Community urges Parma City board not to remove deployed member; board declines immediate action

Dozens of residents, veterans and district staff urged the Parma City School District Board of Education on April 9 to refrain from removing or penalizing board member Ashley McTagert while she is on military deployment.

Speakers at the public-comment period repeatedly framed the issue as one of respect for military service and community trust. “You are here to represent us…and if everything’s measured by that, then you’re going to do the right thing,” retired resident Brian Sloan said, urging the board to excuse McTagert’s absences rather than pursue removal.

The appeals included veterans and county officials who said punitive action would erode trust. John Rice, director of veteran services for Cuyahoga County, told the board that calls to remove an active-duty member would be “a bad look” and urged the board to leave the seat vacant until the member returns. “The military community doesn’t forget, and they’ll be here every time,” Rice said.

Not all speakers took the same position. Michael John, who identified himself as a veteran, said elected officials must follow state law on prolonged absences and raised statutory constraints that could require resignation after extended absence. “If you are drawn and served as an elected official for more than 270 days, you’re required to resign your position,” he told the board.

Board members did not take a vote or adopt a formal resolution during the meeting. Board member Mr. Reyes moved that the board declare McTagert’s deployment-related absences sufficient; the motion received no second and therefore died. The board president and other members said the district’s attorney recommended discussing the matter in committee or on a future agenda so that any action would follow prescribed policy processes.

The board president read the public-comment rules at the start of the period and later clarified that policy committees are public and that recommended next steps would follow the district’s procedures. Mr. Nucio, who conducted roll calls during the meeting, confirmed that any resolution would be placed on a future agenda according to board policy and the agenda-setting process.

What happens next: Board members said they would work with the superintendent and legal counsel on how to proceed. Several speakers referenced ongoing state-level legislative proposals to protect deployed service members serving in elected positions; board members said they would follow the attorney’s guidance and return the matter to a future public meeting or policy committee for formal consideration.