MADISON TOWNSHIP — Madison Superintendent Jim Herrholtz has accepted the position of superintendent of Richmond Heights Local School District, Madison board of education president David Albert said.
“We have received word that Jim has accepted the superintendent position at Richmond Heights and expects the (Richmond Heights) school board to vote on his employment tonight,” Albert said.
Albert said while no specifics have been discussed, the Madison school board has long known of Herrholtzs’ candidacy with Richmond Heights.
“We are not left in the lurch,” Albert said. “(Assistant Superintendent) Dr. Matt Chojnacki has agreed to stay on as interim superintendent. It’s not like we have to find Jim’s replacement next week.”
Herrholtz, who is under contract with Madison schools until the end of next year, was out of the office on vacation and could not be reached for comment Thursday.
A former teacher and football and wrestling coach, Herrholtz became superintendent of Madison schools in 2004. In his tenure he has weathered a sea of board changes and filed several school funding ballot measures, all of which failed.
After an unsuccessful levy attempt in 2006, Herrholtz buckled down to save the district millions of dollars, Albert said.
“His commitment to the community was uncompromising,” Albert said. “When the ballot measures were unsuccessful, he went beyond and found savings in every place possible.”
Herrholtzs’ last round of savings came last week with the privatization of the district’s transportation department. While 54 union employees were terminated, the district will save $1.5 million over five years.
Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Local 238 regional director Lloyd Rains said Madison’s union ties may be damaged forever with the decision.
“I don’t hold a lot of hope for unions in Madison,” he said. “But if (the school board) wants to repair the damage, they will have to go back to the contract as it was. (Herrholtz) leaving is a start.”
Albert said the school board is looking forward and is grateful to Herrholtz for his work and dedication to the district.
“Jim brought businesses into the education process,” Albert said. “He opened up opportunities for students in the nuclear industry and with Lakeland College. We have kids getting college credits in high school.”
“Jim, above all, is a wonderful educator,” he said.
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