Westerville school board member resigns over a year before term ends

WESTERVILLE, Ohio ( WCMH ) — After 25 years of service, a Westerville school board member is retiring this month, over a year before her term was set to end and amid an ongoing ethics investigation.

Nancy Nestor-Baker announced her retirement Tuesday night at a Board of Education meeting, which she said will take effect Aug. 31. Board President Kristy Meyer said the board will soon publicize an application process for those hoping to fill the rest of Nestor-Baker’s term, which was supposed to end Dec. 31, 2025.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and even though — actually, because — I love this place and the good work that goes on here, I have decided that this 25th anniversary is the time for me to retire from public service,” Nestor-Baker said at the meeting. “Business and personal demands have increased substantially and will continue to do so.”

The resignation comes amid those demands, and an ongoing ethical investigation. She said the decision was wholly unrelated to a pending ethical investigation into a conflict of interest in her decision making as a board member.

“My decision to leave the board was not based on anything that might be going on with that,” Nestor-Baker said.

Although she said it is unrelated, the investigation could still affect Nestor-Baker and could even result in felony charges. In August 2023, Nestor-Baker had conduct brought before the Ohio Ethics Commission after it was determined she voted on three measures that concerned her daughter, Caley Baker. Baker has been with Westerville schools since 2007, and she is currently the principal of Hanby Elementary.

“Voting to award a public contract, including employment, to a family member is potentially a fourth degree felony in Ohio,” Executive Director of the commission Paul Nick said, speaking generally. “Using your authority to benefit a family member is potentially a first degree misdemeanor in Ohio.”

The Ohio Ethics Commission’s investigations are considered private and confidential under Ohio law, so Nick said they were unable to comment publicly on this investigation as it is ongoing.

Nestor-Baker voted on a one-time payment, two-year contract and three-year contract of Baker’s, despite abstaining from voting on other measures concerning her daughter, including her contract as gifted coordinator and various contract changes.

“Clearly, there were times that I believed it was improper to vote, and times that I believed it was proper to vote,” Nestor-Baker said at a special board meeting last August called to address this investigation.

Nestor-Baker then confirmed she had contacted a lawyer and would be abiding by their guidance. She told NBC4 she has not received any updates nor has she been alerted to any pending updates from the Ohio Ethics Commission. According to Greg Viebranz, the district’s chief communications officer, the district has also not received updates regarding the investigation.

Nick did say many factors affect the length of an investigation, and there are four possible outcomes: claims are dismissed as unsubstantiated, a confidential notice of a potential violation, a settlement agreement — which would be public record — or referral to a prosecutor. Prosecutors can decide or decline to file charges, which would also be public record if filed.

Investigation aside, Nestor-Baker has a rich history with Westerville schools. She graduated from Westerville High School and served her 25 years on the school board in two continual terms: 1991-2005 and again from 2014-present. Within that time she served six terms as board president and four as vice president. The Aug. 26 regular board meeting will be her final meeting as a board member, Viebranz said.

Viebranz said applicants looking to fill the empty board seat must be at least 18, U.S. citizens, district residents and registered voters.

As for what Nestor-Baker plans to do once stepping down, she told NBC4 she will spend more time at her family business.

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