By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Wynford school board voted in the newest head of that district’s household Wednesday by approving the hiring of Fred Fox as superintendent.
The unanimous vote makes official what the school district announced in November. During the meeting two contracts for Fox were approved, the first being from Jan. 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016 and the second term from Aug. 1, 2016 and running through July 31, 2019.
Fox shared his immediate goals for Wynford.
“I look forward to getting to know the staff, I look forward to see what we can do as a team to help students achieve their dreams and goals.” Fox said.
Fox spoke of some of the challenges that face the district, and how he hopes to overcome the challenges as Superintendent.
“Operating a school district in the state of Ohio has become a little bit easier because the economy has gotten better, but when you have a school system that relies on a big portion of their revenue coming from the state of Ohio then you need to be mindful of any action taken by the state legislature that affects your income, that affects your revenue stream, because even though the economy is better I still don’t think that the average household has any extra money to give you to help out with your schools. ” Fox said. “So some of the biggest challenges are always to stay within your budget and try to improve at the same time and that is kind of tricky.”
Prior to the vote each member of the board took time to welcome Fox and his wife Gerry to the school district and touting his past successes with the Huron School District. Wynford Board President Jeffery Scheifer spoke about the decision to hire Fox.
“We are just extremely happy and extremely proud that we got such a good person in Fred,” Scheifer said. “Like I said in my speech a little bit ago he’s a walker and he’s a talker and an achiever. He is the best fit, and he has got some big shoes to fill and with Steve leaving in a few short weeks we are so glad that he and Steve can work together and the transition should be smooth.”
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Outgoing Superintendent Steve Mohr felt confident in the Wynford’s pick for his successor.
“I just think Wynford is very fortunate to find someone to come in to our position with 11 years of superintendent experience, not just experience but successful experience,” Mohr said. “He was able to take a district that was in fiscal emergency and through his guidance take them into a very healthy financial situation, and then in terms of student achievement he was able to take them to the highest ranking that the state of Ohio has in terms of excellence with distinction. Those two things in themselves make him more than qualified for the position, but I have had the opportunity to work with him as we are transitioning with me leaving at the end of the month and he is a quality person and his personality and demeanor is going to be a great fit for the school district.”
Fox was the superintendent of the Huron School District for 11 years. When he began there the district that was in fiscal emergency and with the help of the community’s passage of an 8.9-mil levy the fiscal emergency was resolved within two years of his taking the position.
By 2012 Fox led the Huron School District to a $7.6 million carry-over with an $8 million bank balance to begin the school year. Also during his time as superintendent test scores improved each year at the district achieving Excellent or Excellent with Distinction for the past seven years.
According to the district press release, Fox was let go by the Huron School District in 2012 by a three-member majority of the Huron Board of Education, without due cause. Allegations for termination centered on an authorized expense account and a personal trip. Fox challenged the termination and a hearing was conducted by the Ohio Department of Education. Subsequent to an in-depth hearing, Fox was exonerated in 2014.
Fox spoke briefly about the legal issues.
“I can’t discuss too much of it because it is an ongoing matter but Common Pleas Court dismissed it very quickly, and I’m fairly confident that appeals court will also, ” Fox said. “That case should have been handled by the Huron County Prosecutor. He looked at the case and said he wouldn’t do anything because there was nothing there. It went on for well over two years and went to an evidentiary hearing and the judge dismissed it as it exceeded the statute of limitations. If I could comment on it more, but I can tell you that every step of the way I have prevailed in my hearings and in court. I have always prevailed. Everything has been appealed because they want to push it down the line. We’re not appealing it, they are.”
Fox and his wife Gerry were welcomed to the district by board members followed by a reception.