(Posted Aug. 16, 2022)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Darryl Brown is back on the London school board.
Brown took the oath of office on Aug. 9, filling the seat vacated by Ashli Carter on July 27. Brown previously served on the board for eight years, six as president. His last term ended Dec. 31, 2021. He did not seek re-election at that time.
Brown initially threw his hat back in the ring when, in June of this year, the board needed to fill a seat vacated by long-time board member Jonathan Stahl who moved out of the district. Stahl’s departure left one person, Donovan Cooper, on the board with previous board experience. The other three were newly elected in November 2021. Brown expressed interest in filling Stahl’s seat as a way to bring someone else with experience to the board.
The board interviewed nine candidates, including Brown, and ultimately chose newcomer Lisa Reay to fill Stahl’s seat. Reay was one of seven candidates who vied for one of three full-term seats on the board in the November 2021 election. She finished one place shy at that time.
When Carter resigned at the end of last month, the board decided to pull from the pool of candidates they interviewed for Stahl’s seat, rather than start over.
“We were comfortable with who was our No. 2 at that time,” said Cooper regarding Brown. “I’ve worked with Darryl in the past. I know his heart is in it…He brings experience to the table.”
During his previous time on the board, Brown served as the school district’s representative on the London Foundation board, was a member of the district’s Business Advisory Council, and served as the board’s liaison to the London Academy. He remains active with the London Music Boosters, serving as announcer for the marching band. Outside of his school connections, he coaches the Tigers Special Olympics golf team.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to come back and help to guide the (school) district. There are a lot of challenges the district is facing, but I think they have a good plan moving forward,” Brown said.
He said his goal is to continue finding new ways for students to “find places where they can grow into themselves,” such as London Unlimited, athletics, clubs, the arts, and earning college course credits.
Brown is a senior attorney at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He earned his law degree from The Ohio State University. He is entering his 37th year of federal service in the U.S. Air Force. He spent 22 of those years in uniform, including active duty from 1986 to 1998 and reservist duty from 1998 to 2007.
Brown will serve on the school board through the end of 2023 at which time the remaining two years of the unexpired term will be up for grabs in the November 2023 election. Brown said he does not know at this time if he will run for election for the remainder of the term.
