Perrysburg superintendent seeks job

2/2/2007

Perrysburg schools Superintendent Michael Cline is one of two finalists for a job that would take him and his wife closer to their hometowns.

Mr. Cline confirmed yesterday that he applied for the superintendency of the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center in Mansfield and is being considered seriously for the post.

The service center covers 19 school districts in Richland, Crawford, and Morrow counties and is near Lexington, Ohio, Mr. Cline's hometown, and Galion, Ohio, the hometown of his wife.

Mr. Cline said he inquired about Mid-Ohio's opening because of its proximity to family members and friends and was pleased when some of the center's board members expressed interest in him.

"While I was making my inquiries, they asked me if I would be interested in discussing the position," Mr. Cline said. "I wasn't just out there looking for a job. A big factor in this was how close the position is to our hometowns."

Mr. Cline, 56, has been Perrysburg schools superintendent since January, 2002. His current salary is $121,800.

He interviewed with Mid-Ohio twice last month and said he would not be interested in the position if it was for superintendent of a single school district.

"Perrysburg is a school district every superintendent would be proud to be affiliated with," Mr. Cline said. "This other opportunity presents a bit of a different role with new professional challenges."

Mid-Ohio board President Doug Theaker said the other candidate is Dale Dickson, superintendent of the Perry-Hocking Educational Service Center.

Mr. Theaker said he hoped his board could announce a decision in two to three weeks.

The salary for the Mid-Ohio position has yet to be negotiated, but the center's last chief administrator, Gregg Reink, was paid $91,500.