By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For much of his eight years as superintendent of Bowling Green City Schools, Francis Scruci has elicited strong feelings from the community.
During his tenure, many staff felt supported by him, many students felt respected by him, and many taxpayers vowed to never vote for a school levy until he was gone.
After July 31, they won’t have that excuse anymore.
During Monday’s board of education meeting, Scruci asked the board to approve his retirement date of July 31. The board voted unanimously to do so, and the new board president, Ryan Myers, was rushed by reporters at the conclusion of the meeting.
“We don’t have everything ironed out yet,” Myers said about the hiring process for the next superintendent. “We wanted to get out in front of it.”
But Myers had no doubt about one issue – despite rumors, he will not be putting his name in for the job. Myers, supervisor of special education at Penta Career Center, said he plans to serve out his term as board president and has no intention of applying for the superintendent post.
(More stories to come on request for school district to allow religion classes during school day, and on ongoing community support for the district.)
No exact deadlines have been established, but the selection of a new superintendent will be announced well before Scruci’s July 31 retirement date – possibly as soon as sometime this spring, Myers said.
“We’re anxious to get this started now,” he said.
“We want to give us time to find the best person to lead the district,” he said.
The board will be looking for someone who has a vision for the district, a desire to collaborate with the city and BGSU, and good communication skills, Myers said.
“We would like to bring in someone with a wealth of experience,” he said. “This district has been through quite a bit in the last several years.”
After holding an executive session Monday evening, the school board reconvened and voted to contract with the Ohio School Board Association for help with the superintendent search.
Earlier in the evening when Myers made his first report to the board as its president, he talked about the year presenting a lot of challenges to the district.
After holding a workshop on school buildings earlier this month, the board voted Tuesday to pass a resolution seeking requests for qualifications for architecture and engineering services for a facilities master plan. The submissions will be due by Feb. 24.
The board also approved a resolution of intent to participate in the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission’s Expedited Partnership Program.
“This is an exciting time for the district, and we’re looking forward to the time ahead,” Myers said.
