Article published March 15, 2007
Perrysburg's schools chief to step down
By JOE VARDON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
What would cause a man to accept a job with perhaps more responsibility but a smaller salary than the position he holds?
For Perrysburg Schools superintendent Michael Cline, it's the chance to go home again.
Mr. Cline will take an annual pay cut of more than $20,000 to head the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center in Mansfield, Ohio, which is only seven miles from his hometown of Lexington, Ohio.
The service center announced yesterday it had hired Mr. Cline, effective July 1.
Mr. Cline said he agreed Friday to a four-year contract with a beginning salary of $100,000 to be superintendent for a service center that covers 19 school districts and about 28,000 students in Richland, Crawford, and Morrow counties.
Mr. Cline's contract was to expire July 31, 2010. His salary this year was $121,800. He said he will finish out the school year in Perrysburg.Asked whether he was concerned about taking less money, Mr. Cline said: "I just couldn't let this opportunity pass me by."
Mansfield is also near Galion, Ohio, which is where Mr. Cline's wife, Karla, was raised.
Mr. Cline, 56, is in his sixth year as the head of Perrysburg Schools and his 34th year in education.
He was one of two finalists for the top spot at the service center.
The other was Dale Dickson, superintendent of the Perry-Hocking Educational Service Center.
Doug Theaker, president of the Mansfield center's board of governors, spoke about Mr. Cline in a statement.
"Our goal was to find someone with a long track record of success in a superintendent role, and someone that had an intimate knowledge of our tri-county area and the schools we serve. Although there were many worthy candidates, [Mr.] Cline stood out on both accounts. The majority of his professional experience is at area schools and he has a long and successful track record as a superintendent," he said.
Walt Edinger, president of the Perrysburg Board of Education, said he has already been in contact with the Ohio School Boards Association to begin the search for a new superintendent.
Mr. Edinger said the board is unaware of any potential local candidates for the job, though there were reliable people within the district who could fill the role.
"Are there people here we could rely on in a pinch? Yeah," Mr. Edinger said.
"But Mr. Cline is going to be here until July 1, so we have plenty of time to conduct a good search."
Mr. Edinger said Mr. Cline's announcement should not affect the district's 2.29-mill, 28-year bond issue that will be on the May ballot.
The bonds would generate about $29.3 million and would be used to pay for large renovations at the junior high and high schools, and for smaller improvements to the district's elementary buildings.
Contact Joe Vardon
at jvardon@theblade.com
or 419-410-5055.
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
Search
advertisement
