The Clear Fork Valley Local Schools Board of Education (BOE) interviewed three candidates for the position of superintendent during a special meeting Thursday at Clear Fork High School in Bellville. This was the second round of interviews for hopefuls Michael Ferguson, Janice Wyckoff, and Christopher Brian Petrie, having been gleaned from a pool of applicants with the assistance of the Ohio School Board Association.
Each candidate was asked to begin their interview by introducing themselves and reviewing their qualifications for the community members present.
Ferguson said, “I’ve been in education going on thirty-plus years, the last nineteen as a public school administrator. I spent time as a junior high assistant principal, a middle school principal, alternative school principal, a high school principal. I’ve learned a lot over the years and I’ve finally come to the point in my career where I’m ready to take the next step. I believe I have the leadership skills necessary, the people skills necessary, and the vision to lead a district to where it needs to go.”
BOE member Jim Jackson asked Ferguson what he thought the most important part of the superintendent’s job. Ferguson replied, “I really see it as meeting the needs of the kids.”
Wyckoff, currently the superintendent of Black River Local School District in Ashland County introduced herself, “I am a born and raised seventh generation farm child. I grew up in Burbank Ohio. I graduated from Norwayne High School, went to Ashland College, graduated with a P.E. and Health degree, went back to Ashland University the next year and graduated with a Comprehensive Science degree. I’ve got a post-graduate degree in Comprehensive Science.”
Wyckoff stated that she went on to teach physical education, earth science, biology, physical science, and biology II at Huron High School. She later took a position as Assistant Principal at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse, Ohio, then a position as Principal at Highland High School in Morrow County.
She has been superintendent at Black River Local School District for approximately ten years.
During the interview, Wyckoff described herself as the “Swiss army knife of superintendents.”
“I’ve worked in the cafeteria; I’ve worn the hair net. We didn’t have enough people; the kids have to be fed, so I worked in the cafeteria,” explained Wyckoff, “I’ve no qualms about picking up a broom. I’ve no qualms about going out to the bus garage and being out there.”
Christopher Brian Petrie, who prefers Brian, or C. Brian, is currently superintendent at Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools. Petrie reviewed his background for the public, “I’ve been in the Cardington district for the past twelve years. I started out actually as a teacher there.”
Petrie taught French, and later became a principal of the intermediate school, before moving on to the superintendent position. He stated he was involved in the “High Schools That Work” school improvement program.
BOE member Randall Freeman asked Petrie to describe his vision for the Clear Fork School District. Petrie replied, “I think that the vision for any district, obviously it can’t be said enough, is that every student is important and all students should have a path.”
The interviews were open to the public, and the BOE had requested community representatives to attend, ask and answer questions, and fill out comment cards on each candidate.
BOE President Jim DeSanto addressed the gallery, “We invited many of you here so that you would have an opportunity as representatives of your various groups…to listen to the interviews of three candidates for superintendent that we are going to be talking to tonight.”
Community representatives included: Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks; Butler Mayor Kevin Carr; Jennifer Moore and Stacie White represented Clear Fork Valley Education Association; Buck Divelbiss, Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 282; Clear Fork High School Principal Brian Brown, Administrators of the Clear Fork Valley Local Schools; National Honor Society President Drew McDonald, students of the Clear Fork Valley Local Schools; Matt Merendino, Bellville Parent’s Club; Ron Salkovick, Butler Parent’s Club; Jim Shisler, FFA Alumni; Patrick Bailey, Clear Fork Valley Ministerial Association; Eric Mowry, Clear Fork Music Boosters; Mark Albert, Clear Fork Athletic Boosters.
These representatives posed questions at the end of each interview, and were in turn questioned by the interviewee regarding such issues as community involvement, student satisfaction, and even where to find the best pizza locally.
Ferguson asked of the mayors present in the gallery how they would describe their working relationship with the school district.
Village of Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks replied, “Not only the parents, but the grandparents, the whole community are behind the kids. Not only the sports they are interested in, but the art program, the dramas, the band’s fantastic. There’s a lot of pride throughout the valley because of the school district.”
Wyckoff asked the teachers present to tell her about the teaching staff.
“This is definitely a community of teachers,” Stacie White, president of the teacher’s union replied, “We have a wonderful working relationship with current administration, from the top all the way to the bottom. We do not want to lose that.”
Petrie asked of the gallery, “How do you sell the school district as a community member?”
Ron Salkovick of the Butler Parent’s Club responded, “I think one of the things most remarkable to me was the fact that I actually watched people move back to this area after graduating. A colleague of mine actively chose to move back to Bellville after finishing college. That says a lot as far as I’m concerned.”
The BOE plans to continue to investigate the background and references of each candidate. A special meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Hines Avenue Building in Bellville for the purpose of entering into Executive Session to discuss employing a public employee. No action will be taken at that time.
Village of Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks replied, “Not only the parents, but the grandparents, the whole community are behind the kids. Not only the sports they are interested in, but the art program, the dramas, the band’s fantastic. There’s a lot of pride throughout the valley because of the school district.”
