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Meranto takes superintendent position
YOUNGSTOWN
The city school district’s CEO has removed the interim superintendent title from Joseph Meranto.
Meranto, director of Choffin Career and Technical Center for the past 13 years, is the new district superintendent.
“As a lifelong Youngstown resident, I am excited for the opportunity to serve this community and school district in a more expansive role,” Meranto said Friday. “I look forward to working with Mr. [Krish] Mohip and the many hard-working administrators, teachers and support personnel in Youngstown.”
Mohip, who selected Meranto as interim superintendent earlier this month, said Meranto – whose salary will remain $115,000 per year – is a perfect fit.
“We didn’t have to look very far to find the right person to step into the superintendent’s seat,” Mohip said. “Joe has been a part of our district for many years and a part of my leadership team since I got here. I’m confident he’s the right person to help me in an even greater role, to implement the changes required to ensure our students – all of our students – are getting a quality education that prepares them for college, careers and beyond.”
Meranto replaces Stephen Stohla, who served since July 2015. Stohla’s contract was not renewed.
Meranto, however, was not without competition.
After a special meeting Wednesday, Brenda Kimble, board president, emailed Mohip the board’s recommendation of Andre Cowling for the superintendent position, with backup options of Martha Hasselbusch and Diane Longstreth.
Mohip responded shortly after, saying he would take their recommendations into consideration.
Mohip has control over the district under Ohio House Bill 70, which put a chief executive officer, overseen by a state-appointed academic-distress commission, in control of the district.
District spokeswoman Denise Dick said Mohip was disappointed the board didn’t interview Meranto, who he says has long-standing knowledge of the district and community.
About 1 p.m. Friday, Mohip sent another email that said: “Upon review of resumes and/or reference checks, I have chosen to go in a direction and not select anyone from the three names provided. Your input has been considered and I thank you for your efforts.”
Friday afternoon, Cowling informed Mohip he wanted to withdraw from consideration for the position.
Still, an upset board member, Dario Hunter, responded: “When your choice is announced, you will no doubt attempt to portray this process as one that involved genuine input from the school board in the collaborative spirit intended by HB 70. The actual process has been nothing of the kind. We haven’t had a single discussion about your insight regarding the imminent choice of a superintendent or the reasons behind the choices made by the board.”
Hunter included in his email that Meranto was, in fact, interviewed by the board; however, Meranto said he merely had a conversation with the board, not an official interview.
But Mohip has high hopes for Meranto in his new position.
“Joe knows this district,” Mohip said. “He knows the community, the families and the kids. None of the other candidates can say that. I’m confident that Joe is the right person for the job.”