FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Meeting Notice: Board of Education to Vote on List of Semifinalists for Superintendent/CEO

The Columbus Board of Education is set to take the next step in its thorough search process to find the next Superintendent/CEO of Columbus City Schools.

At a Special Meeting on Monday, the Board will vote on a shortened list of semifinalist candidates to lead Ohio’s largest school district.

Board of Education President Gary L. Baker, II, will ask his colleagues to officially advance the search process with three highly-qualified educational leaders: Dr. John Stanford, current Interim Superintendent of Columbus City Schools; David James, current Superintendent at Akron Public Schools; and Keith Bell, former Superintendent in Euclid City Schools and former deputy superintendent in Columbus City Schools.

Committed to finding the best candidate possible for this important leadership position in our community, the Board has been working closely with a national search firm to identify strong potential candidates.

Over the past three weeks, Board members formally interviewed several individuals, including the three semifinalists. Board members also had informal conversations with additional individuals, though none of those conversations resulted in any new applicants.

Following the public adoption of the list of semifinalists, the Board will conduct a second round of formal interviews with each of the three semifinalists, followed by a series of public engagement events to give District students and staff, families and community partners, and engaged stakeholders an opportunity to meet the final candidate(s).

No timetable has been set on a final selection. Details on the additional public engagement opportunities will be shared once they are scheduled.

OFFICIAL MEETING NOTIFICATION:
The Columbus Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, February 12, 2018, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbus Education Center, 270 East State Street, Columbus, OH 43215. The purpose of the meeting is to adopt the list of semifinalist candidates for the next Superintendent/CEO of Columbus City Schools. The Board will then enter into Executive Session per Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 (G)(1) to consider the appointment and employment of a public employee or official.