By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City School District welcomed its new superintendent Tuesday evening, while saying some early farewells to another.
Board of Education President Ryan Myers answered two important questions about new superintendent Dr. Ted Haselman. First, his salary will be $155,000 a year, compared to current Superintendent Francis Scruci’s annual salary of $160,000. And second, the new superintendent’s name is pronounced like hazel-men, not hassle-men.
Scruci’s last day on the job is July 31, when his retirement officially begins. Haselman takes over on Aug. 1.
After the contract signing during the board meeting, Myers presented the new superintendent with some “Bobcat swag.” Haselman said he is both humbled and excited about his new job.
“I don’t take this trust you’ve placed in me lightly,” said Haselman, who has been superintendent in the Pike-Delta-York district for eight years. He was already wearing a Bobcat tie that he had received in the mail on Monday.
“I look forward to moving the district forward, along with everyone in the community,” he said.
Jeff Nichols, a parent, teacher and head of the educators association in the district, welcomed the new superintendent.
“We look forward to working with you,” Nichols said. “We appreciate your coming and taking on challenges.”
Nichols, who has worked with seven superintendents at Bowling Green City Schools, also took the opportunity to thank Scruci for his service.
“We as teachers appreciate your leadership,” Nichols said, noting Scruci’s focus on curriculum and on making the district a destination for teachers.
“You’ve taken a heck of a lot of heat that wasn’t deserved,” he said to Scruci. “I appreciate what you’ve done for the district” – putting students and staff as priorities.
Scruci was also given an honorary gold medal from Laura Weaver, for always supporting the district’s enrichment program. And a student in Nicole Myers’ art class presented Scruci with a caricature of himself.
Scruci congratulated Haselman on his new position, adding “you’re working with a great staff.”
“We’re really excited to work with you,” Myers told the new superintendent. “You really impressed people throughout the hiring process.”
The next challenge for Haselman, whose youngest child graduates from high school on Sunday, is to find a home in Bowling Green.
After the board meeting, community members, parents and teachers stayed to welcome Haselman.
“I’m stoked. I’m excited,” he told one community member. He talked about being impressed by the students who were recognized at the board meeting for their accomplishments. The students excelled in business, music, art and math.
“I think there are a lot of great things happening for students in Bowling Green schools,” Haselman said.
The financial forecast presented during the meeting was less than thrilling, but as a superintendent for eight years, and a principal and teacher before that, Haselman said he has seen plenty of financial struggles for districts.
“It’s very scary. Sure I’d like to see it going the other direction,” he said of the five-year forecast. “We will have to address it.”
(A story will be posted later this week on the school finance report.)
Haselman also teaches school finances at the college level, so he comes to the job with additional experience.
“It’s never fun to be on the ballot,” he said. “We’re asking our constituents to walk in and hit the ‘yes’ button, and pay more taxes.”
But Haselman expects to be accessible to the public, to explain the value of passing school issues, and to communicate the district’s successes. He also hopes to continue his tradition of calling bingo occasionally at the local senior center.
“We need to let people know the good the district is doing,” he said.
