The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has two school-board vacancies following recent resignations. Nigamanth Sridhar, the board’s vice president, stepped down in mid-October, pointing to growing duties as provost at Cleveland State University. Diana Welch Howell left in August after the district chose her employer, KeyBank, to issue district bonds, according to the source.
Mayor Justin Bibb, who is ultimately responsible for filling the nine-member board from a candidate pool, is seeking two new members. Applications can go to City Hall or be submitted online by Nov. 13. Members serve four-year terms, and there is no limit on the number of terms. One vacant seat is up for reappointment in June 2027; the other is up in June 2029.
Applicants complete a written form covering educational background, job history, community involvement and their vision for students. Residents across the district may apply, including those in Cleveland, Bratenahl, Linndale, Newburgh Heights and parts of Brook Park and Garfield Heights. Elected officials and district employees cannot serve. Four seats require expertise in education, finance or business management, but board members do not need to have children enrolled in CMSD.
An 11-person volunteer panel reviews applications and selects nominees for the mayor, who makes the appointments. Ohio law specifies the panel’s makeup, with seats for parents, mayoral appointees, a City Council appointee, a teacher, a principal, a business representative and a higher-education president.