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A local school board is in the process of selecting a replacement following the resignation of its senior member.
Brian Swope announced at the Zanesville school board meeting in August that he was tendering his resignation, effective immediately.
Swope was first elected by voters in 2007 to serve on the board of directors and has been successfully re-elected three more times. His current mandate runs until December 31, 2023.
He was the current longest-serving board member, holding the title for 164 months or almost 14 years.
On some occasions, while serving with the United States Armed Forces overseas in Afghanistan, Swope worked remotely in his capacity as a member of the board of directors.
At the very end of the August district meeting, Swope said he had purchased property outside the district and was tendering his resignation.
“I won’t be with you anymore,” Swope said. “It’s been a good 14 years. I appreciate everyone’s efforts. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Always do what is best for the students.
Swope went on to say that during his tenure as a board member, he always put students first in every decision he made and that he hopes the mindset will be maintained by the board and his future replacement.
He also spoke about the progress the Urban District has made during his tenure and how proud he is of how far he has come as a school system.
“I’m still bleeding blue,” Swope said as some of his official final words as a board member.
Mike Young, the city of Zanesville schools treasurer, said the process is fairly straightforward.
A vacancy was declared and the board issued a notice that it was looking to replace Swope.
If the resignation had taken place a month earlier, the person ultimately chosen would only have served until December 31 of this year. Since petitions for the November school board race were due in early August, the successful candidate will serve the remainder of Swope’s term.
Following this meeting, which took place on August 16, the board of directors was legally bound to wait 10 days but not more than 30 days to choose its replacement. If someone is not chosen by September 15, Muskingum County Probate Judge and Juvenile Judge Eric Martin will make the selection.
According to Young, three people have applied for nomination: Mike Coulson, Valencia Clark and Steven Randles.
The date and time of the next meeting have yet to be set, Young added.
The two current board members, Scott Bunting and Vicky French, are not seeking re-election this fall. Their term will end on December 31.
Lori Y. Lee and Janet Johnson Long will run for unopposed instead on November 2 for the two open seats created by Bunting and French who did not choose to seek additional terms.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, elected officials are required to update their registered address with their local electoral board within 30 days of the move.
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