Perrysburg board to hire school chief

10/24/2001

A new superintendent of Perrysburg schools is expected to be hired tomorrow during a special meeting of the board of education.

Dr. Michael L. Cline, 50, superintendent of Ohio's Loveland City Schools, will be offered a contract by the Perrysburg board during the meeting, John Kevern, board member, said yesterday. Dr. Cline is to be introduced after the board takes action on the contract. Dr. Cline declined comment last night.

Some community residents who were involved in the selection process are being invited to attend the meeting, which is set for 7 p.m. in the Perrysburg Junior High School library. An executive session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

In recent weeks, school board members have met with the top candidates for the superintendent's post. Nearly 30 people applied for the job.

Former Perrysburg Superintendent Sharon Zimmers left the district to become superintendent of public schools in Dublin, Ohio. Robert Pfefferle, a former superintendent of Oregon schools, has been interim superintendent since Aug. 1.

Community members, administrators, and staff members gave their input to the board during the selection process, Mr. Kevern said. Of the 28 applicants, five were interviewed and two, including Dr. Cline, were asked back for second interviews.

Dr. Cline has a “good vision of working with the community. He seems very thorough,” said Mr. Kevern, adding that board members and others were impressed with Dr. Cline during the interviews. “We thought he would be the best for Perrysburg.”

Details of Dr. Cline's contract will be released after the board takes action tomorrow night, Mr. Kevern said.

According to Dr. Cline's application, his salary with the Loveland City Schools in suburban Cincinnati has been $104,000. Loveland's enrollment is about 4,050.

The Perrysburg school district has about 4,250 students.

Dr. Cline, who is married and has two adult children, stated in his application: “Above everything else, I put student success first. My most important qualification is how I demonstrate in word and action my commitment to such.

“My primary job is to facilitate support for teachers because they are the ones closest to the students. Such facilitation comes in many forms, but it begins with my work with the board of education.

“My first priority is to keep the board focused on the business of schools - student success. My breadth of experience in continuous improvement planning has been the key element.”

Perrysburg board members also have been looking for a new treasurer, who could be hired in the next week or so, Joseph Klein, interim treasurer, said yesterday.