YEEESSSSSSSSS!!!! :) :) :)

Hudson schools activists replace 3 board members
Thursday, November 10, 2005
April McClellan-Copeland
Plain Dealer Reporter

Hudson- One goal of the Save Our Schools Coalition was to replace three of five incumbent school board members for ousting a popular principal last March.

The group's mission was accomplished on Tuesday, when voters elected three new board members - Douglas Whipple, Nancy Terry and Karen Capone-Sheer - over incumbents Andrew Duff, James Antes and James Hackney.

"I'm glad the opportunity for meaningful change exists," Stan Ritter, co-chairman of SOS, said Wednesday.

"That is what is important to us. There is still much hard work to be done. We're ready to roll up our sleeves and go to work with the new board."

Capone-Sheer said voters wanted a change and connected with her goal of improving communications with the community.

"I want to be the liaison between the school board, the community and the students," Capone-Sheer said.

"I want to be their voice."

The sweep is a victory for SOS, a grassroots group that sprouted when former High School Principal Roger Howard was ousted. The coalition did not formally endorse the candidates.
In March, the school board did not renew Howard's contract, sparking student protests and parent criticism.

Howard's work evaluations were cited as one of the factors. Superintendent Maryann Wolowiec gave Howard a "needs improvement" rating after two years of good ratings.

The rating declined after Howard did not follow through on instructions to continue a drug and alcohol program at the school.

For Duff, the school board president, the SOS effort came as no surprise.

"They told us they were going to do it last spring and they were able to pull it off," Duff said Wednesday.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
amcclellan@plaind.com, 800-628-6689
© 2005 The Plain Dealer
© 2005 cleveland.com All Rights Reserved.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! :throws confetti: Dang, that feels good! :)