Fairbanks School District has selected eight candidates to interview for its superintendent search.
At a special meeting Wednesday, the board of education received 30 applications for the position. After going through them, the board narrowed the search to eight applicants to interview tonight and tomorrow.
“The quality of all 30 was excellent, and I was very pleased with the group of people who were presented to us to choose from,” Board President Mark Lippencott said. “We don’t have the ability to interview all 30, so our goal, as has been the plan throughout this, was to select a group of six to eight to interview, and it’s a judgment call.”
Lippencott said there were some qualities the candidates had to meet, but “none of them had all of them.” Some candidates ranged in experience, from being superintendents to helping start schools, which Lippencott said were good qualities to have.
Part of the criteria was the base salary was between $108,000 and $120,000, based on experience.
One of the candidates the board will interview is Mark Lotycz, who has been the principal of Fairbanks Elementary School since 1985.
Lotycz, of Plain City, received his Master’s degree to become a superintendent from Ashland University in 2008.
“I am invested in Fairbanks for the long haul, and have no plans of going anywhere else,” Lotycz wrote in his cover letter.
His salary is currently $75,000 and his base salary expectation is $115,000.
Clint Hayes, who has been the principal of Jonathan Alder Junior High School since 2014.
Hayes, of Plain City, received his superintendent license from Miami University in 2017.
“My background of growing up in rural southeastern Ohio in a school district similar to Fairbanks will help me to understand the community and build lasting relationships that will allow the district to thrive under my leadership,” Hayes wrote in his cover letter.
His salary is currently $87,250 and his base salary expectation is $110,000.
Another candidate is Justin Ufferman, who’s been the assistant principal of Hilliard Bradley High School since 2016.
Ufferman, of Plain City, received his superintendent licensure from Miami University in 2017.
“As a resident of the Fairbanks Local Schools, I understand the needs of the district and will work in collaboration with the board to build a vision with all stakeholders involved,” Ufferman wrote in his cover letter.
His current salary is $91,414, and wrote, “an increase from my current base salary,” for his base salary expectation.
Craig Heath, who’s been the director of secondary education for the Dublin City School District since 2015.
Heath, of Ostrander, received his superintendent licensure from The Ohio State University in 2008.
“I want to continue this work with an entire learning community,” Heath wrote in his cover letter. “I feel as if Fairbanks is the ideal learning community for me.”
His salary is currently $138,000 and his base salary expectation is between $115,000 and $120,000.
Another candidate who will be interviewed is Adham Schirg, who’s been the principal at Phoenix Middle School and Worthington Academy since 2015. The Fairbanks website also has him listed as a “credit recovery principal.”
Schirg, of Sunbury, received his superintendent licensure from Ashland University in 2016.
“The Fairbanks Local School District maintains tradition in the community while continuing to develop for the future,” Schirg wrote in his cover letter.
His salary is currently $102,095 and he wrote, “competitive for the area” as his base salary expectation.
Also up for consideration is Zachary Howard, who’s been the assistant superintendent and director of human resources for the Pickerington Local School District since 2018. He is a 1995 Marysville High School graduate.
Howard, of Blacklick, received his Master’s of sciences degree in educational leadership, as well as his superintendent licensure, from the University of Dayton in 2013. He will receive his doctorate in educational leadership from Concordia University this spring.
“The district’s high performance, conservative values and supportive community are incredibly enticing to me,” Howard wrote in his cover letter. “In many respects the opportunity to serve as the Fairbanks superintendent feels like I’d be coming home.”
His salary is currently $120,000 and his base salary expectation is the same.
Following is Brian Blum, who’s been the executive director of instructional services for the Northridge Local School District since 2018.
Blum, of Granville, received his superintendent license from Miami University in 2017.
“Fairbanks Local Schools is a unique community within Union County,” Blum wrote in his cover letter. “Fairbanks has a reputation of a community that cares about the education of its children.”
His current salary is $115,000 and his base salary expectation is $120,000.
Finally, the board will interview Scott Gephart, who’s been the principal of Spencerville High School since 2018.
Gephart, of Lima, received his superintendent licensure from the University of Findlay.
“I believe I could help Fairbanks maintain its excellent academic standard and help lead with the ever changing state standards and requirements,” Gephart wrote in his cover letter.
His current salary is $95,763, and he wrote, “negotiable” as his base salary expectation.
Lippencott said the board will hopefully be able to compare names and narrow it to two or three applicants “who we think are the most qualified of these eight.”
Afterward, he said that will involve a meet-and-greet session, where members of the public can talk the candidates, starting at 4:15 p.m. Feb. 5. He said a final decision on the superintendent choice will come later in February.