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Youngstown school board plans superintendent search panel
By HAROLD GWIN
YOUNGSTOWN
The city school board plans to appoint a search committee of 18 to 21 members to help it find the next superintendent of schools.
Superintendent Wendy Webb announced her plans to retire earlier this month, saying that it will be effective Jan. 1, 2011.
The board is moving quickly to find her successor, saying it wants to have a new superintendent by the start of fall classes in late August. That will give the new superintendent time to work with Webb to ensure a smooth transition, said Anthony Catale, school board president.
It plans to do a national search, Catale said, adding that the board will seek the services of a consultant.
The Ohio School Boards Association has offered to help and will meet with school officials in a special board meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Catale said the OSBA has a base price of $6,700 for its services, but that doesn’t include transportation, advertising and other expenses that will raise the cost.
The board hopes to name the search committee members at the meeting as well, he said, noting that it will include teachers, parents, administrators, community leaders and representatives of both the state Academic Distress Commission and state financial oversight commission that are controlling district academics and finances, respectively. Youngstown schools remain in state-mandated academic and fiscal emergency.
The Academic Distress Commission, which has its own authority to appoint or fire administrators in the district, has made it clear it expects to play a role in the selection process.