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Published: Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Schools chief awaits word on new post

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The superintendent said that leaving Salem would be bittersweet.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — Schools Superintendent Stephen Larcomb says it's likely he will be going home.

The Salem school board was meeting last night as was the Pleasant Local School District in Marion County, Ohio, which is considering hiring Larcomb as superintendent. Larcomb is from Marion.

Larcomb, 47, who came to Salem in 2005, said of leaving, "It's a very tough decision."

He said he didn't know exactly when the deal would be finalized, but it might take several more days.

He praised Salem, saying, "This community has been outstanding to me personally and to my family."

He added that leaving "would be bittersweet."

But it is the call of home and his close family that may take him away from Salem.

Back in Marion, the wife of one of Larcomb's sons is expecting a child in about three weeks. A second son and his wife are expecting a child this fall.

Larcomb and his wife, Sandi, have four other adopted children.

One son just graduated from culinary school in Pittsburgh. Two girls are in eighth grade and kindergarten, and a boy is in the third grade.

The move would bring all the families together, he said.

In education nine years

Larcomb has been in education for only about nine years. He said his decision to enter education had created some hardships on his family, including moving them to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, where he was a principal before coming here.

But if the position at Pleasant Local comes through, Larcomb said he could wind up retiring from that position. With any luck, Larcomb said the move would mean he would be "home for good."

During his time at Salem, Larcomb said he had been through more than, "most superintendents go through in a career."

He was involved the closing the aging Prospect Elementary School and junior high school, consolidating classes in the now junior-senior high and three elementary schools, selling the old junior high to Kent State University, passing a levy and negotiating contracts and reductions in force for the teaching and nonteaching employees during the district's financial woes.

Larcomb said it would probably take several days to iron out a contract with the Pleasant Local Schools. His said his contract with the Salem board of education would allow him to leave if he reaches an agreement with the Pleasant Local board.

Before turning to education, Larcomb had flown relief missions to troubled spots in the world for the Ohio Air National Guard.

wilkinson@vindy.com

Tuesday, March 20, 2007