School Board to Hire New Treasurer, Rick Berdine

Rick Berdine brings the skills and experience the need in a treasurer/chief financial officer, said Board of Education Vice President Mark Jantzen.

The board will meet Wednesday night to approve the employment of Berdine, the treasurer of the Lakewood City Schools. Berdine announced his intentions to retire from the Lakewood City Schools last August, .

The board has been searching for a replacement for Karen E. Obratil, . Obratil spent 11 years with Brecksville-Broadview Heights and will soon be headed to .

Berdine spent nearly 15 years in Lakewood serving in a variety of roles, including as a business manager. He has also worked in the Cuyahoga Falls and Sebring Local schools. Jantzen said Berdine has seen the way multiple districts operate, he has been involved in levy campaigns and he understands the importance of keeping costs down.

The board hires the treasurer and the superintendent, Jantzen said, and both report directly to the board.

Berdine said he was always interested in the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District, calling it one of the premier districts in the state. When he saw the opening, he went for it.

Berdine said he enjoys working as a treasurer because no two days are ever the same. It’s a challenging job in this economic climate, but the end result—seeing students getting a quality education—makes it worth it.

“It’s very rewarding,” he said.

Berdine is set to begin on Aug. 1. Jantzen said his contract, including salary information, would be made available after Wednesday’s meeting.