Canton Local residents want Scott Hamilton to resign from school board amid pending case
CANTON TWP. – A handful of Canton Local School District residents are appealing to the Board of Education to take steps to remove Scott Hamilton from their ranks.
Hamilton, who is president of the Canton Local Board of Education, is facing a felony theft charge in Massillon, accused of stealing 166 bales of pine shavings from the Tractor Supply Co.
The residents made their desires known Monday at a board meeting held at Canton South High School. Hamilton did not attend the meeting.
The theft of pine shavings was "a continuous course of conduct" between Jan. 8 until May 22, according to a complaint police filed in Massillon Municipal Court. The value of the stolen merchandise was set at $1,030.
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"Several months ago I stood before you and asked you to demand the resignation of Scott Hamilton," said Jennifer Steiner, who was among the five residents asking that Hamilton either resign or be removed from his elected post. "I implore you to be on the right side of history. Scott Hamilton has for years thought he was above the law."
Residents earlier asked for Hamilton's resignation
When Steiner asked for Hamilton's removal earlier this year, it involved a Board of Education vote not to retain a popular coach of the high school girls' volleyball team, Erin Cole. Hamilton was among the board members who voted to not retain Erin Cole, whose husband, Chris Cole, also is a Canton Local Board of Education member.
Chris Cole abstained from the vote on his wife's status as a volleyball coach.
Efforts to contact Hamilton after Monday night's meeting were not successful.
During the meeting, none of the Board of Education members or Superintendent Brett Yeagley commented on what the residents were saying about Hamilton.
A felony conviction would be prevent Hamilton from holding a school board seat.
After the meeting, Rick Knight, Canton Local BOE vice president, said the board doesn't have the authority to push another board member out of office.
"We can make a (non-binding) resolution. He can agree to it or not agree to it," he said.
Hamilton is in his 24th year on the Canton Local Board of Education. He was first elected in 1997. He was re-elected to another four-year term in November 2021.
Canton Local to wait for case outcome
"A person is innocent until proven guilty," Knight said regarding what course the board is likely to follow. "We can't take any action until we find out the end result of the litigation."
During the public speaks portion of the Board of Education session, it was mentioned by some residents that Canton Local School District's academic rating has not been high in recent years. And a case was made that Hamilton bears some responsibility, considering his length of time on the board.
"Only Canton City and Alliance City (within Stark County) rank worse," said Ed Simon. "I challenge Mr. Hamilton to do what he should do and resign."
Simon is the father of Erin Cole, the former volleyball coach.
"It is disappointing that Scott Hamilton is not here tonight," resident Mandy Andrews said. "Scott has embarrassed this district for too long. As a lifelong member of this community, I ask that he resign. The most recent felony theft allegations against Scott should be the last straw. Our superintendent has a ton of potential. He was been walked all over by Scott Hamilton."
Reach Malcolm at 330-596-0326 or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Residents want Scott Hamilton removed from Canton Local school board
