Fatima Smuck named to Brooke County Board of Education
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WELLSBURG -- The search for a new member of the Brooke County Board of Education came to an end Tuesday evening, when board members unanimously voted to choose Fatima Smuck to fill the open spot on the board.
“The board of education decided on her,” Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said after the special session had ended. “She’s a longtime educator who grew up in Brooke County and has a lot of experience with education.”
A Follansbee resident and graduate of Brooke High School, Smuck spent 28 years in the Edison Local School District before retiring on June 30, 2021. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1991 and her master’s degree in education from the school in 1999.
Smuck began her career in education as a special education teacher at John Gregg Elementary School in Bergholz and became principal at the school in 2005. She also served as a district administrative assistant, food service director and director of early childhood and special education in the district, and as an adjunct professor at Franciscan University.
The board’s decision came at the end a process that began with the Sept. 14 death of 75-year-old Antoinette Perkins. A longtime educator in Brooke County, Perkins had started her 10th year as a school board member in July, when she also was chosen as board president.
After a special meeting on Sept. 24, the board chose to accept applications for the open position, and set a deadline of Sept. 30.
Eighteen residents applied for the position, and the board cut that list down to five finalists during its Oct. 6 meeting. They interviewed those five -- Smuck, Peter Bolock, Emily Hosler, Alexandra Martin and Kimberly Stewart -- Tuesday evening during an executive session that lasted two hours and 15 minutes.
“The board went through an extensive interview process with all of the candidates and everybody had a shot,” Crook said. “And, at the very end of the day that’s who they decided who should take Perkins’ seat on the board.”
Crook explained that Smuck would receive training before officially taking her spot on the board. Under state law the replacement process for a board member must be completed within 45 days of the vacancy occurring. That period will end Oct. 30, board President Dr. Richard Marks had explained after Monday’s regular board meeting.
After Marks called Tuesday’s meeting to order at 6 p.m., board member Stacy Paris made a motion to move into executive session to interview the five finalists. After board member Michael Traubert said he felt the process should have been conducted in a public forum, the vote proceeded, passing on a 3-1 decision, with Traubert casting the no vote.
Crook said the expectation was Smuck would be a part of the board before its next regular meting, which will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 26.