Ohio’s new chief of K-12 education resigns, citing ‘revolving door’ questions

Ohio’s new superintendent of community instruction Steve Dackin resigned Friday – significantly less than a month soon after he was chosen to oversee the education of Ohio’s 1.7 million K-12 pupils.

Dackin, in a resignation letter, cited worries about his latest range to the role. Dackin, though serving as school board vice president, led the lookup for the posture that he eventually was selected for.

“Concerns have been lifted about my latest acceptance of the posture of Superintendent of Community Instruction,” Dackin wrote. “I don’t want ‘revolving door’ thoughts to distract from the crucial perform ahead for schools, educators and specifically the children.”

Ohio ethics guidelines prohibit board users from accepting any profit, such as payment, from a contract authorized by a board they served on both through their term or for one 12 months after they go away the board, claimed Paul Nick, government director of the Ohio Ethics Commission.

Dackin resigned from the point out board on Feb. 25  and applied for the superintendent posture a several times afterwards. Confidentiality legislation prohibit Nick from commenting on no matter whether or not there was an investigation into Dackin’s variety.

On May perhaps 10, the State Board of Training selected Dackin in a 14-4 vote. He previously served as the superintendent of Reynoldsburg Town Educational institutions among 2007 and 2014 and on the Point out Board of Instruction

Dackin’s wage was set at $215,000 with the risk of an yearly overall performance bonus of $35,000. Dackin, in his letter, stated he would forgo any compensation for the operate he had performed to date.

State Board of Training President Charlotte McGuire announced Dackin’s resignation in a Friday afternoon information release, which did not depth why he was leaving.

“I am confident that together we will go on the significant get the job done in support of Ohio’s kids, households and upcoming,” McGuire reported in the news launch.

Gov. Mike DeWine, by a spokesman, explained he was “shocked and unhappy” by Dackin’s selection to resign but revered Dackin’s decision to keep away from remaining a distraction from critical operate on subjects like literacy, mental overall health and assisting small children realize their “God-offered possible.”

Story carries on

Stephanie Siddens will provide as superintendent of public instruction in the interim. She briefly held the position after Paolo DeMaria retired in September 2021. 

Steve Dackin resignation letter by Jessie Balmert on Scribd

Reporter Anna Staver contributed to this article. 

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the Usa These days Community Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated information companies across Ohio.

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This posting originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio’s new K-12 schooling chief resigns just after considerably less than 1 thirty day period on the occupation