Commission names 3 CEO finalists

There are three finalists to become the Lorain City Schools CEO. The position likely will be filled by early June.

There are three finalists to become the next CEO of Lorain City Schools — and the position likely will be filled by early June.

On May 19 and 20, the Lorain Academic Distress Commission and Lorain City Schools Board of Education held joint meetings via video to interview six candidates for the post.

On May 21, Academic Distress Commission Chairman Randall Sampson announced the three finalists:

• Jeff Graham, former Lorain Schools superintendent, who most recently was superintendent for Canton City School District

• James M. Grubbs Jr. of Ashland, superintendent of Galion City Schools

• Tracy R. Reed, of Fort Wayne, Ind., chief academic officer of Fort Wayne Community Schools

“Those three really stood out for us as to what Lorain possibly needs for the next CEO,” Sampson said. “We had people who are eager to come to Lorain.

“They knew exactly what they were signing up for. That’s exactly what you

want — you want elite leaders who are willing.”

The next step happens May 26, when the three will participate in question-andanswer sessions.

Those interviews will not be broadcast live, but will be recorded and published later that day for public review.

The questions will come from a committee of community members, said Lorain Schools Interim CEO

Greg Ring.

He and Lorain County Educational Service Center Superintendent Franco Gallo are compiling the questions, which will be edited for common themes and time limits.

Ring declined to list the committee members, but said their identities likely will become known later.

There will be a second round of interviews May 27.

Then, June 2 is the target date to make the hire with a joint meeting of the Academic Distress Commission and school board.

Sampson praised the work of Gallo and the Lorain County Educational Service Center for attracting elite leaders to Lorain Schools.

“All six of the candidates that we interviewed can be superintendent in any district across the state of Ohio,” Sampson said. “They were that good.”

Although it may not be seen publicly, Sampson also emphasized the good working relationship between the Academic Distress Commission and the school board.

“We are working on this together, and it feels really, really good when all of us are rowing the boat in the same direction,” he said.

The Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Attorney General’s Office also are partners and resources willing to help Lorain City Schools, Sampson said.

“People are all working together on this,” he said. “They want to see Lorain successful because people really care.”

Graham

Grubbs

Reed