Marion City Schools officially launched search for new permanent superintendent Monday

Due to a reporter's error regarding the district community forum, this story has been updated.

Beginning with a presentation to the Marion City Schools board Monday, K-12 Business Consulting, Inc. officially launched the search for the district's next permanent leader with an overview of the process timeline.

The firm will begin the six-step process by networking within the community to begin building a superintendent search profile. This will be compiled with information from surveys among community stakeholders, according to K-12 Consultant Debbie Campbell in the Monday briefing to the board.

While the search takes place, the district will be led by Interim Superintendent Steve Mazzi who stepped in from the Central Ohio Educational Service Center after the resignation of former Superintendent Dr. Ron Iarussi.

On Oct. 20, the search firm will hold community focus groups district-wide among students, staff and administration. Later in the evening it will hold external focus groups for Marion City leadership and community members. These findings will be presented to the board on Oct. 26.

“What we will ask those groups is what are the really great things about Marion City Schools? I heard some from Mrs. Dyer: you have great students,” Campbell explained after Board Member Tara Dyer detailed recent student achievement.

“So that is something that people who are looking for a superintendent job like, to school districts where they have wonderful students, so that will be a selling point.”

Board President Kelly Mackay said that she felt the meeting launching the process went well.

Mackay also noted there will be no board of education members at any of the focus group meetings Oct. 20, because the search firm wants to understand the genuine thoughts and reactions of each group.

“I’m very confident that we’re going to find a person who will love our district and is passionate about education. It’s difficult to be a superintendent, especially in this type of environment," Mackay said.