Tiffin City Schools superintendent announces resignation
Tiffin, Ohio — Tiffin City Schools Superintendent Michael Zalar announced Tuesday that he has submitted his letter of resignation to the Tiffin City Board of Education.
Zalar’s resignation is effective July 31, 2022, he said during a board of education meeting Tuesday evening.
“I appreciate the opportunity to have served our students, staff, and community this past year, and will work with the board of education to ensure there is a smooth transition for my replacement,” Zalar said.
Zalar, the district’s fourth superintendent in a five-year period, explained during the board meeting that a “number of personal issues” have developed over the past year, and that he wishes to “reunite with his family” in the Cleveland area.
“The district needs a leader who is willing to make a long-term commitment to the schools and community. I am no longer able to make that commitment, and believe the district is best served to begin their search for a new leader now,” Zalar said.
Zalar was hired by the Tiffin City Board of Education in June 2021, and his contract began August 1, 2021.
Dr. Meagan McBride, president of the Tiffin City Board of Education, called Zalar’s decision “disappointing” and “heavy.”
“But I think we have a call to use this to move forward, to find a leader who is able to come in and make some of those commitments to our district and to our community, and to our staff and students,” McBride said.
Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz wrote in a statement released to his Facebook page that the timing of Zalar’s resignation is “extremely unfortunate.”
“As a community, we are at a crossroads. So much good is happening in Tiffin, yet struggles persist maintaining a quality superintendent to lead our local public school district,” Montz said. “In my view, the role of the superintendent in overseeing the operation of the school district is not dissimilar to that of the mayor in relation to city government.”
Montz encouraged Tiffin residents to rally around Tiffin City Schools during this time.
“While the initial reaction may be to speak negatively about our school district and take to social media, I ask that folks use that energy and frustration and turn it into something positive,” Montz said. “We can get through this, we will get through this, but we must stick together.”
This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
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