NANKIN — Scott Smith planned to begin the 2026-2027 school year as a retired administrator.
That plan remains true. But it may not last long.
Smith, currently superintendent of Mapleton Local School District, announced his plans to retire back in February. He told Ashland Source it was a personal decision made with his family.
Serving as the district’s leader since 2018, Smith’s retirement becomes effective Aug. 1.
“My original plan was to remain through the summer to help ensure a smooth transition to a new superintendent before moving on to another career path,” Smith said Wednesday.
“After the Mapleton Board of Education selected a candidate who initially accepted the position and later declined, I informed the board that I would be willing to return for one additional year if needed,” he said.
Board President Vince Hartzler said Monday four interviews were conducted with candidates seeking the position.
Following State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio requirements, Smith said he will observe a 60-day separation period during August and September. He will be eligible to return to public education on Oct. 1.
What does the ORC say about retire-rehire scenarios?
According to Ohio Revised Code, the school board must give public notice, no less than 60 days before the retiree is set to be rehired, that “the person is or will be retired and is seeking employment with the employer.”
The school board must also conduct a public meeting on the issue of “the person being employed by the employer,” between 15 and 30 days prior to re-employment beginning. The public notice, including date, time and location, of the meeting must be included with the notice issued no less than 60 days before the rehiring.
“The board has begun the retire/rehire process, which was posted on May 8 in the Ashland Times-Gazette with a public hearing scheduled for June 8 at 4:30 p.m.,” Smith said.
Below is the language of the posting the district published in the TG on May 8, according to Smith:
“Mapleton Local School District will be holding a public meeting June 8, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. in the Mapleton MS/HS Media Center on the issue of re-employment of Ronald (Scott) Smith during his STRS service retirement. Members of the public are invited to provide input to the Board on the issue of re-employing Ronald (Scott) Smith. Speakers are limited to five (5) minutes each, and all public comments will be closed after thirty (30) minutes. A sign-up sheet will be used, if necessary, to determine the order in which persons will address the Board.”
“If the board then chooses to proceed, I could be rehired at the July 13 board meeting with a start date of Oct. 1 to serve as superintendent until July 31, 2027,” Smith said.
According to Mapleton Treasurer Katy Wiley, Smith currently makes an annual salary of $108,111.61. Wiley said a proposed contract amount has not yet been determined for Smith’s salary next school year should the board proceed with rehiring him.
Wiley said she anticipates that amount should be determined in the near future.
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Romano to serve as interim superintendent
During the 60-day separation period between Smith and the district, current New London Superintendent Bradley Romano will step in to lead Mapleton.
The school board unanimously approved Romano on Monday evening to serve as the district’s interim superintendent from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.
Romano has served as New London’s superintendent for the past 13 years. Prior to that, he was the principal of the district’s high school for five years.
“I’m not looking to come in and turn Mapleton upside down,” Romano said Monday evening. “This is a very high-performing school district, so it’s really just continuing to provide that support so they can continue to do the things they’re doing.”
In Ohio, a superintendent is able to serve multiple districts at once as long as there is an agreed-upon arrangement between the districts’ boards of education.
Romano plans to spend two days a week at Mapleton and two days at New London, using the fifth day of the school week to float between both districts, he said.
“These type of arrangements are only possible when you have strong leadership teams at the building level, which Mapleton has and New London has, and obviously high-performing teachers in the classroom,” he said Monday. “Both districts are set up at a point that makes this workable.”
