5/9/11 Search for East Holmes Superintendent comes up empty-handed
By Nick Sabo
May 9, 2011
289
SUMMARY: Tri-County input to recommend interim superintendent
The East Holmes School Board may consider an administrative alternative to a full time superintendent after interviews failed to produce an acceptable candidate.
Tri-County Educational Services Center Superintendent Gene Linton said Monday May 9 that the school board was unable to decide on a replacement for retiring Superintendent Joe Wengerd. The board received 19 applications for the position and conducted two rounds of final interviews before deciding they did not have a good fit for East Holmes, Linton said.
I dont want anyone to think they had bad candidates. This had nothing to do with skill level, Linton said. The board felt they didnt have the right person to put in the office. The worst thing they could have done is to give the wrong person the job.
The selection process was facilitated by Tri-County, who advertised the position and collected the applications. The applications were reviewed by the school board with no input from Tr-County.
No applicants emerged from within the districts pool of current administrators or faculty who hold the proper certification, Linton said.
Linton said the board balked mainly because none of the candidates were willing to re-locate to the East Holmes community, something they see as essential for the position.
The applications came in from all over the state and some had local ties, but (the final candidates werent willing) to move into the community, Linton said. Housing is not easy to find and you have to look at the cost of living in the Berlin area.
Linton said the salary range for the position is $80,000 to $90,000, based on experience. The pay level is comparable with other school districts in the area, Linton said.
Linton will meet with the school board this week to discuss the options before them. Linton said he will recommend the board go with an interim superintendent for the next six months before testing the waters again. The number of applications showed a high level of interest, and repeating the application process would probably not turn up any new candidates, Linton said.
I think its a better option, Linton said. A lot can happen in six months.
Wengerd spent 27 of his 36 years in teaching with East Holmes, the final six as superintendent. His predecessor, Gary Sterrett, came in from Garaway School District, in Sugarcreek.
Wengerds last day with the district is June 30.
