CANFIELD — The ongoing search for the next Canfield Local School District superintendent has narrowed to six candidates.

“We’re hoping to have the person hired by May 31,” said David Wilkeson, board of education president.

The board has been searching for a superintendent after Alex Geordan resigned in December 2019 following criticism over how he handled school threats and informed police about those episodes.

The board unanimously approved John Tullio as interim superintendent, from Jan. 1 through July 31 of this year.

Costing the district $20,000, CF Educational Solutions of Middletown, Ohio, has helped during the search, Wilkeson said.

The search firm handled statewide recruiting and facilitated meetings.

“For a board to do that is very difficult,” Wilkeson said, because such a search would be “very narrow.”

A 15-member community group has been formed, acting as an advisory panel. That group includes but is not limited to a teacher, the mayor, a member from the police department, a music and arts representative, and president of the Parent-Teacher Association to name some members, Wilkeson said.

“We wanted everybody’s opinion. This is a big deal,” Wilkeson said.

To further collect community input, the board has also decided to have a community forum online to “meet” the last two or three candidates, which is anticipated to be later next week, Wilkeson said.

Community members will be able to tune in and ask candidates questions while providing feedback, he added.

Information on the virtual forum will be forthcoming as details are solidified.

Once the board members meet with the last few candidates, they’ll make their selection, Wilkeson said.

Three people from Mahoning County school districts are finalists, which Wilkeson said was not immediately known: Kent Polen, chief administrative officer for Campbell City Schools; Timothy E. Saxton, superintendent for West Branch Local School District; and Eugene Thomas, superintendent of Lowellville.

Other local candidates were Gregory Bonamase, principal of Intermediate School, Girard City Schools; Gary Carkido, principal of McDonald High School; Dean Conley, teacher at Canfield High School; Karen Kanotz, associate director of student services, Boardman Local School District; Troy Radinsky, acting superintendent, middle school / high school principal of Leetonia Exempted Village School District; and Christine Sawicki, chief academic officer of Youngstown City Schools.

“CF has a process where they show you the people who applied, blind,” Wilkeson said.

Candidate names and locations are not immediately shared, he said, along with other identifying details.

“You don’t know anything about them. What you see is their qualifications, highlights from initial discussions with CF, some information about how many years they spent as a teacher, a principal …” Wilkeson said.

“We had no idea who we were picking name-wise going into this,” he noted.

Using CF Educational Solutions has helped ensure there isn’t favoritism in the hiring process.

“I like our process. It removes the idea of “good old boys club” and lets us choose people based on their qualifications,” Wilkeson said.

Canfield superintendent search

Finalists

Kent Polen, chief administrative officer for Campbell City Schools

Educational leadership and management, Capella University, expected graduation with doctorate in 2021

Executive leadership and superintendent licensure, University of Cincinnati

Master of science in Educational Leadership, University of Dayton

Bachelor of arts, Hiram College

Timothy E. Saxton, superintendent of West Branch Local School District

Ohio superintendent’s licensure, Ashland University / Buckeye Association of School Administrators

Master of science in education, Youngstown State University

Bachelor of science in education, Bowling Green State University

Eugene Thomas, Ed.D., superintendent of Lowellville

Doctorate of educational leadership, YSU

Superintendent licensure, Ashland University

Master of education, George Mason University, Fairfax

Bachelor of science in education, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa.

English, Oxford University, Oxford, England

Russell Jones, Ed. D., educational product specialist, ProgressBook

Doctorate in educational administration, University of Akron

Master of education, Kent State University

Bachelor of science, KSU

Joseph Knoll, superintendent of Marlington Local Schools

Superintendent license, high school principal license

Master’s degree in curriculum / instruction, Ashland University

Bachelor of science, Mount Union College

Tim Myers, superintendent of Van Buren Local School District

Master of science in education, administrative certifications, University of Dayton

Bachelor of arts in physical education and psychology, Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky.

Withdrew

Doug Baker, superintendent of Zanesville City School District

Professional human capital leader in education certification from the American Association of School Personnel Administrators/Battelle for Kids

Doctor of education in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Superintendent certification, Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

Educational specialist degree in educational leadership, Nova Southeastern University

Master of arts in counseling, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.

