MAHONING COUNTY Chief will retire from MCESC

Denamen resigned from his position as Austintown superintendent in August.
BOARDMAN -- Mahoning County Superintendent of Schools William Hyde has announced his resignation, effective March 19, from his position with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center.
Hyde, 58, is retiring after a 37-year career he described as "challenging but enjoyable."
"It's been a good run," he said, adding that the center grew from 70 to 300 employees and a budget of about $2 million to about $25 million, and changed from a board of education to one that provides services to local districts.
"It's not so much the growth in itself, but the growth represents opportunities for children," he said. Hyde pointed to the Simon Youth Foundation Mall School, the Adams Alternative School, the Unlimited Classroom on-line community/charter school, and the MCESC's Head Start program that represents the only state-funded Head Start in Ohio.
His replacement
Replacing Hyde will be Richard Denamen, who was named assistant county superintendent effective Monday, and will take over as superintendent March 22. Until Monday, he had served as director of the Unlimited Classroom.
Hyde makes a salary of $112,046. Denamen, as assistant, makes $88,376; his salary increases to $96,328 when he becomes superintendent.
Denamen resigned from his position as Austintown superintendent in August after serving 11 years. He cited the district's constant struggle with funding as part of the reason he left.
Hyde said Denamen has been a big part of the "Mahoning County family of schools" and will continue the positive work that MCESC has been doing while meeting new challenges presented by changing curriculum requirements.
"I think we can keep that family relationship going with school districts and staff," he said.
"It's just been a fantastic time. It couldn't have been better," Hyde added. "I'm sure he'll make things bigger and better."
MCESC supports public school districts in the county, providing various resources and workshops in areas such as curriculum and instruction and technology.
Since 1996
Hyde has served as superintendent since 1996, having worked with the MCESC since 1991 as assistant superintendent, director of pupil personnel service and director of curriculum and instruction.
Before joining MCESC, he had served as director of education for Niles City Schools, regional director of the North East Ohio Special Education Resource Center, regional coordinator for various Elementary and Secondary Education Act special education projects, and a teacher in the Warren City Schools.
Denamen began his educational career in 1973 as a teacher in Austintown. He has also served Austintown as middle school principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent in 1992.