(SWL) OSBA hired to facilitate superintendent search - Other Community News - Ohioans for Responsible Rural Development

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Published February 17, 2012

By Scott Rawdon

The Southwest Licking school board on Feb. 16 hired the Ohio School Boards Association to conduct its search for a new superintendent.

However, the board did not make a decision on which organization will help create a strategic plan following the search. That decision likely will fall to the new superintendent, according to board members.

Superintendent Forest Yocum will retire July 31, the final day of his contract.

The school board on Feb. 8 had interviewed representatives from the OSBA, the Licking County Educational Service Center and Finding Leaders, a Valley View-based search firm.

Board president Don Huber, vice president Cindy Zaino and Dave Engel voted to hire the OSBA. Debra Moore voted for Finding Leaders, and Roger Zeune was absent.

The OSBA offered the board a package deal of $11,000, in which it would help the district create a strategic plan following the search. The search alone will cost the district $6,900, plus expenses, which is what the majority of the board approved.

Zaino said she liked the idea of the package deal.

"You pay the superintendent a lot of money and it's an extremely important job," she said. "If you have to pay $11,000, then so be it."

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