CANFIELD — Schools Superintendent Alex Geordan has resigned in the wake of criticism over how he handled school threats and informed police.

The board of education voted Wednesday night to approve his resignation. Earlier in the day he cleared out his desk; his seat at the meeting room was empty and his nameplate was gone.

Geordan had three-and-a-half years left on his contract. But Canfield police last month said Geordan had a history of failing to report serious threats.

Later, two school board members — Phil Bova and Craig Olson — also resigned.

“Will this (resignation of Geordan) cost the district money?” asked Bova.

Dave Wilkeson, school board president, simply stated “yes” and would not say how much. He then called for a vote to accept the superintendent’s resignation, which passed 4-1 with Bova casting the no vote.

“I can only ask why did this happen?” Bova said. “What is the cost financially and to our reputation? Will people still move to Canfield so their children can go to our schools?”

The board unanimously approved John Tullio as interim superintendent, Jan. 1 through July 31, 2020.

Geordan, meanwhile, on Jan. 1 will fill the administrative position of “special assistant for transition,” with no reduction in pay or benefits. From off-site through July 31, 2020, he will advise on matters relating to the superintendent transition and district management.

MEMBERS QUIT

Olson cited personal reasons for resigning. “My vision and the vision of the current board majority no longer match and it is my belief that this board has chosen to go down a path with which I choose not to be associated,” he said.

Bova’s term was up at the end of December. “This resignation is symbolic,” Bova said.

Bova had 28 years in the Canfield school system serving as teacher, assistant principal, then ran for school board in 2012. He said several years ago it became apparent the police chief and superintendent did not share the same vision for school safety.

“Mr. Geordan is a former elementary school teacher and principal and is very protective of the students,” Bova said. “He did not want police to question students in the office unless they were asked to do so. I share this belief.”

The incident that started everything, according to Bova, was on Sept. 12 when a threat was made by an 11-year-old male student. The principal mishandled the situation by not contacting the school resource officer, and Geordan was accused of downplaying the situation.

At the October school board meeting, police Chief Chuck Colucci and seven uniformed officers attended and a speech was read that Bova said “inflamed the crowd.”

“Next on stage was the father of the victim,” Bova said. “He acted like a raving lunatic, screaming and carrying on until we asked that he be removed. I watched as the chief put out his right arm and motioned with his hand for his officers to stand back. Finally the father was removed with several others. My question is, why did city officials participate in such an ambush?”

Bova added: “Two middle school students arguing over washing dishes! City officials who do not care about our community. Wow!”

BOARD STATEMENT

The school board, in a statement, said it is “proud of the progress of Canfield Local Schools under Mr. Geordan’s leadership and recognizes the many accomplishments the district has achieved during his time as superintendent. But at this time, the board needs to answer the call of its community and transition a new leader into the superintendency.

“The board will promptly begin a search for a superintendent whose skill set is compatible with the goals and vision of the board, the district and the Canfield community.”

Last month, the police department provided details of 22 incidents dating back to 2012 to back up the claim that Canfield Local Schools administration “has a history of failing to report serious threats and other significant incidents to law enforcement.”

Among the incidents was one Nov. 17, 2018, in which a “confidential source notified (a Canfield Police Department school resource officer) that a note was discovered at the middle school reading, ‘I want to kill my math teacher.’ The student was suspended from school and the (school resource officer) was never notified,” the report states.

An incident from Feb. 27, 2018, involved two students who “talked about doing a school shooting,” the report says. It was investigated by Canfield police, but a Canfield High School principal showed police a text message from Geordan “stating something to the effect of ‘it would be better if there is no police report.'”

Details of the 22 incidents were provided last month in response to a request from Wilkeson to Colucci. Wilkeson asked Colucci for documentation of the claim in a 30-page report the police department released saying the school district has a pattern of not reporting serious incidents.

Bova said that list should not have been made public.

That report stated that Geordan “downplayed” the Sept. 12 incident involving a sixth-grader who threatened to shoot another male student 16 times in the back of the head. That report also documented an investigation the police department and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office carried out regarding the Sept. 12 incident.

A conclusion of the report was that Geordan “misled the community” three times in an all-call message to parents about the Sept. 12 incident and that Canfield Village Middle School Assistant Principal Mike Flood gave changing versions of the incident to investigators.

news@tribtoday.com