Five Things You Should Know About Lakewood Schools’ New Interim Treasurer

After the recent resignation of treasurer Timothy Penton, the school board acted swiftly to find an interim replacement.

The board has approved hiring of Jim Estle, who’s been a treasurer at a few other school districts in Northeast Ohio.

“He will be on board until a new, permanent treasurer is named,” said district spokeswoman Christine Gordillo.

1. Estle will be the third treasurer in Lakewood in three years.
2. The board unanimously approved his hiring on Monday.
3. Estle held post in Brunswick, Vermillion and Lorain.
4. According to the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Lorain school officials blamed Estle for miscalculating how many students would be leaving the district in 2007 and therefore how much state money went with them. The result, they said, was an unanticipated shortfall of nearly $5 million. He resigned in 2007.
5. Estle was hired as the interim treasurer in Streetsboro in 2008.

“Tim Penton has served the Lakewood City Schools well during his time as Treasurer,” said Board President Edward Favre in a district press release.

“He made great strides and improvements and worked collaboratively with the Board, the Superintendent and the rest of district, as well as those outside the district,” Favre continued. “We were disappointed to hear of his decision, however understand and respect his private reasons.  We wish Tim the best and would welcome the opportunity to work with him in the future.”