Interim superintendent for Greenon schools

ENON, Ohio -- Former Symmes Valley Local Superintendent Thomas Ben has been named interim superintendent of Greenon Local Schools.  The Springfield News Sun reports that Ben will lead the district from May 23 to August 31 while the school board looks for a permanent replacement.

Ben replaces Lori Lytle, who submitted her resignation April 19 to become superintendent of Benjamin Logan Local Schools. It takes effect July 31.

The district will pay Ben $600 a day in addition to paying Lytle's salary.  The board is also paying $8500 to a Columbus-area firm  to help find a new superintendent.

Some parents and staffers have some issues with the pay. Becky Minard is a bookkeeper at Greenon High School.  She says she and other staff members accepted pay cuts and agreed to a salary freeze because of the city's financial woes.   She says now they feel duped.

“Now they spend this amount of money for this company to find a superintendent and to pay $600 a day for an interim. It doesn’t make sense,” Minard said.

Board President Dennis Henry is pleased with the decision to hire Ben.  He says Ben is earning a salary that an educator with his experience would demand. He adds that the board had to act fast to hire him before he accepted a position elsewhere.

“We felt we had to act,” says Henry. “I understand this may look frivolous. But we have to have a superintendent. We can’t operate without one.”

About the Author