Oregon superintendent could be leaving for Cleveland-area job

Superintendent Michael Zalar

Michael Zalar, superintendent of the Oregon schools, may be leaving to fill the same position in the North Olmsted City Schools starting next school year.

Mr. Zalar said he has an agreement in principle with the North Olmsted district but has not been hired. The school board there is expected to make a decision at a Wednesday meeting.

"I have not signed a contract or been approved, so it's still kind of preliminary," he explained. "I won't be speaking publicly about it before I have a signed contract and have resigned from the Oregon schools."

P.J. Kapfhammer, Oregon's Board of Education president, said Mr. Zalar had informed the board through an email on Sunday he might be leaving. 

"If the North Olmsted school board hires him Wednesday, we'll probably call a special session for [May 28] to begin a search for a new superintendent," he explained.

Mr. Zalar, 53, said the North Olmsted district has 4,500 students compared to 3,800 at Oregon. North Olmsted is a suburb of Cleveland.

Mr. Zalar has been Oregon's superintendent for five years and was principal of Clay HIgh School for six years before that.

He said he would be issuing a statement Thursday if hired by the North Olmsted board.