Search for leader narrows

Three candidates vying for superintendent position

The search for a new school superintendent for the Kenston School District is progressing as planned, according to School Board President Neysa Gaskins.

“We are moving on to the second round of interviews and look forward to receiving input from our community, staff and administrators,” Gaskins stated in a news release.

The three finalist candidates are: Bryan Drost, executive director of the Rocky River City Schools; David Harmon, chief of human resources of the Dayton Public Schools; and Jason Spencer, director of school leadership at Cincinnati Public Schools, the release stated.

The superintendent search has been underway since April 21, when the board hired the Ohio School Board Association to find a replacement for Nancy R. Santilli, who resigned to accept a position at the Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve.

The new superintendent will begin with the district on Aug. 1.

The search began in early May with focus group input from district stakeholders.

The board completed the first round of interviews and has now progressed to the final interview stage.

The next step begins on June 6, when the community, staff and administrative stakeholders are invited to meet the three finalists, in separate sessions, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Timmons Elementary School, 9595 E. Washington St. in Bainbridge Township.

At this time, each candidate will share their background and answer pre-submitted questions.

Stakeholders will be asked to complete a feedback form for each candidate after the sessions.

Residents can submit their questions in advance to Gaskins at neysa.gaskins@kenstonapps.org or drop them off at the Board Office, 17419 Snyder Road, by noon, June 1.

On June 7, the board plans to go into an executive session to interview the three finalists, according to the release.