CANFIELD, Ohio - After months of controversy, Canfield Superintendent Alex Geordan will resign. Geordan came under scrutiny over what police characterized as a history of failing to report serious threats to law enforcement. But, he is not the only school leader to now step down.
 
As the Canfield Board Meeting came to order Wednesday night, noticeably missing from the center of the table was Superintendent Geordan.
 
The board voted 4-1 to approve a separation agreement with Geordan. The agreement comes three and a half years before Geordan's contract with the district expires. 
 
That agreement calls Geordan's leave a "resignation." But, the details say effective January 1, 2020, he will remain on staff as a "Special Assistant for Transition" to assist in special projects and superintendent transition at "no reduction in pay." Geordan will continue this position until the end of July 2020. At which point, his resignation will take effect.
 
The agreement also states Geordan will be paid for all of his salary and benefits through the end of July 2021. 
 
If Geordan is not actively employed, the board will pay Geordan's base salary through January 2022.
 
The Canfield School District released the following statement. 

"The Board of Education 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. Board
President Dave Wilkeson said, 'We need to focus on rebuilding relationships within our
community and moving our district forward.' Mr. John Tullio, long time Canfield
principal and current director of curriculum and instruction, has been named interim
superintendent for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year."

 

However, not all board members seemed to support this direction.
 
Board Member Craig Olson announced his resignation during the meeting. Olson served on the board for ten years and had two years remaining in his third term. 
 
Olson said in a statement, "It is with great sadness that I am resigning from the Canfield Local Schools Board of Education. 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. I wish our student, staff, and administrators nothing but the best as the district moves forward."
 
Also resigning, just a couple weeks earlier than expected, but called the move "symbolic," was Board Member Phil Bova.
 
Bova said in a statement, "Mr. Geordan has done everything that we asked of him by the Board. He raised the bar for our school system. He was our leader as the school evolved from the best in the area to one of the best in the State of Ohio. I guess it is a sign of our time. We destroy our leaders. Why did this happen? Was it personal? The police and school system should have been working together. Great superintendents who are strong enough to make controversial decisions are not easy to find. Alex Geordan had three and a half years left on his contract. The school system will hire an interim superintendent, and our school system will be stagnant until a new superintendent is hired in the summer. I  can only ask why did this happen? What is the cost financially and to our reputation?"
 
The board now has two empty seats to fill. Long-time principal and current Director of Curriculum and Instruction John Tulio has been named interim superintendent.