The Barberton Board of Education elected its new president and vice president during its meeting Monday night.
Joe Stefan will be the board president for 2013 succeeding Dennis Liddle. Stefan, who was president before Liddle and vice president in 2012, said it was a “natural progression.”
Maggie Masson was nominated and voted as the vice president.
Masson was also appointed as the student achievement liaison while Megann Eberhart was appointed as the district’s legislative liaison.
School board positions are voted on every year.
Following the election, board members went into an executive session to discuss updates with their attorney regarding a pending lawsuit that was filed against former Superintendent John Hall and the Board of Education.
Mary Beth Foore, a former Barberton school employee, filed a suit against Hall in 2011 claiming sexual discrimination after feeling repeatedly disrespected. The suit claims Hall created “an intimidating, hostile and offensive work environment.”
Foore also claims that her contract for the position she held with the district to analyze test performance and improve scores was not renewed because Hall abolished the position.
She included the school board in the lawsuit because, she said, the board didn’t do anything to protect her or position after she reported the discriminatory environment, nor did they hold Hall responsible for those alleged actions.
Liddle explained Foore was not fired, but that the board had to make cuts due to financial setbacks.
Following the session, the board approved an agreement between Hall’s personal attorney and the school’s attorney work together in the case.
“No changes were made in the lawsuit. It was more paperwork than anything else,” said Ryan Pendleton, the district’s treasurer/chief financial officer.
