Warren's new leader introduced

The new superintendent has also worked in Minnesota and Indiana.
By MONICA BOND
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Dr. Kathryn Hellweg, from Northwest Local School District in Cincinnati, was introduced Tuesday night as the new superintendent of Warren city schools.
Hellweg "has a proven record of improving student achievement," school board president Linda Metzendorf read.
Hellweg said she intends to raise expectations for all students, not just those who are struggling.
"I'm particularly interested in districts that have diverse populations and want to improve," Hellweg said.
Hellweg has served as superintendent of Northwest Local School District in Cincinnati for the past three and a half years.
Her other professional experience includes:
* Director of teaching and learning (assistant superintendent) for Rochester, Minn., Public Schools.
* Principal of Ithaca High School in Ithaca, N.Y.
* High school principal in Richmond, Ind.
* Administrator, department chair and teacher in Lincoln, Neb., Public Schools.
* Adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
According to Metzendorf's statement, the Northwest Local School District "served approximately 10,500 students in an area of rapid demographic change."
The board president called Hellweg "an experienced educator who brings an outstanding record of educational leadership to Warren City School District."
Her plans
Hellweg thanked the board for putting their trust in her. "I have all kinds of visions and hopes for our students," she said.
Hellweg said she plans to talk to the board about what their priorities will be. Parents', teachers' and students' priorities are important too, she said.
"I would like to talk about our priorities, because it's really all of us," she said. "I'm going to be listening a lot and asking a lot of questions in the next few weeks."
Hellweg has a 3-year contract, beginning Monday and extending to July 31, 2008. Her annual salary will be $106,000, Metzendorf said.
Hellweg's salary is essentially the same as that of retiring superintendent Betty English, Metzendorf said.
English received a car allowance, and Hellweg will receive a higher salary level for holding a Ph.D., Metzendorf said. The car allowance was included in Hellweg's salary.
English, who has led the school system since 1999, will step down when her contract expires Sunday. She did not attend the meeting and was unavailable to comment Tuesday evening.
Construction process
In other business, Metzendorf announced that the district should be able to continue the process of building a K-8 building on the Parkman Road property.
"The property at 2501 Parkman Road has been reviewed by Peter Clingan, environmental specialist with the Ohio EPA," Metzendorf read from a statement. She visited the property today with other officials.
The property received a quantitative score of 59 using the Ohio Rapid Assessment Method, which indicates it is a Category 2 wetland.
The board will next submit a formal application to the Ohio EPA and Army Corps of Engineers, Metzendorf said.
"If all criteria are met with the process that is outlined by the Ohio EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, this process should result in the ability to construct the proposed K-8 building on the site," she read.
The application process should take about six months, Metzendorf said.