Vacancy opens on SMASD Board of School Directors
ST. MARYS - The St. Marys Area School District Board of School Directors will be seeking a new school director following the resignation of Mark Greenthaner, who began serving on the school board in December 2021.
The school board conducted a brief, special meeting on Tuesday evening in which the board officially approved Greenthaner’s resignation. In his letter of resignation, dated February 20, Greenthaner cited new demands in his professional career has led him to evaluate his priorities in allocating his free time. Greenthaner left his professional position with the County of Elk at the beginning of the year for a new position in the private sector.
He added the position of school director is one of which he takes very seriously and requires 100% commitment and nothing less.
“Above all else, I want to be a model husband and father. I want to be remembered for the time I spent with my family, not titles or positions I have held,” read the letter.
Greenthaner represents Region 2 in St. Marys which encompasses voting precincts 2,3,4,5 and 7. SMASD Superintendent Harley Ramsey stated the district will be advertising for the open position. Anyone interested in filling the vacancy on the school board is encouraged to respond by March 9. They will have an opportunity to speak at next month’s March board meeting as to why they believe they would be an ideal candidate for the board. Ramsey said they plan to appoint a new board member at the same meeting.
The duration of the position runs until November. After that time the candidate will have to get on the fall ballot which requires them to be appointed by the local Democratic or Republican parties. Ramsey noted they just missed the February 14 deadline to be listed on the upcoming spring election ballot. If there are no applicants the process will roll over to April.
An advertisement with additional details will be printed forthcoming in The Daily Press.
Greenthaner noted his short time on the board “has been eye opening” and he has learned much, leaving the board with a much larger appreciation for public education.
He stated his decision was made after “much careful prayer and consideration”.
“I trust that St. Marys Area School District under the leadership of Dr. Ramsey is now and will continue to be the Gold Standard on how all school district’s should function,” Greenthaner concluded.
Also during the meeting the school board approved a supplemental contract for Corey Cheatle as a new volunteer junior high baseball assistant coach.