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Parma School Board debates vacating board member over her military deployment

PARMAOhio (WJW) — The appointment of school board member Ashley McTaggart, an Air Force veteran and active reserve officer, was the focus of a board meeting Thursday as colleagues tried to determine whether she could legally attend board meetings virtually or whether her position on the board could be declared vacant.

At the time of a private meeting Thursday, McTaggart was already traveling in preparation for a deployment, details of which he was not entitled to share for operational security reasons.

At the meeting, where the public did not have the right to speak, board members met with their legal advisors and discussed whether board members who could not attend the meeting could attend virtually.

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McTaggart was allowed to do so while he was in office last April, but the board’s attorney, David Rose, told them Thursday that Ohio law no longer allows it and there apparently are no exceptions for deployed service members.

“As you remember during the COVID days, there was a huge push in Ohio and other states to keep the public abreast of the work of public agencies,” Rose said.

“Most of the legislation relating to Bill 197 has been passed, which allows public bodies, such as school boards, to hold meetings for an almost two-year period until 2022, at which time most, if not all, of this specific legislation relating to the regulation of public meetings has almost essentially been terminated,” he added.

Photo courtesy Ashley McTaggart

“Therefore, the current situation in Ohio is that, A, the school board cannot meet virtually, and B, no member of the public school board can meet virtually,” he concluded.

In McTaggart’s absence Thursday, board members also discussed what they could do about a vacant position on the board; essentially deciding whether he could declare her seat vacant and appoint someone else to serve out her term.

The Parma School Board charter has defined reasons for when a position on the panel may be vacated. These include death, non-residence, resignation, and failure to attend board meetings for a period of 90 days.

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“So if a board member misses a meeting, the absence itself is not a reason for a seat to become vacant, but if those absences occurred over a period of 90 days plus 30 days, that could be a potential absence,” Rose said.

“I think we all know what we’re talking about here, and I don’t see military service listed under any of those reasons, does it fall into any of those categories?” said board member Nick Reyes.

Reyes also issued a statement Friday thanking Taggart for his service to both his community and his country, adding:

“It is also my view that his seat on this board remains secure for the duration of his time in office. Military service should never put a person at risk of losing their role in public service at home.”

Reyes also stated in his statement that his remarks represented his individual perspective and did not reflect the views of the board as a whole or other members.

Among the concerns voiced Thursday evening was that the five-member panel would be more likely to bond if McTaggart was unable to attend meetings, even virtually, and vote on school district matters, which Rose said was not accepted.

“I don’t think anyone is condemning any military service in any way, but the reality of the situation is that there are legal, practical and operational issues that need to be addressed for the remaining board members, and so the board wouldn’t be doing its job if it didn’t address those issues in an open and transparent manner,” Rose said.

The issue will likely be brought up again at the Parma School Board’s next meeting on April 9.

Among those backing McTaggart is Cuyahoga County Mothers of Liberty Chapter President Hilary Jackson, who says McTaggart is the only board member elected by voters.

“Ashley McTaggart is not only an incredible school board member, but she’s an incredible person. She’s very dedicated to listening to and working with absolutely everyone, she’s very kind. She’s shown that quite a bit on the board where she has a lot of dissenting opinions, but she’s not afraid to speak her mind.” Jackson said.

Jackson took to social media and others, hoping to rally support for Mctaggert to at least retain his seat on the school board for his service to his country.

“They should definitely write statements, they should email the board,” Jackson said. “But if you definitely think you need to say it somehow, because Ashley did that for everyone at Parma and we should do the same for her. She deserves it.”

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