Priority for new Austintown chief: Bring in funding

AUSTINTOWN -- School officials and members of the community offered their input as the school district continues its search for a new superintendent. The dominant notion: find someone good at bringing in new sources of money.
About 50 people attended the last of five discussion groups, this one at Fitch High School Tuesday.
Kathy LaSota, deputy director of search services and board development for the Ohio School Boards Association, monitored the discussion group.
LaSota said many people are concerned about school finances, especially in light of state budget cuts. Most of those who participated in the discussions want a superintendent who will be able to come up with "creative ways to bring in alternate funding." The applicant should also be effective in educating the public about how the school funding system works, how it affects local districts and what the needs and limitations of the district are, she added.
Challenges and issues
The search committee also will consider how the applicant will handle various challenges and issues over the next three to five years, LaSota continued. Other factors will include the person's skills, knowledge about fiscal and other matters and personal qualities, she added.
LaSota called the meetings "very positive" and praised outgoing Superintendent Stan Watson. Any new superintendent will continue to "take the good we already have and what's working now and enhance and improve upon it," she said.
Watson recently announced his retirement, effective July 1, after serving for 31 years in the Austintown school district. For 10 years, he was its assistant superintendent and is in his second year as superintendent after being promoted in August 2003.