MINFORD — The Minford School Board will meet tonight (Tuesday, June 18) to discuss the final candidates in their search for a new superintendent. It is uncertain whether or not the board will make any final determinations during the meeting.

Current Minford Superintendent Mark Wilcheck announced in February that he and the school board have mutually agreed to part ways at the end of his contract in December. Previously at Cardington Local Schools, north of Columbus, Wilcheck was hired by the Minford School Board in November 2008 to replace retiring Superintendent Dennis Meade. His first day with the district was in January 2009. After a series of special school board meetings in February, Wilcheck and the board announced that they will not renew his contract when it expires on Dec. 31, 2013.

The school board last month asked the South Central Ohio Educational Services Center (SCOESC) to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. SCOESC Superintendent Lowell Howard explained that summer is always a good time to search for new administration because contracts typically expire at the end of the school year. By searching for candidates now rather than later, he said, the school will have a better chance of finding a superintendent.

The deadline to apply was May 13, and Howard said the SCOESC received 11 applications. Those were presented to the Minford School Board on Tuesday, and the board selected three to interview for superintendent.

Selected was Jonathan G. Kudhnle, Central Office Administrator with the Circleville City Schools; Kathy Hoop, Elementary School Principal with the Hillsboro City Schools; and Dennis Evans, Elementary School Principal with the Minford Local Schools.

Those candidates were interviewed by the school board on June 6, and the board has not yet made a decision which candidate, if any, to hire.

Ryan Scott Ottney may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or [email protected]. For breaking news, follow Ryan on Twitter @PDTwriter.