Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Newly hired Poland Schools Superintendent Craig Hockenberry introduced his family at the Monday evening special meeting of the Poland Board of Education. Pictured are Rocco, 12; Gino, 14; Vivian, 17; Craig, and his wife Erin.

POLAND — The Poland Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract for Craig Hockenberry of Cincinnati, who will officially take over as superintendent on Aug. 1.

Hockenberry and his family were introduced at Monday’s special board meeting.

“It felt right from the first day I applied,” Hockenberry said. “I am anxious to get started.”

Hockenberry said he has some ties to Poland that come from his high school days. Poland native Nick Hulea was his high school coach at Malvern where Hockenberry grew up. He went on to play football at Mount St. Joseph College.

Following the board’s official vote, those in attendance at the meeting got to speak with Hockenberry and welcome him to the Bulldog family. He said he will be looking for a home in the area and is excited about moving to such a nice community.

Rocco Hockenberry, 12, said, “It’s pretty nice here. Very old, but nice.”

Hockenberry’s wife, Erin, said she will enjoy Poland as she is a big fan of historical homes.

While the Dobbins building was full of residents and staff welcoming Hockenberry, across the road at the stadium parking lot, it was a different scene.

Poland resident Adam Turner spent three hours collecting signatures on petitions aimed at recalling all five school board members.

“The (superintendent’s search) was done in the dark of night,” Turner said. “They (the board of education) published the process, but didn’t follow it. When they went from seven candidates down to two, they were supposed to hold public forums and did not.”

He said the goal was to collect 30 signatures, and he had over 50 in the first hour. He said the next step is to file with the Mahoning County Board of Elections to have all five board members recalled for what he said was not “serving the people.”

In the meantime, Hockenberry said he plans to spend the summer getting to know everyone before taking over the superintendent’s position. Details of the three-year contract were not made known at the meeting, but board President Greg Riddle did state the contract would run from Aug.1, 2021, through July 31, 2024.

jwhitehouse@vindy.com