YOUNGSTOWN — An effort by new Youngstown City School District board President Tiffany Patterson to end a nationwide search for a superintendent and treasurer and appoint district CEO Justin Jennings and Treasurer A.J. Ginnetti to the positions was delayed Tuesday when board member Brenda Kimble objected and attempted to table the discussion

Patterson sought a vote to rescind a vote in December by the previous board to have a nationwide search for the next superintendent, but when Kimble and board member Jerome Williams repeatedly asked Patterson why she wanted the change, she was hesitant to make an explanation.

When pressed, Patterson relented, stating once the previous vote for a search was rescinded, then she would ask the board to vote to name Jennings the district’s superintendent.

Kimble said the discussion about hiring Jennings as the next superintendent should be done during an executive session, before a formal vote would be taken. Kimble said the vote should be tabled to be discussed among the board members at a later meeting.

Earlier, Kimble accused Patterson of calling board members individually over the phone to gauge how they would feel about Jennings being named as the superintendent. Kimble described the tactic as being illegal, noting any discussions about the hiring of the next superintendent should be had during a formal board meeting.

Patterson did not deny making the phone call to Kimble.

She then called for the board to go into executive session, which was approved, with only Kimble voting against it.

Once the board returned from from its executive session, Patterson said the vote to rescind the search for the next superintendent and vote to give the position to Jennings is expected to take place at the Feb. 22 board meeting.

Jennings said he was not aware Patterson intended to have the vote on the superintendent’s position.

“It is a new board,” Jennings said. “There are seven individual members, and there is a learning curve.”

Jennings reaffirmed he would like to become the district’s superintendent.

“This is the work that we have been doing, and we would like to continue,” Jennings said. “We have a great team.

Kimble expressed surprise at the effort to name Jennings as the superintendent.

“As a board we have seven members and we should work together as a board,” she said. “If we are going to be effective, we have to work together. However, it is clear there have been meetings or discussions that did not include all the board members.”

“It is not right,” she said. “We do not have the right to hire the superintendent until July. They can interview for the positions.”

Patterson said the district has someone in place already that can do the job.

“Why do we have to go through a search? We have been working with him. I have for two years and other board members longer. Why do we have to go through a search and waste taxpayer dollars to search for a superintendent that is working and is capable of doing the job,” Patterson said.

rsmith@tribtoday.com