Oregon pares list to 6 in its quest for new school chief

6/18/2008

The six finalists for superintendent of Oregon City Schools, including two from the district, were announced last night during a special meeting of the board of education.

Five of the six are from northwest Ohio. The finalists are:

•Sandra Ellis, superintendent of the North Chicago Community Unit District.

•James Gunner, superintendent of Bryan City Schools.

•Richard Heintschel, interim assistant superintendent of Fostoria Community Schools.

•Amy Klinger, principal of Northwood Middle School.

•Lonny Rivera, principal of Oregon's Coy Elementary School.

•Michael Zalar, principal of Oregon's Clay High School.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of 16 applicants.

Interviews with the finalists are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday and next Wednesday at the district's administrative offices.

Conducting the interviews will be four of the five school board members, Jane Fruth, the district's treasurer; Dave Shafer, president of Oregon Federation of Teachers, and Tracy Shull, president of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

Eric Heintschel, president of the school board, recused himself from the search process after his father, Richard, applied for the position.

The board will meet June 26 to discuss and determine the next step in the process.

If needed, the second round of interviews will take place July 1.