by Miles Jung-Kilbreath
Reporter
Streetsboro -- The search for a new superintendent continues, and the school district hopes to have one named as soon as possible.
Linda Keller, Hudson City Schools' director of pupil personnel services, and Thomas Robey, Campbell City Schools District's superintendent, both had second round interviews for Streetsboro's superintendent position during the week of March 17.
The four other candidates who had first round interviews earlier this month include Cuyahoga Falls City Schools Assistant Superintendent Walter Davis; Brian Bontempo, assistant superintendent of the Lake County Educational Service Center; Tony D. Scott, who resigned in February from his position as the Marlington Local Schools superintendent; and Richard Hull, who served through 2007 as a principal and director of curriculum at Fairless Local Schools.
"We are not eliminating any candidates at this time," School Board President Kevin Grimm said. "We may go back and do more second round interviews or maybe even some more first-rounders."
A total of 38 applicants submitted resumes to the district.
Grimm said Keller and Robey aren't necessarily "front runners" for the position, adding the Board plans to conduct background and reference checks on the two candidates this week. He said the Board will meet in early April to decide how the superintendent search will proceed from this point.
"We want to get the process done in a timely manner, but all [Board members] want to be confident that we have the right candidate before we vote on making them superintendent," Grimm said.
Superintendent Tom Giovangnoli, who announced in November his last day will be July 31, is being paid $94,765 this year, forgoing about $17,900 in benefits, after retiring then being rehired to the same position so he can begin collecting his pension.
Keller said she expects a base salary of around $107,000, which she states is comparable with her current salary at Hudson.
Robey said in his application that he expects to be paid a "competitive" salary and currently makes $89,000 annually with the Campbell schools.
According to Keller's resume, she is a graduate of Kent State University with a master's degree in speech pathology and audiology. She earned superintendent certification from Ashland University. Keller has a background in special education working as a speech pathologist.
She was the coordinator of special education for Akron Public Schools from 1996 to 2000. She also served five and half years as the student services director for Lakewood City Schools from 2000 to 2005.
According to Robey's resume, he is a graduate of Ohio State University with a master's degree in educational administration. Robey's resume states he has 17 years of superintendent experience, having filled the position for the Woodmore Local, Claymont City, and Berlin-Milan school districts. He also served as interim superintendent with the Madison-Plains school district.
"Those two are very good candidates that came from a good group. Even narrowing it down that much has been rough," Grimm said.
E-mail:
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Phone: 330-686-3942