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New Canton Local board members sworn in; nominations expose lingering divisions among trustees
Summary
Three newly elected trustees were sworn in and officers were nominated. A board member publicly criticized longstanding divisions in nominations and leadership, urging shared governance after the votes.
Three newly elected members of the Canton Local Board of Education were sworn into office at the Jan. 12 organizational meeting, and the board then held nominations for president and vice president.
Board members were asked to raise their right hands and pledge to support the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions before the meeting moved to nominations. Multiple nominations were made for president and vice president; motions to adopt meeting dates for the coming year also passed.
During the meeting’s board-comments period, a trustee criticized what they described as a long-standing pattern of divisive leadership. The trustee said nominations and votes “show that we haven't made any forward movement” and that there appears to be “a systematic shutting out of board members” from leadership roles. The speaker urged the body to move toward “professional… shared governance” rather than continuing partisan or factional behavior in nonpartisan races.
Board leadership also acknowledged January as School Board Recognition Month and presented certificates and a short student video thanking the board for its work. The board set its next regular meeting for Feb. 9, 2026 and then adjourned.
