STEWART, Ohio – Federal Hocking Local Schools has a new superintendent.
At its July 16 meeting, the district’s board of education approved the hire of Jason Spencer to succeed David Hanning, who stepped down at the end of the 2023–24 school year. Spencer’s four-year contract begins Aug. 1.
“Jason is a high-energy, inspirational leader,” Federal Hocking Local Schools said in a Facebook post. “Dr. Spencer is a student-first administrator and will work tirelessly to help all students find success.”
The post included a graphic containing a statement from Spencer.
“I am thrilled and extremely grateful to be part of this incredible organization, which is made even more exceptional by the unique qualities each of you brings. I look forward to contributing to the team and getting to know all of you,” Spencer wrote in a message to the district posted to the Federal Hocking Facebook page. “I am deeply committed to ensuring every student’s success.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Spencer earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Bowling Green State University, where he played football. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Stetson University and a doctorate in leadership in education administration from Capella University. The profile indicates he has worked for Cincinnati Public Schools for the past five years as senior director of safety services.
Spencer’s 2017 application for a superintendent position in Florida indicates he has been a school principal for Buckeye Valley Local Schools and Worthington City Schools and for two school districts in Florida. An internet search shows that he also was a principal at Minster Senior/Junior High School in western Ohio.
The 2017 application states that Spencer graduated from Morgan Local Schools in McConnelsville.
Filling some jobs, abolishing others
Following Spencer’s official hiring, Interim Superintendent Bruce Hoover resigned from his temporary position. The former principal at Coolville Elementary was supposed to become the district’s director of curriculum and instruction on Aug. 1, but he resigned that position as well.
Hoover is joining the staff of the Fairfield Educational Service Center. The Fairfield ESC website lists him as Coordinator of Professional Learning and Leadership.
The board voted to abolish the director of curriculum and instruction position entirely, effective immediately with Hoover’s resignation. The board plans to contract with Fairfield ESC to advise on educational and instructional development — typically the responsibility of the director of curriculum and instruction.
“There will be no overlap between Mr. Hoover’s current duties and our contracting with the Fairfield ESC for services,” district treasurer Bruce Steenrod stated in an email.
The board also approved the hiring of a high school intervention specialist, a new middle school math department chair, and a Coolville elementary art teacher — all of whom will have lower starting salaries than their predecessors.
The district must fill several more positions before the 2024-25 school year, including high and middle school intervention specialists and a high school math teacher.
The district faces a $660,000 deficit in the 2025 fiscal year, as the Independent previously reported. At its June meeting, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Hocking Teachers Association that allows the district to eliminate five positions through attrition.
The board confirmed at its July 16 meeting that eliminating those jobs is not enough to offset the district’s budget deficit, so further cuts — including staff positions — must be made.
MOUs used during budget crisis
The board also approved a second memorandum of understanding with the teachers association, allowing the hire of an Ohio University Teaching Fellow to fill in for a high school teacher taking a leave of absence. The fellow will be employed for the 2024–25 school year
According to OU’s teaching fellow guidelines, teaching fellows do not receive benefits from the district and typically only work for one year. Hiring a teaching fellow provides additional instruction while saving money that otherwise would be used to pay a new teacher’s salary and benefits.
Under its contracts with its employee unions, the district must give the unions 60 days’ notice of any staff or budget changes. Steenrod said that while MOUs allow the board to act quickly by eliminating the 60-day requirement, there’s no guarantee that more of the agreements will be used.
“I believe the reason the Union was comfortable using this process this time is because all of the positions being reduced were vacant,” Steenrod said in an email. “More than likely, if a position is being reduced that is occupied, the Union would not enter into an MOU, because the person affected needs to receive notice.”
The Federal Hocking Board of Education meets the third Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Federal Hocking High School library, 8461 SR 144, in Stewart. Find meeting minutes and more online.
Corinne Colbert contributed reporting to this story.
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