Hubbard superintendent returns home

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Richard Buchenic, former Hubbard teacher, coach and principal, says he's content to return to lead the school district as its superintendent.
"It was good to come home," said the 60-year-old Buchenic, a Hubbard native and still resident who took over the top job this fall.
Buchenic, Lowellville schools superintendent for 11 years, had told the school board there that he was retiring. It was only after being approached by education leaders in Girard that he decided to return.
"The opportunity came, and I felt it was very good for me to bring closure to my career," Buchenic said.
The superintendent says he believes the Hubbard school system is pointed in the right direction, as indicated by pupil achievement and the staff's professional development.
There also are extended after-school programs and a focus on identifying those pupils who need help and providing them with assistance.
"In Hubbard, we need to do what's best for students. Right now, we have everything in place to make it possible for students to be successful," the 35-year educator said.
Financial situations
The Mahoning Valley has seen a number of superintendents leaving their districts. This, Buchenic said, is the result of financial problems rather than job retention being based on pupil achievement.
"You're always trying to find money," he asserted, noting so much time of a superintendent's responsibility is fund raising.
"Schools are running out of money and the state hasn't helped," Buchenic said of the state funding formula that has been constantly criticized by political and educational leaders.
"We get lost in what's best for the students because we are fund raising," he said.
Teaching pupils with the goal of passing state achievement tests is detracting from education, Buchenic asserted.
"I have a problem with trying to teach to the test," he said.
His attitude
Buchenic, who was Hubbard High School principal from 1986 to 1993, said he takes failure in the district personally.
"I've always felt that way," he said, noting the same attitude extends from pupils to faculty and staff.
Generally, people are too quick to judge public schools.
"People knock city schools. I think we're doing a pretty good job," said Buchenic, an educator with blue-collar roots. His mother ran a restaurant near the high school when he was growing up.
"We don't toot our own horn enough. There are more good than bad kids," he said.
It's that philosophy that has produced Buchenic's formula for pupil success: Come to school and do whatever it takes to get an education and behave.
"It's that simple," he added.
yovich@vindy.com