WARREN — Five candidates are seeking to win three seats on the governing board of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.

The Trumbull County ESC provides educational leadership and instruction in areas of curriculum development, special education and technology. It employs teachers, therapists, psychologists and other specialists who work directly with approximately 25,000 students in 20 school districts.

Three of the five candidates — Al Haberstroh, Thomas Krispinsky and Laura F. Rubesich — are incumbents. Two candidates, Carol E. Young and Milajean Harkabus, are first-time candidates for the seats.

AL HABERSTROH

Haberstroh, 68, works as zoning inspector in Southington. He formerly owned Haberstroh Construction from 1976 through 2015.

He was elected to school boards in Southington, the Trumbull ESC, and Trumbull Career & Technical Center, serving multiple terms on each board. Haberstroh has testified in Columbus and Washington, D.C., where he advocated for needed resources and policy on the state and federal levels for all students’ educational needs.

“I have spent the last three decades advocating for those resources for every student, including special needs, economically disadvantaged and providing help and direction for every student,” he said. “I have always been a purpose-driven person and being elected gives a greater voice. I will and have always supported the educational purpose.”

MILAJEAN HARKABUS

Harkabus, 65, who retired as a principal in the LaBrae Local Schools in 2020, previously worked in the Newton Falls Exempted Village School District and worked as a director of bands at the James A. Garfield Schools in Portage County. She earned a master of science in education administration from Youngstown State University.

“My motivation centers on three essential priorities: continue advancing early literacy, fostering student and staff wellness and recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers,” Harkabus said in her candidate questionnaire. I will advocate for continued support of evidence-based literacy programs and investing in meaningful professional development.”

Commitment to these priorities is anchored in hands-on experience in schools and in program administration, she noted.

THOMAS KRISPINSKY

Krispinsky, 73, works as Howland Township’s fiscal officer. Before retiring, Krispinsky worked as treasurer for the Howland Local School District for 21 years and as the Trumbull County ESC’s treasurer for three years.

Krispinsky earned a master’s degree in school administration in 1997. He earned a bachelor’s in business administration from YSU.

“My main priorities are maintaining a strong financial position, providing the best shared services for county students and making resources available for ESC employees,” he said in his candidate questionnaire.

LAURA RUBESICH

Rubesich, 70, a Howland resident and a retired teacher, formerly worked as an athletic trainer for the Warren City School District and as an athletic trainer as Western Reserve Orthopedic Center and an assistant trainer at Youngstown State University. She also served as an athletic trainer and is a member of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame and the Warren City Schools Sports Hall of Fame.

In her candidate questionnaire, she said her three priorities are to expand educational services as needed by the ESC’s member schools, including physical therapy, occupational therapy speech and mental health; help promote countywide professional development for educators and staff members by working with fellow board members and staff to implement best practices; and working with state and local government officials to help promote the value of public education initiatives. She said she will meet with lawmakers and attend board leadership programs to facilitate this process.

CAROL YOUNG

Young, 65, has been a literacy coach for 12 years for the Canfield Local School District, where she does professional development planning for kindergarten through sixth grade. She also worked for a dozen years as a literacy coach for the Warren City School District, where she previously worked as a classroom teacher.

“I want to maintain a policy of respectful, working relationships with all stakeholders to create a common vision,” she said in her candidate questionnaire. “We need to support educational excellence with thorough hiring practices, a strong research-based curriculum, in-class teacher support and a safe learning environment.”