CANFIELD SCHOOLS District begins search for new superintendent

Dante Zambrini is among the finalists for the job.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- How do you improve a school district that the state already considers excellent?
That's a question eight educators are going to have to answer in the next few weeks if they want to become Canfield Local School's next superintendent.
School Board President Mark Squicquero said interviews for the job are slated to start behind closed doors at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
"That is kind of the essence of what we stand for," Squicquero said when asked about improving the district.
"We don't want to rest on our laurels or anything."
The Canfield school district met all 27 standards on the 2002 state report card and was deemed excellent.
Squicquero said the school board has selected eight finalists to interview from the 23 people who applied to be superintendent.
The board also is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. next Saturday to discuss replacing Superintendent Doug Hiscox, who has told the school board he plans to resign Jan. 31 for personal reasons.
Hiscox has entered contract negotiations to become East Liverpool's new superintendent. Squicquero said the board won't stop Hiscox from leaving if he takes a new job before Jan. 31.
Squicquero said the board hopes to start contract negotiations with one of the eight finalists by July 25. He directed requests for the names of the finalists to the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, which is helping the school board with the hiring process.
Service center officials did not return The Vindicator's phone calls.
Zambrini among candidates
Squicquero, however, confirmed that the finalists include Dante Zambrini, Canfield's assistant superintendent.
The union that represents 195 teachers and tutors in the district has asked the board to promote Zambrini to interim superintendent so he can serve alongside Hiscox.
About 200 teachers and residents showed up at a May 28 board meeting to support Zambrini's promotion.
Union President Don George has said the union believes Zambrini can strengthen the relationship between the district and the community in order to pass a school operating levy this fall.
A 6.9-mill, five-year additional operating levy failed in the May primary.
George said that by promoting Zambrini, the board can save itself the expense of hiring a new superintendent before the levy appears on the fall ballot. He added that the board could reassess its attempts to hire a new superintendent after the levy passes.
Zambrini did not return calls seeking a comment.
Support for Zambrini
George is showing his support for Zambrini by displaying two tan "Zambrini for Superintendent" signs in the rear windows of his car. The signs were created by Adrianne Sturm, a Whispering Pines resident and parent of a Canfield pupil.
Sturm said she created the signs, as well as "Zambrini for Superintendent" badges, earlier this month at the request of several local residents. She said since then, she's handed out about 200 of the signs and the badges.
Sturm praised Zambrini for his integrity and dedication to Canfield pupils.
George added that he wasn't surprised that Zambrini is among the candidates to be interviewed.
"We knew he'd be in that position because he's qualified," George said.
hill@vindy.com