04-26-03: Local superintendent is finalist for new post

04-26-03: Local superintendent is finalist for new post

By KELLY BRAUN
The Daily Standard

    Coldwater Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Eric Hoffman apparently has applied for a job with another school district.
    According to a Friday story in The Marion Star newspaper, Hoffman is one of three finalist for the superintendent's seat at Ridgedale Local Schools in Morral.
    The paper reported that Hoffman and two other finalists, Steve Larcomb and James Peterson, will be interviewed for a second time on Wednesday. Larcomb currently is the elementary principal of the Ridgedale school district, which is north of Marion, and Peterson is a high school principal at Delaware Hayes High School in Delaware.
    The superintendent position at Ridgedale is being vacated by Jackie Campbell, who is retiring in July. The search to fill her seat is being conducted by the North Central Ohio Educational Center.
    Ridgedale school board member Tom Johnston told the Marion newspaper the board plans to pick a new superintendent shortly after May 1.
    The Marion newspaper also quoted Hoffman as saying, "I'm very honored to be considered for one of the three finalists." He did not comment further to be fair to the Coldwater school board, the newspaper said.
    According to information posted by the Ohio Department of Education for the 2001-2002 school year, Ridgedale has an average enrollment of 1,028 students and a staff of 68 teachers. That same report shows Coldwater has 1,545 students and 94 teachers.
    The 2003 district report card issued by the state ranked Ridgedale as a continuous improvement school, with it having met 15 of 22 state academic standards. Coldwater has an excellent rating and has met 21 of 22 standards.
    The Coldwater schools administration has been under some heat recently as several community members have attended board meeting to air complaints about the athletic department and some coaching positions. The district has seen several coaches resign recently, including the boys basketball assistant coaching staff, girls basketball head coach and varsity volleyball coach.
    Hoffman was hired as superintendent at Coldwater on Feb. 9, 2000. Prior to his job at Coldwater, he was the high school principal and transportation director at North Union High School in Richwood, approximately 20 miles south of Morral.
    A call to Hoffman by The Daily Standard on Friday night was not returned.

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