By Elizabeth Goussetis
Staff Writer
The Reynoldsburg Board of Education has a new president as well as a new member after the departure of former board president Andrew Swope, who resigned in December.
The board appointed Dan Hayes as its newest member at a board meeting Jan. 15. Hayes, a Reynoldsburg parent, was interviewed that day along with two other finalists.
Earlier this month, board members elected board member Elaine Tornero as president and board member Loretta King as vice president.
“We are happy to have such a dedicated parent as Dan Hayes join our board,” said Tornero in a press release. “Dan is very knowledgeable about our district and has been involved with the schools in a variety of ways throughout his years in Reynoldsburg.”
Board members reviewed applications from 14 people, according to district spokeswoman Tricia Moore. Each board member reviewed the applications and identified their top three recommendations, which were consolidated into three candidates who were interviewed by board members.
The other finalists were Ryan Brezinski and Kevin Hairston, and the additional other applicants were Les Davies, Thomas Drabick Jr., Debbie Dunlap, Jeffery Dunn, Arley Owens, Susan Reidlinger, William Sampson, Veronica Sheppard, William L. Smith, Robert Truex and Neal Whitman.
Hayes is a full-time student at Ohio State University and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He holds an associate’s degree from Columbus State Community College. According to his letter of interest to the district, he previously worked for 15 years for a Fortune 500 company.
Hayes has four children, according to his letter to the board, three currently attend Reynoldsburg schools and the fourth graduated more than 10 years ago.
“I regularly attend the Parent Advisory Board meetings at Summit eSTEM hosted by Scott Bennett,” Hayes wrote in his letter. “I also volunteer for classroom functions whenever my schedule permits and meet with my children’s teachers at every opportunity.”
