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Anthony Wayne board member announces resignation amid month-long controversy; board sets application process for vacancy
Summary
Board member McKnight announced she will resign effective Dec. 31, 2025, citing private family reasons; the board outlined a timeline for appointing a replacement and said applications will be accepted from residents through Nov. 3.
Anthony Wayne Local Schools board member Miss McKnight announced during the Oct. 3 board meeting that she will resign effective Dec. 31, 2025, saying the resignation is due to private family issues and not a response to recent social media controversy.
The announcement followed an extended period of public comment and board statements about a September meeting that drew criticism from community members for partisan and religious remarks by board members. McKnight said she had planned to step down and will continue serving through the end of the year. "I will continue, however, to be an active member of the board until then," she said during board comments (00:59:08).
Board President Baden described the process the board will use to fill the vacancy under Ohio law and district policy. Applications will be available on the district website and through the board office; the board said applications are due Nov. 3. Baden said the appointed candidate would serve the remainder of McKnight's term (about two years) and would need to run for election to seek a full term thereafter.
Baden outlined a timeline: the board will collect and review applications, interview finalists and intends to announce a selection at the Dec. 8 meeting with swearing-in at the January organizational meeting. "Applications will be due November 3," Baden said, and candidates must be resident registered voters in the district (02:00:22).
The meeting included several public commenters who argued the board's conduct in recent weeks damaged public trust. David Fournier, a White House resident, told the board its recent actions "have deeply damaged the remaining members' credibility" and urged the appointment process to reflect the views of the voters who elected McKnight (00:35:42).
The board also said it is scheduling a State Department of Education best-practices training for all members and attending professional development at the upcoming capital conference to address governance concerns and expectations for public conduct (02:07:21).
