SPRINGBORO — The Springboro Board of Education had its field of superintendent candidates narrowed to one Monday, when one of the two finalists for the position withdrew his name from contention.

Richard Earley, superintendent of Hillsboro City Schools, emailed the board early this week to rescind his application. Earley said Tuesday there were many reasons why he withdrew his name from consideration in Springboro.

“I had to weigh a lot of things; I’ve been in this district for 28 years,” he said of Hillsboro, adding he is finishing his second year as superintendent. “I have mixed emotions about it. I see the potential there.

“My biggest thing was to be fair to my family,” said the Wilmington native, noting his potential 45-minute commute. “To do the job right takes a lot of hours.”

The remaining candidate for the position is Todd Petrey, principal at Creekside Early Childhood School in the Lakota Local School District. Petrey, who resigned as principal at Springboro’s Dennis Elementary School East in 2009, could not be reached for comment.

The applicants for Springboro superintendent had been whittled from 18 to two. Board members said they had planned to make a decision this week, but that decision may be delayed.

Board President Scott Anderson said, since the board is still in negotiations for the position, he thought it was best not to comment.

Fellow board member Jim Rigano said he considered Earley “a really strong candidate,” and was surprised by his withdrawal.

“The community was interested in both candidates,” said Rigano, referring to a public forum held Thursday. “It was pretty evenly split.”

Parent and former school board candidate Lisa Babb agreed. She attended the forum with three other people, and said her group was divided on the candidates.

“I was incredibly impressed with Earley; he would have been my choice. But I think it was a win-win,” Babb said. “If Petrey is the thing that can bridge (the community), then I’m good with it.”

Earley said he was not deterred by the district’s recent turmoil regarding the proposed and rescinded reassignment of Springboro High School Principal Ron Malone, or by the fact that the outgoing superintendent, Gene Lolli, said he was leaving due to a difference in philosophy with the school board.

“Every place has issues; I don’t care where you go,” Earley said. “When a district grows as quickly as that one has grown, that’s a challenge. But it’s a great district and a great community, with a bright future ahead of them.”

The Springboro school board met in executive session Tuesday night to discuss the position.