By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Seven of the 17 applicants for the job of Bowling Green City School superintendent have made the cut for the first round of interviews with the board of education.
The applicants come from districts with just 1,134 students to a district with over 6,000 students. Bowling Green City Schools has 2,525 students. The superintendent search is being aided by the Ohio School Boards Association, which reported Thursday that the following candidates made the first cut:
- Kim Brueck, director of human resources and student services at Green Local Schools, near Akron, enrollment 4,048.
- Ted Haselman, superintendent at Pike-Delta-York Local Schools, in Fulton County, enrollment 1,134.
- Maura Horgan, assistant superintendent at Newark City Schools, enrollment 6,008.
- Mark Kowalski, superintendent at Liberty-Benton Local Schools, near Findlay, enrollment 1,497.
- Bruce Otley, operations Director, Liberty-Benton Local Schools, near Findlay, enrollment 1,497.
- Mark Pugh, high school principal, Sylvania City Schools, district enrollment 7,800.
- Ryan Wilde, high school principal, Napoleon Area City Schools, district enrollment 1,757.
The new superintendent will replace Francis Scruci, who has announced he will retire at the end of July.
Bowling Green Board of Education President Ryan Myers said the first interviews will be conducted the week of April 17, with the second round possibly being held the following week.
“We’d like to move as quickly as possible,” Myers said, with the hope of having a new superintendent selected in May.
The board was pleased with the applicants for the job, he said.
“I’m extremely happy. We are pleased with not only the quantity of the candidates, but also the quality,” Myers said.
After the first round of interviews, the board will discuss how the second round is conducted, and if there will be any public involvement.
The board has not yet determined a salary for the new superintendent, Myers said.
Those selected for interviews exhibit the traits most important to the district, he said. During public meetings last month with various stakeholders in the community, Cheryl Ryan, director of board and management services with Ohio School Boards Association, collected input on the qualities most sought in a new superintendent.
Ryan met with parents, civic and community leaders, business officials, school staff, first responders and citizens.
At the top of the wish list were the abilities to be a healer, communicator, collaborator and someone the community trusts. Citizens want a problem solver who puts education first, supports teachers and staff, and is open to criticism
Ryan also identified the challenges that a new superintendent will face coming to Bowling Green. Among those are the old school buildings, lack of unity, multiple levy failures, low morale among staff, and loss of trust in the community.
Ryan also took several questions from the public during the community meetings last month.
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.
“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 and using Bowling Green as a stepping stone.
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.”
