Board narrows search

CELINA - School board members on Monday narrowed their superintendent search to four, including one local administrator.

School board president Matt Gilmore announced during the board meeting that those returning for second interviews include Jeff Hobbs, Fort Recovery High School principal; Tod Hug, Ayersville Local Schools superintendent; David Peltz, Greenville City Schools curriculum director; and Jesse Steiner, Hicksville Exempted Village Schools superintendent.

"We had a strong pool, and all our interviews went well," Gilmore said. "But we had good consensus about the four we've narrowed our list to."

The board first advertised for the position in May through the Ohio School Board Association. OSBA turned over 30 applications; board members interviewed eight people earlier this month.

Reference calls on the candidates will be made before scheduling interviews.

"The road runs both ways," Gilmore said. "They are interviewing us and our district as much as we are interviewing them."

More interviews will be conducted in September and board members hope to make an offer shortly thereafter.

In other business, interim superintendent Steve Keller and student council president Kandace Eichenauer presented area businesses with the OSBA Business Honor Roll award. The award was presented to Tom Rable of CAPT, Tim Clutter of CALL Food Pantry, Bill Montgomery of Celina Insurance Group and Ellen Welker of Midwest Logistics Systems.

"These groups epitomize what groups do in this community that make this school a success," Keller said. "Over the years, (they) have contributed so much to the school."

School building committee member Matt Overman told board members the campaign for the school bond levy is under way. School district residents in November will vote on a 33-year, $27.7 million bond issue to build a new elementary school at the site of West elementary. The $35.8 million proposed school also would be funded with $8.1 million from the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

Overman said the committee has chosen the school crest as the campaign's logo and the motto, "built for tomorrow, the time is now."

Also at the meeting, board members,

• accepted a $500 donation from ARC of Mercer County for special education teacher supplies.

• accepted donations from Wabash Telephone, Mercer Savings, CAPT and Veterans of Foreign Wars for the final payment of the field house scoreboard project. Each group donated $1,333.

• accepted the resignation of Denise Davenport, teacher assistant.

• approved the bus routes for the new school year.

• approved $2,441 stipends for six Race to the Top team members.

• approved $50 stipends for kindergarten through second-grade teachers to attend a 1/2 day informational meeting for a dyslexia pilot project. Board member Connie Paulus asked for a progress report later in the year.

• approved three Tri Star Career Compact over-night trips during the coming school year.

• approved a Head Start grant application of $1.1 million, which is expected to be awarded for Dec. 1 through Nov. 30, 2013.