A split council vote Tuesday with no discussion sent former mayor Robert Smith to serve on the Columbus Municipal School District Board.
The city council voted 4-2 to appoint Smith to a five-year term on the school board. He was selected over two other applicants, including incumbent board president Yvonne Cox and Qua Austin.
Cox’s single term on the board will conclude March 2.
Smith was a teacher, coach and administrator for CMSD and previously served on the school board. He was mayor from 2006 to 2021 and served as Ward 1 councilman for five years before that.
He did not attend Tuesday’s meeting but spoke through a written statement, which city Chief Operations Officer Jammie Garrett read to the council.
“I believe that I would be a great asset to the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees, and if appointed I would diligently work with the entire board in order to make the decisions for the students of the district,” Smith’s statement read. “As stated in my application, I do have grandchildren who attend schools in the district, and it is my desire to help the board of trustees make positive decisions that will benefit all students. Also, I have previously served on the board as well as the city council and as mayor. As a lifelong educator, I have the dedication, commitment and experience to work with the other board members in order to make decisions that would pass the quality of education needed by all students today.”
Cox, the only applicant present at the meeting, spoke to the council regarding the position and continuing her work with the school district, including the ongoing search for a new superintendent and capital improvement projects such as the Hunt campus rebuild.
“We are moving forward in a productive direction,” Cox said. “Our goals are accomplishable, but we must remain focused and we must remain dedicated to our cause. What we do today will echo for generations to come in Columbus.”
Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene moved to reappoint Cox to the board, and it was seconded by Ward 6 Councilwoman Jacqueline DiCicco.
However, Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens offered a substitute motion to appoint Smith, seconded by Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart. Ward 4’s Pierre Beard and Ward 5’s Stephen Jones joined in voting for Smith, and Greene and DiCicco opposed.
The Dispatch reached out to Smith for comment, but he did not respond by press time.
Cox, speaking to The Dispatch after the vote, wished the board members well.
“Please continue,” Cox said. “Stay focused and remember why you chose to serve. Continue to do the job. My work with the district has not stopped. I don’t have to be on the board to still work with the district.”
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