Pike-Delta-York: Center hired in search for schools chief

2/16/2005

DELTA - Representatives of the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center will assist the Pike-Delta-York school board in its search for a new superintendent.

During its meeting last week, the PDY board voted 5-0 to hire the educational service center as the board moves forward with its efforts to replace Superintendent Russ Griggs who is leaving the district when his one-year contract expires July 31.

PDY will pay $1,000 plus expenses to the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for its assistance in the search, said Joyce Kinsman, PDY's treasurer. The educational service center will assist the board to get the superintendent's position posted and will help the board during the process, but she said that details haven't yet been worked out on the search process.

Mr. Griggs, who retired as superintendent of Evergreen Local schools before becoming superintendent here, initially had a two-year contract with the PDY district in Fulton County. When Mr. Griggs agreed in December, 2003, to stay for another year, he indicated that he would leave PDY at the end of the contract.

John Wilhelm, superintendent of the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center, said that representatives of the center have been in contact with PDY officials, but "we haven't talked specifically about what the board wants to do yet. We have not gone through what will be involved in the search process."

In a letter last week to the PDY staff, students, and community confirming that he is leaving at the end of his contract in July, Mr. Griggs said that "The Board of Education has been very supportive of my administration and worked together in their efforts to move the district forward. I cannot say enough positive things about the students, staff, and community of the PDY School District."