Fairport Harbor School Board slates planning session for superintendent search

Bill DeBus, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

Jan. 21—Fairport Harbor School Board and a consultant soon will gather to discuss the search for a new superintendent.

Teri Morgan, a consultant with the Ohio School Boards Association, will join the Fairport Harbor panel to talk about plans for choosing a successor to \Superintendent Domenic Paolo.

This dialogue will take place during a planning session that begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 25, in room 109 of Fairport Harding Middle and High School, located at 329 Vine St.

"(Morgan) will go over with the board what the process is going to be and how we're going to go forward in finding our new superintendent," said Board Member Sherry Maruschak.

Paolo announced in late December that he will retire July 1.

He has served as Fairport Harbor Schools superintendent for about 16 1/2 years. When Paolo officially retires he'll be wrapping up a 36-year career in education.

At a Jan. 6 meeting, Fairport Harbor School Board heard proposals from three entities that desired to assist with the superintendent search.

The Ohio School Boards Association; Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve; and Finding Leaders, an executive search firm, all offered their services to help secure a new Fairport Harbor Schools superintendent.

Fairport Harbor Schools will pay OSBA a fee of $9,000 for services that including developing a leadership profile; as well as recruiting, screening and evaluating and assessing candidates.

If the board wants OSBA to develop and provide a printed search brochure, an additional $1,800 fee will be charged.

On Jan. 11, Ohio School Boards Association posted the Fairport Harbor Schools superintendent's job in the Executive Searches section of the state organization's website.

The announcement itself doesn't give a detailed description of the job or qualifications that are preferred or required. But candidates are able to click a box that allows them to apply for the position online, Maruschak said.

In addition, the Fairport Harbor Schools website provides a link to that same job advertisement. The district website also states that questions about the Fairport Harbor Schools superintendent search can be directed to Teri Morgan at 614-540-4000.