By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Schools’ next superintendent needs to be a healer, communicator, collaborator and someone the community trusts.
There are such “unicorns” out there, who can be everything the district needs, according to an Ohio School Boards Association consultant hired to help find a match for Bowling Green City Schools.
The new superintendent will replace Francis Scruci, who has announced he will retire at the end of July.
On Wednesday, Cheryl Ryan listened to five community groups to get their ideas on exactly what the district needs. She met with civic and community leaders, business officials, school staff, first responders and citizens. In the evening, she heard from about 40 parents and grandparents during a session open to the community.
Ryan got an earful.
She began by asking about the qualities a new superintendent should possess. The list was long, with skills to:
- Heal the district.
- Bridge the gap between rural and city populations.
- Communicate effectively, concisely, consistently and with transparency to diverse groups, including the farm community.
- Put education first.
- Be creative in problem solving.
- Be a collaborator.
- Support teachers and staff.
- Partner with BGSU, the community and businesses, to provide more opportunities for students and build the community.
- Recognize the value of public education as a tool for protecting democracy.
- Understand the budget and be able to discuss it clearly.
- Be open to criticism.
- Embrace new ideas and approaches.
- Be open to more than a one-size-fits-all approach to education.
- Appreciate Christian family values and be willing to partner with churches.
- Reach out to students for their ideas and opinions.
- Willing to listen and be decisive.
- Own up to failures.
- Make teachers feel trusted.
- Interact with state legislators on the district’s behalf.
- Stay on top of current educational research and practices.
- Support all extracurriculars, not just those that bring in money.
“To have well-rounded students leave these walls,” the superintendent needs to value all programs, one parent said.
“I want someone who is going to fight for my kids,” said another.
Ryan also asked the parents and grandparents at the evening session to list the challenges that a new superintendent will face coming to Bowling Green. Again the list was lengthy, and included:
- Old school facilities.
- Lack of unity.
- Multiple levy failures, and the low morale caused by the losses.
- Loss of trust in district leadership. “Losing trust is so easy,” but regaining it is tough, one parent said.
- Limited transportation for students to and from school.
The new superintendent must be a leader able to “hit the bricks and engage the community,” another person said. “They need to be able to tell that story” about why the district and its students need new facilities.
When asked, the vast majority of those in the audience said the superintendent should live in Bowling Green.
One parent, worried about all the negativity, wanted to make sure candidates for the job realize that the community will welcome them.
“There are a lot of people really rooting for whoever this person is,” she said. “I want this person to know we are behind them.”
As of Wednesday morning, seven people had applied for the superintendent seat, Ryan said. She predicted the district would get 15-20 applicants, with some experienced, some new, and some from other states. She said the board is open to local candidates.
Ryan explained that she will transcribe the comments from the five focus groups she met with and look for common threads. She will use the information to help recruit candidates.
After the meeting, Ryan said the board plans to start the interviewing process around April 10, and hopes to appoint a superintendent in early May.
The board has not yet set a salary, Ryan said.
“I think the board wants to be fiscally responsible, but they also want to get a candidate they want,” she said.
One parent asked about the wisdom of letting the existing board hire a superintendent, when three board seats are up for election this fall.
“I fully expect this board to want to make this call,” Ryan said.
Another parent asked if an interim superintendent could be hired if the initial candidates aren’t right for the job.
“We need the right person,” she said.
“You have my 100% word, if the board is not excited about the candidate, and the candidate is not excited about coming to Bowling Green, I will suggest an interim,” Ryan said.
Another parent expressed concern about a superintendent only committing a short period to the position.
“We don’t want to be a stepping stone,” she said.
Ryan said the average duration of school superintendents in Ohio is 4.6 years. The average for those who go through the OSBA hiring process is 6.2 years, she said.
“It’s a hard job, being superintendent. A really hard job,” Ryan said. “It’s a brutal job.”
“I hope that we get someone who wants to be here 12 to 15 years. And I hope we have someone the community and board want for 12 to 15 years,” Ryan said.
