TPS board hires new business manager

The Toledo Board of Education hired a new business manager during a special meeting last night, filling a key position left vacant at a time the district's finances are under scrutiny and new buildings are opening and under construction.

The new hire is James R. Gant, a lawyer who is chief of operations for the Lucas County auditor. His two-year contract will pay him $99,556 annually. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo and its law school.

As business manager, Mr. Gant, 39, will oversee more than 1,000 employees in five bargaining units - including secretaries, custodians, and workers in food service, transportation, and skilled trades - as well as the district's buildings and facilities.

Board members and new Superintendent Jerome Pecko were eager to fill the position, which became vacant this summer with the retirement of John Gilliland.

The vote to hire Mr. Gant was 5-0. He was selected from a field of 24 applicants, six of whom were interviewed. Mr. Pecko said Mr. Gant was the unanimous choice of the three-member interviewing committee.

Mr. Gant, for his part, said he looks forward to the challenge of his new job.

"I see this as a great opportunity to leave a mark on the school district," he said.

Mr. Gant joined the county auditor's office in 2007.

Before then, he did stints in the city of Toledo's law department and Marshall and Mellhorn LLC. His legal experience includes labor negotiations.

The need for a business manager was underscored this summer when multiple air-conditioning breakdowns at newer schools went undetected by the central administration.

The widespread problems weren't reported in a timely way because the business office was effectively dismantled by the retirement of Mr. Gilliland and his second-in-command.

Mr. Pecko only started Aug. 2.

The importance of the business manager job also has come into focus lately with the recent conviction of Dan Burns in Cleveland for theft and racketeering at the Cleveland schools and his indictment last month and not-guilty plea for allegedly stealing $660,000 from the Toledo Public Schools.

Mr. Burns was the TPS business manager until June, 2006.

Mr. Gant said his experience in the county auditor's office had taught him the importance of checks and balances and the proper way to pay bills.

Board member Lisa Sobecki, in welcoming Mr. Gant to the school district, compared the business manager's job to an engine.

"If the engine quits, we don't move forward," she said.

Staff writer Christopher D. Kirkpatrick contributed to this report.

Contact Carl Ryan at:

carlryan@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.