The Minford School Board has decided to wait a little while longer before making a decision who to hire as their 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.

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.

Howard issued a memo on Wednesday reporting that the school board has decided to wait.

“The Board considered many factors such as financial cost to the district, the current contractual status of the Superintendent through Dec. 31, 2013 and the transition period needed for the new Superintendent. The Board will be having further discussions concerning the appropriate timeline needed for the replacement,” the memo read.

Howard explained that the current candidates will remain in the pool, and the school board has not made a decision whether or not to repost the position seeking more applicants.

The district released an announcement Wednesday afternoon that the school board will be holding a Special Board Meeting for the purpose of discussing the Superintendent vacancy on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 6 p.m., in the High School Media Center.

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