GENEVA – New Geneva Area City School Board Member Chris Dodd took his seat at the school board meeting Sept. 16.
He was appointed to the seat after former board member Joe Cooper passed away Aug. 22.
“You’re a welcome addition to our board, and you have some pretty big shoes to fill,” board President Michele Krieg told Dodd.
Board member Beth Cybulksi was happy about the number of people who applied for the position.
“We did have six candidates apply for the open board seat, and it’s awesome to see that we had six people in our community willing to step up and hopefully that trend continues as we move forward,” she said. “It’s nice to see people wanting to get involved in building a wonderful community.”
“It’s a really good place to be,” Krieg said.
Dodd, 44, was appointed to the board in a Sept. 8th special meeting to serve until Jan. 1, 2028.
He said has been involved in education since 2005, having been a teacher for about 13 years in Madison.
Currently, he works with the Ohio Education Association.
“I negotiate, work with the teachers’ unions and support staff unions,” he said.
Being involved in his community appeals to him.
“I have four kids that go to the school district,” he said. “I’ve been trying to be involved as much as I can, and I saw this as an opportunity to help give back.”
Dodd, who is married to his wife, Trisha, hopes to learn from the board and “make Geneva the best it can be.”
Krieg expressed confidence in the board’s selection.
“He was the best choice,” she said. “We’re looking forward to working with him. He’s lived here, his children attend here. We are excited to have him as part of our board and working for the future of our school district.”
Cooper was well respected in the community and across the county.
“Joe lived a life rooted in love, kindness, fun and service,” his obituary reads. “He touched the lives of everyone who knew him with his willingness to help others and his generous heart.”
According to his obituary, Cooper worked for the Geneva Police Department for 38 years. For the last several years, he served as School Resource Officer for the Geneva Area City School District. Following his retirement from the police department, he began working for the Ashtabula County Sheriff Department and was assigned as the SRO for Pymatuning Valley Schools.
“He very quickly also reached a deep level of love and respect for the staff and students of Pymatuning,” his obituary states.
