Butler, Greene, Clark county educators finalists in Warren County

Four area educators are finalists for the superintendent’s job at the Warren County Career Center.

Abbie Cook, site supervisor at Butler Tech; Matt Lindley, director of secondary education with the Greene County Career District; Rick Smith of Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center, and Tom York, high school principal in the Talawanda City Schools are the candidates to be further evaluated in the final stages of the process set up to replace retiring Superintendent Maggie Hess.

The board is expected to select the next superintendent on March 3, after public forums with the finalists.

Already the board has conducted preliminary interviews before selecting the finalists.

Each candidate has experience in vocational education, according to a press release issued Monday.

The board is to hold open forums for staff, interested community members and business partners. Those in attendance will be encouraged to submit questions and meet the candidates on Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The four candidates will be in attendance for one hour each night, so attendance both evenings is necessary. The forums will be held in the career center commons, 3525 N. Ohio Rt. 48 in Clearcreek Twp.

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“We are asking for those interested to commit to being here March 1 and 2 for the entire process in order to be fully informed, and to be able to provide feedback,” Board President Bobbie Grice said in a press release. “The board values input from staff and our business partners and wider community.”

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It contracted with Ohio School Boards Association for the superintendent search in November. The position was posted Dec. 1.

The board initially received 22 applications.

Since then, the board and consultant have been gathering input from staff and community members through online surveys.

After the two forums, the board is expected to hold a special meeting on Friday, March 3, at 8 a.m. to pick the next superintendent.

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