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Ken Darby Hopes for Accountability on Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education

Photo by Alan Olson Ken Darby is the newest member of the Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education.

The appointment late Tuesday of Beallsville resident Ken Darby to the Switzerland of Ohio Board of Education was described as a tough choice by other board members tasked with replacing Justin Isaly upon his resignation in June.

While Darby did not pursue a seat on the board during November’s election, he said a change in the board’s makeup as a result of the election inspired him to pursue the vacant seat.

“I had thought about running in November, and that was my initial thought. But as things progressed, it seemed that Bev (Anderson) and Denise (Riley) showed interest in it. At the time, I thought that Beallsville and the district might best be served if I were in a position where I could react and where I was unbound by any constraints,” Darby said. “I think now we’re past that point, and now it seems that the role that I can play has shifted, which is why I put my letter of intent in.”

Darby will serve out the rest of Isaly’s unexpired term, which ends in December 2017. Isaly was re-elected in November, but resigned in June because he moved out of the district.

Darby, who works as an electrical engineer with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, said his job demands accountability in working to revise and discuss policy and procedures, and that he feels well-qualified to keep the board accountable for its actions.

“I feel the past board operated in a different way than the current board does. You’re going to see a lot more transparency,” Darby said. “I think we will be closely watching our regulations and policies. That’s the only way we can build trust with the constituents and stakeholders — do things by the book, out in the open, and make sure everybody’s accountable.”

Darby had been a highly visible fixture at school board meetings since the 2015 turmoil over the potential closure of Beallsville High School. Darby was one of several people who made a point to speak out against the school’s closure, and as president of the Beallsville Keystone Committee he successfully led legal action against the school district to keep the school open.

Although Common Pleas Judge Julie Selmon’s ruling — upheld by an appeals court — only required Beallsville High School to remain open through the 2015-16 school year, but the board has made no further attempts to close it.

Darby has been a vocal supporter of the school, while the other two new board members, Riley and Anderson, have said they will only consider closing facilities as a last resort.

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