The Allen County Educational Service Center along with the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center through months of planning and collaboration has created a partnership for sharing a Superintendent between both agencies. The Allen County ESC Board of Education and the Western Buckeye ESC Board of Education are pleased to formally announce that Mr. Stephen Arnold has been hired as the shared superintendent for both neighboring ESCs. All ten Board members representing both ESCs interviewed Mr. Arnold and agreed that he met the desired established criteria to lead both ESCs starting with Allen County ESC on August 1, 2016, upon the retirement of Allen County ESC Superintendent Dr. Dean Wittwer. Dr. Wittwer has served the Allen County ESC as their Superintendent the past two years. He will be formally hired at the next Allen County Educational Service Center Board meeting on April 25th. This fall he will lead the Allen County Educational Service Center and start building relationships with school districts and staff. Mr. Arnold will then transition into the Western Buckeye ESC Superintendent’s position after Mr. Brian Gerber retires in the spring of 2017. Mr. Arnold has served the Wayne Trace Local School District as their superintendent for the past five years. Prior to serving as the Wayne Trace Superintendent, Mr. Arnold served as an administrator for the Antwerp Local School District for fourteen years. He served in each administrative position which included Athletic Director, Elementary/Middle School Principal, and Jr./Sr. High School Principal.
At the request of the Governing Boards, Mr. Gerber and Dr. Wittwer developed criteria for the shared superintendent’s position. They desired a highly qualified candidate who had experience as a Superintendent and understands, or is willing to learn the business world of an Educational Service Center. Previous school district Superintendent experience was desired/preferred and the ideal candidate would agree to longevity/commitment for stability of both organizations. A small list of candidates were identified, invited to have conversations to seek interest, and then interviewed. They desired to find the right candidate who had the experience, excellent people skills, strength in instructional practices, diplomacy, networking, communication, and legislative protocol and connections. They strongly believe Arnold posses the necessary criteria for a successful superintendency.
Allen County ESC and Western Buckeye ESC are neighboring ESCs that mirror each other. Their philosophy regarding the methods used to serve their client districts are parallel. Many months of research went into this process. The pros and cons were weighed and studied and in the end the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages.
This collaboration is not a merger, it is a partnership. It will allow both ESCs to increase their capacity in many ways.
1. It will create a stronger network of collaboration with School Psychologists; Special Education Directors; Curriculum Directors; Gifted Education Coordination; Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists.
2. Create a stronger grant writing network as both ESCs align to team with each other that will allow a broader network to secure potential and future grants.
3. Local Superintendent and Principal networking regarding programs, staffing, fiscal resources, evaluations, and negotiations.
4. Bus driver in-service and training.
5. The cost efficiency of sharing the salary and benefits of the superintendent.
6. All schools in Allen County and Western Buckeye ESC, which include Paulding and Van Wert Counties, will be served equally. No district will be shorted time or resources.
Mr. Steve Arnold added the following statement when asked about this unique administrative opportunity, “I would like to thank the Allen County ESC and the Western Buckeye ESC Boards of Education for the opportunity to lead both organizations as their superintendent. I am honored to have been chosen for this position and look forward to this exciting and unique opportunity.
“I know have big shoes to fill with the retirements of Dr. Dean Wittwer and Mr. Brian Gerber. I hope to continue the many outstanding programs that these men and their staffs have in place with the goal of moving both ESC’s forward in a very positive light.
“Having lived in NW Ohio my entire adult life, I have witnessed first-hand the great civic pride in the school districts of Allen, Paulding, and Van Wert Counties. I am very excited to have this opportunity and look forward to becoming a part of each school’s tradition.
“One of my first goals will be to further develop my professional relationship with the superintendents of all our partner schools. I know many of them well already, but I look forward to getting to know all of them in order to start the collaboration process. My main priority is to make the transition to a shared superintendent as smooth as possible for each school district in all three counties.”
Both Dr. Wittwer and Mr. Gerber look forward to this new partnership and new style of leadership as the ESC continues to move forward in the 21st Century of Education.
