The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Schools superintendent submits resignation
The Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. James E. Powel.
The North Ridgeville City Schools Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. James E. Powell on Oct. 17, according to a news release.
According to releases from Powell and the Board of Education, Powell announced his decision to leave the district at the end of the 2017-18 academic year on July 31, 2018 when he will retire.
In a letter to district employees, Powell thanked the North Ridgeville community for giving him the opportunity to make a difference.
“The last five years serving as superintendent of North Ridgeville City Schools have been the best years of my professional life. It is with both great pride and a heavy heart that I submit this letter. The last five years have been filled with passion, dedication and hard work in this amazing school district,” Powell wrote. “The accomplishments of North Ridgeville City Schools in a few short years shows the unlimited potential of the organization. Working in partnership we have achieved major advances for the benefit of our students, families and community.”
Powell added he decided to make his decision at this time in order to give the Board ample time to manage the transition to their next leader.
“With the gratitude of having served the public interest, as superintendent of North Ridgeville City Schools I wanted to inform staff that I intend to conclude my service to NRCS when my contract expires at the end of July. The difficulty is knowing that I am leaving behind a District that is poised for even greater things in the future. It was important for me,” Powell wrote.
In accepting Powell’s resignation, the Board announced in a corresponding statement it would engage in a “comprehensive and thoughtful process” as it moves forward in selecting the next district superintendent.
“Selection of a superintendent is among the most critical of the decisions that any board of education makes, so we greatly appreciate Dr. Powell’s consideration and early notification and we thank him for his years of dedicated service to our schools and our community,” the statement said. “We will begin interviewing search firms and reviewing our options in that regard over the next few months as we begin to identify the District’s needs and clarify the qualities we seek in the next chief executive officer.”