Posted 02:56 PM, 11/24/2009
To akron16: You make some serious allegations regarding Dianna Smith. Would you please provide some specifics? I would like to know how she "cheated her way through high school" and exactly what led to her removal from the Kent State golf team. Such a fundamental attack on someone's character should be accompanied by proof.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:42 PM, 12/05/2009
I would like to take a moment to set the record straight. I ran for the Akron school board because I have valuable insight into the school system, and a true desire to help better our community. I graduated from Akron Public Schools a few years ago, valedictorian of my class. I did not earn that distinction by cheating. Also, I have never been removed from Kent State's golf team; I am a current member of that team, as well as a member of the Honors College, and several other student organizations. Allegations that came out during the weeks leading up to the election, and even now, after the election has been finalized, are completely and utterly false.
