BARBERTON: The Barberton Board of Education has named Assistant Superintendent Patti Cleary as interim superintendent, effective Jan. 1.
She will replace John Hall, who will retire at the end of this month.
Cleary, 57, has been assistant superintendent since 2008. She has worked for the Barberton school district for six years, starting as a curriculum specialist in 2005, then as the director of curriculum.
She previously worked for Woodridge schools for 10 years. She was an eighth-grade English teacher, then moved into administration for three years as assistant principal of Woodridge Middle School.
Cleary was also a part-time instructor at the University of Akron in the College of Education and was in the banking industry. She worked at two banks, one in Akron and the other in Wooster.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in secondary education (grades 7-12) and a superintendent’s license, all from the University of Akron.
Cleary said her biggest challenge will be finances, especially after an 8.74-mill school levy failed in November.
“Because the levy lost by a 2-1 vote, it’s clear that the community is not ready for higher taxes, so another levy attempt won’t be on the March ballot,” she said. “We will have to cut down to the bone and try to do something to touch every program without destroying any of them.
“We have to cut out $3 million from the budget, and unfortunately the bulk of the budget goes to salaries, so that means cutting positions.”
Cleary said staff was cut last year from 537 employees to 506.
“My goal is to give back to the district by consolidating the assistant superintendent’s job and the superintendent’s job and doing both myself. This will save the school system $100,000,” Cleary said. “But I wouldn’t be able to do it without a supporting staff. That makes all the difference.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.