The chosen candidate will serve the remainder of former board member Corey Minor Smith’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2019.
CANTON Nine candidates have submitted an application to replace former board member Corey Minor Smith on the Canton City school board.
Nicole Dietz-Hunt, Mark A. Dillard, Lavetra R. Hampton, Stewart L. Lytle, C. David Morgan, Ida Ross-Freeman, Shari E. Repko, R. Scott Russ and Deborah A. Watkins met the 4 p.m. deadline Wednesday to apply for the open seat on the five-member nonpartisan board, according to records obtained by The Repository through a public records request.
The chosen candidate will serve the remainder of Minor Smith’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2019. Minor Smith resigned Dec. 29 to begin serving on Canton City Council.
Board President John Rinaldi said board members plan to review the nine applications this week and could have a decision on the appointee as early as next week.
“I’m excited that there’s nine folks interested," Rinaldi said. "That’s a wonderful thing.”
School board members earn $125 per meeting.
According to the applications submitted by the candidates:
– Dietz-Hunt is a 1996 McKinley High School graduate who has been the sales and marketing manager for Robert J. – Event & Catering since 2010. She has two daughters enrolled at The Arts Academy at Summit.
– Dillard is a 1998 McKinley graduate who has served as the operations supervisor for the Social Security Administration since 2013. The U.S. Navy veteran has two children enrolled in the district and previously served as a military recruiting representative for Timken, McKinley, Canton South, GlenOak and Hoover high schools.
– Hampton is a 2000 McKinley graduate who has worked as a case manager at CommQuest since 2015. She has three children enrolled in the district and previously spent eight years in local charter schools serving as a library assistant and instructional aide.
– Lytle is a 1998 McKinley graduate who has worked as the pharmacy clinic manager for the Canton Veterans Affairs’ Community-Based Outpatient Clinic since 2008. He also works as a cardiopulmonary tech and respiratory therapist for the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He has two children enrolled in the district and was a member of McKinley’s 1997 state champion track and field team and the 1998 state football team.
– Morgan is the retired pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church who has served on levy and other advisory committees for the district. He unsuccessfully ran as a school board candidate during the November election.
– Ross-Freeman served as a Canton City school board member between 2012 and 2016. She has been the chief executive officer of the Stark County Urban Minority Alcohol and Drug Addition Outreach Project since 1991 and serves as a support group facilitator for Parents of Murdered Children. She is a foster parent and children enrolled at McKinley.
– Repko is a homemaker whose son is enrolled at McKinley. She also has two daughters who graduated from the district.
– Russ is a 1984 McKinley graduate and has worked as a sales representative for Mighty Tire Wholesale since 1995. He was a member of McKinley’s 1981 state championship football team and has had four children graduate from the district. His wife, Brenda, is employed as a No Child Left Behind Assistant at Schreiber School.
– Watkins is a substitute teacher for the Canton City School District and previously worked as an educational instructor and evening administrator for a local charter school. She also serves as a director at Hope Ministries.