SULLIVAN — Black River Local Schools announced in a press release Tuesday that Anthony Stretar will take over as its next superintendent.
Stretar’s selection came after an Ohio School Boards Association-facilitated search to fill the position, according to the release.
Stretar, who works as the principal at Revere Elementary School, begins his new job on Aug. 1.
The Revere Local School District is in northeastern Ohio, between Akron and Cleveland.
Board President Chuck Stiver said the district went through a “thorough” process to find the new superintendent.
“It included planning with our facilitators, staff and community surveys, school and community focus groups, reference checks, leadership assessments for our finalists, two rounds of interviews with the board of education, and open forums for staff and community members with our finalists,” Stiver said in the release.
Stretar replaces current Supt. Chris Clark, who will retire after 10 years as Black River’s superintendent.
(Below is a PDF copy of Black River’s Tuesday press release.)
The announcement of the new superintendent comes after a recent reduction in force at Black River Local Schools. Six teachers, four paraprofessionals, two food service workers and a custodian were cut in an effort to balance an $850,000 budget deficit.
Clark had told Ashland Source he hopes the district’s budget remains balanced after the cuts. But, he said, the impact of those cuts wouldn’t be fully realized until the next school year.
In Tuesday’s release, Clark said it had been an honor to serve as superintendent at Black River. Stiver said the board looks forward to Stretar taking over.
“… Anthony (Stretar) has an open, collaborative leadership approach, and his passion for students and staff is evident. He has led and inspired people over his career, and we know he will build solid relationships with other administrators, staff, students, and business and community members,” Stiver said.