By Paula Scott
The Ada Exempted Village School District has three open seats on the five-member School Board for terms commencing in January 2024.
Seven candidates are on the November 7 General Election ballot (find your ballot HERE):
- Joey Campbell
- L. Denise D'Arca
- Troy Erickson
- Todd Gillfillan
- Matt Gossman
- Justin Hollon
- Shane Tilton
The Icon previously reported candidate introductions and reponses for five of the candidates at an October 18 Ada Rotary forum HERE.
Campbell and Erickson were unable to attend the event and have provided statements regarding their qualifications and reasons for running for office, below.
Joey Campbell
My name is Joey Campbell (class of AHS '91 & ONU '96) and I would like to represent you on the Ada School Board.
My decision to run is based on the belief that the success of our community is directly tied to the health of our school system. I believe parents should have a voice in their children's education. Our kids deserve to thrive in a culture of positivity that paves the way for our youth to develop into the best versions of themselves, becoming confident adults with endless opportunity.
The prime objective of the school board is to employ the superintendent and treasurer, working together to establish policy, set goals that align to a vision for the future and fiscal accountability to students and families of the district they serve. Because board members do not manage the day to day operations of a school district it is vital we select the best possible administrators to shoulder that responsibility.
Currently I'm a Health & Wellness Director for Fortune 500 Company #1! Responsible for multi-facility operations for cross-functional Pharmacy and Vision Center teams. The scope of my duties are the fiscal success, legal compliance, personnel hiring and talent development.
Having been selected to serve on the Patient Safety Workload Advisory committee for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy prepared me for the responsibility of serving our community in this capacity. The committee's role was to identify safety concerns and make legislative policy recommendations back to the board to evaluate and become law.
I have the ability and desire to guide AHS in a direction that is reflective of the values of our community. I will ask questions, be curious and innovative... not a rubber stamp!
I am asking for your vote this November 7th!
Troy Erickson
My desire to become a school board member is simple. To serve the community my wife Tara and I love, have grown up and raised our three children in. I have served this community and county in numerous roles ranging from a bookkeeper and scoreboard operator at junior high and high school games, High School Coach, Assistant Fire Chief, LEPC Chair and Haz Mat Chief.
As a community leader I bring extensive business experience in problem solving, long and short-term planning, budgeting and team building. I understand the importance of strong partnerships between schools, families, and local businesses. I will work to build strong relationships between our schools and the broader community to supply opportunities for our students to excel and prepare for their future. I will collaborate with all citizens best interests in mind to ensure the success and achievement of every student. There is nothing more important than our children’s education to prepare them for the next chapter of their lives, whether it is college, a trade school, the workforce, or the military.
It is imperative that the board ensures fiscal responsibility while giving our children the resources and facilities needed for an excellent education. We need to teach students how to think and not what to think.
It is vital that decisions about children should be with their parents. Strong families are essential to student success and our society’s future. I believe in absolute transparency and involving stakeholders in planning and decision making. Enhanced communication from the district to staff, students and citizens.
The superintendent selection process is my top priority as it is one of the primary roles of the school board. I will ensure and not compromise until an experienced candidate is found who matches our district culture, goals, and needs. Their philosophy, training, earlier experience, and leadership style will be key factors in selecting the right candidate.
