By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
After months of speculation, including a request to resign by a board member, the Reynoldsburg Board of Education approved a resolution to not renew Superintendent Tina Thomas-Manning’s contract.
During the Sept. 20 school board meeting, board member Debbie Dunlap proposed a resolution stating the board does not intend to re-employ Thomas-Manning.
The superintendent’s contract expires on July 31, 2017. She was hired to lead the district in 2014, after serving in the Reynoldsburg school system as principal of both Hannah Ashton and Waggoner Road middle schools.
While Dunlap presented the resolution during the board’s open session, fellow board member Neal Whitman proposed the discussion continue in a closed executive session.
Board member Elaine Tornero—who voted against the resolution when the board returned from executive session—wanted to know when the issue was discussed among board members.
“I am curious to know, was this something you were aware of coming, Neal?” Tornero asked Whitman. “You spoke of the resolution because the board didn’t plan to rehire or to renew her contract as if it were a done deal among board members where I did not hear a word. Evidently there has there been some discussion, because no one else seemed shocked. Who’s discussing this? Am I the odd man out, because I had no clue.”
Dunlap said she made the resolution and that many people have read about the issue in local newspapers.
Board President Joe Begeny asked for a second to Whitman’s motion to continue the discussion in executive session. When no one spoke up, Begeny seconded the motion, citing interest in following bylaws. Tornero abstained.
Following the closed executive session, the board voted 4-1 to approve the resolution stating, “The board of education does not intend to re-employ Tina Thomas-Manning following the expiration of her current contract of employment.”
