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WELLSVILLE -- Public service is not unchartered territory for Chris Amato, who recently was named to a vacant Wellsville school board seat.
Board members appointed Amato from three applicants to fill the seat left by Ed Bauer, who passed away Dec. 1 at the age of 78.
Bauer had served on the board for almost two decades and was one of the Wellsville Tigers' most vocal boosters.
Amato graduated from Wellsville High School in 1981 and subsequently Ohio State University, before attending Thomas F. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich and passing the Ohio State Bar in 1990.
After serving briefly as an assistant prosecutor for Columbiana County, he went into private practice with his brother Nick and served briefly as a Wellsville school board member. Although he enjoyed that seat, Amato learned that he couldn't hold two elected positions (both school board and Columbiana County Municipal Court, which he had initially been appointed to by Gov. John Kasich), so he had to resign his school board position.
Amato is most proud of being the first Columbiana County judge to develop a certified drug court, but had to eventually step down to an illness in the family. Subsequently that drug court, which is now under the direction of his successor Tim McNicol, is still in existence today. "I always found the drug court so rewarding, because you could see the change and that you made a difference. You could see them being happy," Amato continued. "It was a rigid treatment plan to complete the drug court, which took between 18 months to two years."
Earlier this year, when Wellsville school board member Tom Brophey, who was Amato's cousin, passed away in midterm, he said that many people urged him to apply. After all, Amato has served on the district's safety committee for many years and had three children in Wellsville schools. However, it was not his time yet.
When board member Ed Bauer recently passed, Amato decided amidst a pandemic that the time was now.
Wellsville schools Superintendent Richard Bereschik said that he was not involved in the interview process but did endorse the board's choice. "I have worked with Chris before when he was on the Wellsville school board, and he is committed to making the village a great place to reside. Not only is he a lifelong Wellsville resident but has children in the district."
Amato knows that a strong school system is needed to do this, Bereschik said, pointing to his coaching experience at the junior high level and the support of the Amato Foundation as crucial. "He is an active member of the community and always has been there for us. Although I can't speak for the school board, I believe (Amato's resume and track record) made him stand out as the best candidate for the position."
Amato also would like to see a few added opportunities for the students. "Once the pandemic is under control with vaccines, I would like to see Wellsville bus kids to Kent State University (Columbiana County campuses) for in-person College Credit Plus classes," he explained, adding that he is very happy with the direction being pursued – especially with the additional C.A.R.E.S. Act infusion. Thanks to C.A.R.E.S. Act money, Wellsville has been able to add more support staff like nurses, custodians and counselors to try and deal with the effects of the pandemic as well as improve their security and technology.
His new appointment wraps up a big year for Amato, who also is heading Defendants Have Rights (DHR), who has the contract to provide public defender services to indigent defendants in Columbiana County area courts as well as coaching Junior Olympics volleyball, which runs eight months of the year.
He and his wife Courtney, also a WHS alumnae, reside with their children Alana, Aubri and Gia , as well as have an adult daughter, Maia.