1 search firm files to find new CEO

Finding Leaders, a search firm based in Sagamore Hills,was the only firm to submit a proposal to find the next CEO for Lorain City Schools.

Finding Leaders estimated the expense for the search at $23,885.

When the firm finds the new CEO candidate, it then is up to the Lorain Academic Distress Commission to make the hire.

Mark Ballard, president of the

Lorain City Schools Board of Education, said the school district is expected to

fund the search.

“The state feels that we need to pay for the search for this CEO,” Ballard said. “They paid for the search last time, but they feel we should have to pay for it this time around.”

The state still will pay the salary for the new CEO, but Ballard believes the search not only shouldn’t be paid by the district, but that it’s a waste of money.

“It would be a waste of money because legislation is going to change things soon,” he said. “A (Ohio) House Bill will be passed that will remove the ADC (Academic Distress Commission).

“So, we would pay the money for the search, but the CEO would be gone when the bill passes. It would not make sense to commit to another threeyear CEO contract.”

Ballard wants to make it clear, however, that he has no problem with Finding Leaders.

“That is a great firm; Paul Pendleton and his team do a phenomenal job,” he said. “We have worked with them in the past (to find Tia Kearney, the district’s treasurer).

“I have no problem with them, and the quality of work they do, but it just doesn’t make any sense for us to pay for a search with the change coming. Right now, it’s over $23,000 and you will probably see an increase to around $25,000 when you include travel later on.”

Ballard said the passing of the bill to eliminate academic distress commissions would come after the March 17 statewide primary election.

“It would be around March 24 or during the weeks shortly after,” he said. “That is what we’re expecting.

“As far as us paying for it and the actual search itself, we will be having those discussions during the (Lorain Academic Distress Commission) meeting March 3 at General Johnnie Wilson (Middle School, 2700 Washington Ave., at 5:30 p.m.).”

School board involvement

Greg Ring, interim CEO of Lorain Schools, said he hopes the search for the new CEO would involve the Board of Education.

“The responsibility of finding the new CEO still falls under the (Lorain Academic Distress Commission),” Ring said. “Hopefully, it will have board involvement.

“It is my understanding that it will have board involvement. A presentation will be given to the (Lorain Academic Distress Commission) from the search firm, and the ADC will decide to move forward with that or not.”

Randall Sampson, chairman of the Lorain Academic Distress Commission, said he likes that Finding Leaders has worked with the district and that the school board will be included in the hiring process.

“The school board has used them for hires in the past, so it’s good that they have experience with Lorain,” Sampson said. “This process will be a total collaboration and we want to make sure the board is included.

“We want the board to be comfortable with the hire. Unfortunately, I wish that it was different. I wish the hire was under local control, but for now, we will follow the statute.

“We will make sure the board has a lot of say because, if we have aspirations of local control, that is the right thing to do. That’s just the opinion I have as one member of the (Lorain Academic Distress Commission).”

Ring