PDT Staff Writer

The Minford School Board has asked the South Central Ohio Educational Services Center (SCOESC) to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. 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.

“I thank the board for the opportunity to lead the district. I think academically they are an excellent district with their facilities, and financially things are moving forward and in good shape. I thank the staff for a great job that they’re doing in instruction and teaching our students, and I thank everyone for the work they are doing in our district,” Wilcheck said.

Lowell Howard, superintendent of the SCOESC, announced this week that his office has been asked to assist the Minford School Board in their search for a new superintendent. 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.

When asked if the new superintendent would start immediately or wait until Wilcheck’s contract expires in December, Howard said that would be a school board decision and would depend greatly on the availability of the newly hired superintendent.

Qualified applicants can download an application at www.scoesc.org. The application deadline is May 13. For questions about the search, contact Howard at the SCOESC office, located at 522 Glenwood Ave., Room 165, in New Boston, or call 740-354-0266 or e-mail [email protected].

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