OSBA's new president

Article published January 8, 2007
Toledo Blade

Findlay woman will lead Ohio school boards

By JENNIFER FEEHAN BLADE STAFF WRITER

FINDLAY - Increasing membership in the Ohio School Boards Association is important to its new president even if there's only one board in the state that doesn't belong.

Martha Rothey, a longtime Findlay city school board member, said she visited the Black River Local Schools in Medina County last week to encourage its board to join the association. The group provides training, legal counsel, and lobbying for school boards.

"It's a very respected group and very well supported by school boards in the state," she said.

Yesterday, Ms. Rothey, who is known as Marty, was installed as the association's president during a ceremony at Findlay High School. She will lead the 722-member organization for a year, then remain on its executive board in 2008 as past president.

Employed as senior program officer for the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, Ms. Rothey, 54, is beginning her 13th year on the Findlay school board. She was president for seven of those years, two as vice president.

For several years, she has been a representative from the association's 20-county northwest Ohio region.

The region includes all counties south of the Michigan line and east of the Indiana line, out to Erie and Huron counties.

Paul Blaine, assistant superintendent for Findlay schools, said Ms. Rothey has impressed him with her concern about students.

"The thing Marty brings to the board is a passion for children and their education," Mr. Blaine said. "Everything she does is focused on students. She has no 'agenda' other than that."

He said administrators are pleased to see her take the associaton's helm.

"I think it is quite an honor not only for Marty but also for our school district," he said. "It also gives us a special insight to state and national issues with which she is involved in."

Ms. Rothey will not be paid for her role with the association, although she will be reimbursed for expenses.

She said she expects to spend much of the year on the road, representing the association on a number of committees; lobbying on behalf of school boards in Columbus and Washington, and making at least two trips to each of the association's five regions.

"I would like to work toward getting school board members across the state to establish a vision they see for their district, to look at how to obtain educational excellence in their district," she said.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-353-5972.