School-board president to resign

Columbus school-board President Terry Boyd, who revamped the group's management style and oversaw three years of relative peace among its members, will step down at the end of the month.

Boyd said he would officially announce his resignation at this afternoon's meeting.

His departure, which takes effect Jan. 31, will create the second vacancy on the board. W. Carlton Weddington ended three years on the board after voters elected him to the Ohio House in November.

A third position could be vacated next week if the Columbus City Council appoints school-board member Gary L. Baker to one of its two open seats. Baker is one of 65 applicants.

"I'm leaving the district in considerably good shape," said Boyd, who joined the board in 2004. "I feel a sense of satisfaction of what's been accomplished over the last five years."

Boyd said he is leaving to pursue more responsibilities at Franklin University, where he leads the undergraduate and graduate business division.

"The activities associated with Franklin University have grown to be, I think, overwhelming as I respond to those and the school board," he said."I didn't feel I could do it and serve on the school board as well."

Recent changes at Franklin mean that Boyd is overseeing more than double the number of faculty, Provost Christopher Washington said. He also will help lead the expansion of existing programs and the development of new ones, including a master's of business administration program in Poland.

"While I appreciated his work with the Columbus schools, as his provost I look forward to having more of his time on campus," Washington said. "Terry's leadership will help enable us to expand the reach of our programs."

Boyd was the newcomer in a four-person team that in November 2003 knocked longtime member Bill Moss off the board. Moss was known for frequent and dramatic dissension with his colleagues, submitting the lone vote against hiring Superintendent Gene Harris and giving long lectures at board meetings.

On the night he took Moss' seat, Boyd said, "The time has come that we move forward -- that we have a negotiator, someone who can lead through compromise and positive discourse."

Boyd made that vision the hallmark of his presidency. He took the helm in 2006 and oversaw implementation of "policy governance," which he thought would improve working relationships between board members and with the superintendent.

Policy governance limits the board to a policymaking role and gives the superintendent and her staff more independence in making daily decisions.

Plans to fill his seat have not been discussed, Boyd said. The board intends to select one of eight applicants to fill Weddington's seat by the end of the week.

The City Council is expected to make appointments to its two open seats next week. Baker, who has been on the school board for one year, said he already has interviewed with one council member.

"I believe I could continue to pursue my calling on the City Council and have the opportunity to serve even more residents of Columbus," Baker said.

Boyd said he will nominate current Vice President Carole Perkins to take his place as school-board president. Members will vote on board officers at its organizational meeting today at 3:30 p.m.


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