Bachelor of Science in business education, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

Withdrew due to personal family reasons —

Ronald Iarussi, Ed.D., Marion City Schools superintendent

Candidates

Brad Beun, director of services, Springfield Local Schools, Akron

Superintendent’s licensure, Ashland University

Master’s degree in secondary administration, University of Akron

Bachelor’s degree in secondary education social studies comprehensive, Malone University

Gregory Bonamase, principal of Intermediate School, Girard City Schools

Master in administration, Ashland University

Music education graduate hours, Texas Tech University

Continuing education, Sul Ross State University

Bachelor of music education, VanderCook College of Music

Gary Carkido, principal at McDonald High School

Master’s degree in educational administration, YSU

Bachelor of science in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics, YSU

Michael Chaffee, Junior / Senior principal at Newbury High School

Superintendent license program, Ashland University

Principal license program, Ashland University

Master of arts in English, YSU

Bachelor of arts in English, YSU

Dean Conley, teacher at Canfield High School

Superintendent license program, Muskingum University, expected 2021

Alternative superintendent license, Ohio Department of Education

Master’s degree in educational technology, Ashland University

Social studies teaching license, Ohio Dominican College

Bachelor’s degree in history, The Ohio State University

Gerald “Tony” DelBoccio, assistant principal at Groveport Madison High School Academy

Superintendent license, Franciscan University, Steubenville

Master of science in educational administration, license, Ashland University, Massillon

Master of science in educational administration, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix.

Health education certificate, K-12, Emporia State University

Bachelor of science in physical education, Youngstown State University

Milton V. Folson, Ed.D., principal at Reynoldsburg City Schools and adjunct instructor /doctoral adviser at Franklin University

Doctor of education in leadership, Creighton University

Master of education in educational leadership, University of Cincinnati

Bachelor of science in education, Ohio University

Bachelor of science in business administration, Franklin University

Mark Gleichauf, Ed.D., superintendent of Brooklyn City Schools

Doctor of education, Concordia University-Chicago

Administration license, superintendent, Cleveland State University

Administration certification, elementary, Cleveland State University

Administration certification, middle school, Cleveland State University

Master of education, Cleveland State University

Reading certification, John Carroll University

Bachelor of arts, John Carroll University

Karen Kanotz, associate director of student services, Boardman Local School District

Master’s degree in special education, YSU

Bachelor’s degree in special education, YSU

Superintendent license

Permanent certificate special education

David Harold Kennedy, high school principal at Southeast Local Schools

Superintendent certification, Ashland University

Master’s degree in educational administration, Cleveland State University

Bachelor of science, music education, Slippery Rock University

Leigh Ann McCray, chief executive officer / idependent consultant at EdBusiness Solutions, Inc.

Educational leadership and superintendent license, Franciscan University, Steubenville

Masters of arts in education, Muskingum College

Secondary education certificate, Muskingum College

Bachelor of arts, business administration and history, Muskingum College

Van McWreath, principal at Painesville Local Schools

Doctorate studies in educational leadership, Liberty University

Master’s degree in education administration, YSU

Bachelors of science in education, YSU

Michael Notar, high school principal of Edgewood High School, Buckeye Local Schools

Superintendent license, YSU

Elementary principal license, YSU

Master’s degree in educational administration, University of Dayton

Bachelor of science in elementary education, YSU

Troy Radinsky, acting superintendent, middle school / high school principal of Leetonia Exempted Village School District

Master of science in education and administration, University of Akron

Bachelor of science in education / sports communication, Ashland University

Superintendent and principal licenses in Ohio

Principal and social studies licenses in Pennsylvania

Christine Sawicki, chief academic officer of Youngstown City Schools

Superintendent license program, Concordia University, expected completion December 2020

Administrative licensure program, Westminster College

Master’s degree in curriculum, YSU

Bachelor’s degree in education, YSU

Delbert Scott, Ed. D., contractor with the Ohio Department of Education, office of Intensive School Supports

Doctor of education, leadership studies, Bowling Green University

Executive principal leadership certificate, The Ohio State University

Diversity master teacher training course, Ashland University, Columbus

Master of education, educational leadership and policy studies, Bowling Green University

Baccalaureate in education, elementary education, Central State University

David Toth, superintendent of Crestwood Local Schools

Doctor of education in educational leadership, YSU

Master of science in educational leadership, University of Akron

Bachelor of science in education, University of Dayton

Superintendent certificate, YSU

Principal certificate, University of Akron

Certification program in special education, University of Akron

Teaching certifications in specific learning disabilities, and comprehensive social studies

Hendrik Wolfert III, principal at Pymatuning Valley Middle School

Master of education in educational administration, Ashland University

Master of business administration, Lake Erie College

Bachelor of arts in education: math, reading and social studies, Notre Dame College