JEROMESVILLE — Hillsdale Local Schools approved Steve Smith, a farmer and former board member, to fill a recently-vacated position on its board of education Tuesday.
Smith took the seat of former board member Kenny Schuck.
Schuck passed away unexpectedly, according to Hillsdale Supt. Catherine Trevathan. The board took a moment of silence at the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting in Schuck’s honor before proceeding through the rest of the agenda.
Smith was selected following a Hillsdale special board meeting held Sept. 11. Trevathan said the only agenda item from that meeting was an executive session. During the executive session, she said the board interviewed potential candidates to fill the vacancy.
When filling a board vacancy, the Ohio Revised Code states a vacancy should be filled “at its next regular or special meeting, not earlier than 10 days after such vacancy occurs.”
The board unanimously approved Smith and swore him in at the top of its meeting Monday night.
Smith’s views
Smith is a Hillsdale grad with students who attend classes in the district. He held a seat on the board around 10 years ago when former Hillsdale Supt. Steve Dickerson was hired.
Smith said he viewed Dickerson’s hiring as an event that put the district onto an upward trajectory.
Smith said he returned to the board because he thought he might be able to help new board members, given his prior experience.
Hillsdale Local Schools had two new members — Jon Burkholder and Melinda Turk — take seats in January. Both were elected in November 2023.
In February, former board member Nicholas Atterholt announced he’d be moving out of the district. The board approved Keith Yeater to take his place at its May meeting.
Smith hopes to bring more historical knowledge to the board. Still, he acknowledged it’s unfortunate he’s stepping onto the board in this circumstance.
Smith said he knew Schuck and helped farm his land.
“I hope to meet the expectation of what he would’ve wanted to see pass,” Smith said.
The board also appointed Smith to fill out the remainder of Schuck’s term on the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center’s board.
