Selvey resigns from Clyde-Green Springs Board

CLYDE - The Clyde-Green Springs Board of Education is not only searching for a new district superintendent, but is also looking to fill an open seat on the board of education.

Local attorney Zachary Selvey, who served just over two years on the board of education, submitted his resignation last week and his resignation was accepted during a special board meeting Thursday morning.

Selvey said in his resignation letter to board members, faculty, staff and students that he has accepted a part-time position at the Sandusky County Prosecutor's Office, where he will work cases for County Court 1 in Clyde.

Although Selvey was excited about moving his new challenge in law, he said the decision did not come easy, knowing he would have to leave the school board during a time of transition.

"I really wanted to be a part of the transition (in hiring a new superintendent), and that was the part that gave me the most hesitation," said Selvey. "In the end, it was something I had to do."

Board president Matthew Jenne said the board is accepting applications and will appoint a new member within 30 days to fill Selvey's term, which runs through Jan. 1, 2018.

"Zachary was a great asset to the board. He gave us a fresh set of eyes," Jenne said. "I'd like to appoint someone like him. Somebody that is passionate about the community."

Selvey's resignation comes three months after district superintendent David Stubblebine submitted his letter of resignation in November, saying he will resign when his contract expires July 31.

Stubblebine did not provide a reason for his resignation, nor for making it effective when his contract expires.

In an email sent to school employees, he said he will miss working with them and that the early announcement of his resignation will allow the district more time to search for his replacement.

"Since superintendent searches can be a months-long endeavor, I thought the right thing to do was to tell them now. I expect the board search to begin in the next month or two," Stubblebine wrote in the email.

Jenne said the school has contracted with North Point Educational Service Center to compile candidates for the position.

"They started Jan. 1 and will take applications through February," said Jenne. "Optimistically, we'd like to hire someone as soon as possible. I think we have the deepest pool of candidates because it is in the midseason of the term."

Stubblebine’s tenure has been marked by controversy since he was hired as superintendent in August 2013, after serving in the same role at Monroeville Local Schools.

In November 2014, the school board reprimanded him for engaging in a romantic relationship with McPherson Middle School Principal Rachel Aldrich, who reported directly to him, without notifying the board of the conflict of interest.

In the reprimand, the board ruled Stubblebine violated board policies by engaging in the relationship with an administrator he directly supervises and evaluates.

The district hired a digital forensic investigations firm and enlisted help of legal counsel to inspect Stubblebine's district-supplied computers, equipment and email service for evidence of unprofessional communication with Aldrich, according to the reprimand.

Investigators informed the board that no evidence of misconduct was found with Aldrich.

As part of the reprimand, the board informed Stubblebine he would not have any part in evaluating Aldrich's job performance in the future, and was told to keep board members informed of any conflicts of interest.

In June, Stubblebine went on trial in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing official business. The charge was dismissed by Judge John Kolesar citing a lack of evidence that Stubblebine had committed a crime. The judge said school officials were not obligated to give Clyde police the names of students they believed brought drugs to school because the students were juveniles.

Clyde police Chief Bruce Gower had charged Stubblebine earlier in 2015 after a school official called Clyde police on Dec. 12, 2014, and reported that marijuana was found in a backpack at McPherson Middle School. The school official asked that police send drug dogs to the school.

When police arrived, school officials — who report to Stubblebine — would not let them interview students or investigate.

"Had this been a situation with an adult offender and the offense was in fact a felony, then the result might be different," Kolesar wrote in his decision.

Gower said the problem was that Clyde-Green Springs Schools reported the crime to Clyde police but did not let them investigate it.

Kolesar urged Clyde school officials and Clyde police to work through their problems.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH