Kasich names incumbent, 3 new members to state education board

Gov. John Kasich named four members to the State Board of Education on Friday, returning one of his gubernatorial appointees for another term and bringing in three new members.

Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, a Westerville resident and a two-year veteran of the panel, was re-appointed by the governor.

Kasich also named newcomers Eric A. Poklar of Worthington and Martha A. Manchester of Lakeview. All three will serve four-year terms.

Poklar, who previously worked for Kasich in the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation, and Manchester, a retired teacher who ran unsuccessfully in November for an elected seat on the board, replace gubernatorial appointees Melanie P. Bolender of Mt. Vernon and Frank Pettigrew of Ashland.

In addition, Kasich named Charlotte D. McGuire of Dayton to a vacant elected seat on the board created by the resignation of A.J. Wagner, also of Dayton. McGuire, chief administrative officer of Joshua Christian Ministries, will complete the final two years of Wagner’s term and must run in November 2018 to retain the seat for a full four-year term.

The 19-member school board is made up of 11 elected members and eight appointed by the governor.

Friday’s appointments came ahead of the board’s biennial organizational meeting Monday at which it will elect a new president.

Administration officials say they also are looking for a replacement for gubernatorial appointee C. Todd Jones of New Albany, who has served on the panel since 2011. Although Jones’ term expired Dec. 31, state law allows him to continue serving until his successor is named, officials said.