CANFIELD Schools chief hiring nears

The board president says the district should have a new superintendent by early August.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The school board here expects to begin contract negotiations with its pick for a new superintendent before the end of this week.
Board President Mark Squicquero said he thinks the board will vote on entering contract negotiations with a new superintendent during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the board meeting room. The vote will follow a closed-door session in which the board will discuss the qualifications of the final three candidates for the job.
In the final round
The three finalists are: Dennis Kowalski, Strongsville schools superintendent; Charles Swindler, Western Reserve schools superintendent; and Dante Zambrini, assistant schools superintendent in Canfield.
Squicquero added that the board, school officials and community leaders also will discuss the three finalists in an executive session that will follow tonight's meeting, slated for 6 p.m. in the board meeting room. Each finalist will have about 45 minutes to answer questions from the group of about 20 school officials and community leaders during the executive session, Squicquero said.
He said the impressions from the group will be a "piece of the puzzle" used to decide who should be the next superintendent.
The group of school officials and community leaders is expected to include a representative from the Canfield teachers union, which has expressed its support for Zambrini. About 200 teachers and residents attended a May 28 board meeting to show support for Zambrini.
"Anytime you have a candidate within the district, they're an emotional favorite," Squicquero said.
He noted that he thinks the contract negotiations will be "expeditious," and that he expects the board to hire a new superintendent by early August.
Hiscox resigning
The new superintendent will replace Doug Hiscox, who is planning to resign Jan. 31, 2003. A total of 23 people applied to be superintendent. The board interviewed seven of the 23 during the past few weeks, eventually selecting the three finalists.
Squicquero said the board has yet to determine what role Hiscox will play in the district once the new superintendent is hired.
"He's been so cooperative with the whole thing," Squicquero said. "He just wants to do what's best for the district."
hill@vindy.com