Lorain Schools CEO David Hardy Jr. to leave job (VIDEO/UPDATED)

LORAIN — The departure of Lorain Schools CEO David Hardy Jr. is targeted for Jan. 3, according to the Academic Distress Commission. Commission Chairman Randall Sampson confirmed negotiations with Hardy have set the pending date for him to be out of the district. Those negotiations are still ongoing. "There's multiple things happening and with that as well we are also going to start as an ADC working together to find an interim CEO as quickly as possible heading to our target date, which is Jan. 3, 2020," Sampson said during Wednesday's Commission meeting at the High School Performing Arts Center. Though commissioners hinted they had a strong candidate for the interim CEO in the works, the name of the person will not be released until a contract is signed, Sampson said. The ADC will meet in early December to announce the interim CEO. He said the school board and community members will have input on the new permanent CEO. After Wednesday's meeting and unanimous vote from the commission to proceed, the Ohio Department of Education will issue a request for proposals from search firms to help select a permanent replacement. The state may pay for the firm used. Commission member Steve Cawthon initially was wary of using search firms in the process, as he voted against hiring Hardy in 2017 due to the controversy surrounding the CEO's ties to the search firm used. Chicago-based Atlantic Research Partners was used to find the candidate pool Hardy was selected from. As previously reported, Hardy and three of the other four finalists for the position had ties to the search firm. Cawthon and fellow Commission member Diane Conibear-Xander said the group is looking to use a more local search group. "It's not going to be like it was before," Cawthon said. Conibear-Xander added, "No, from the interim, which we are firsthand, we are the ones that are responsible for finding and recruiting, from the next new search we are going to have a say in the search firm. We want to go with somebody that's statewide that's known that has a reputable experience in searching for the best candidate." She added later, "With the interim coming in, I think it's going to be a sense of relief for everybody. Going into how these people are going to feel good about what the new year has in store for us." Hardy did not return requests for comment Wednesday evening and was not at the ADC meeting. The district issued a statement saying it was proud of the progress that has been made on the state report card and the "conversation" being held will produce "garner a vision for the future." "One that district CEO David Hardy Jr. hopes will ensure scholars of Lorain City Schools remain highest priority, regardless of politics," it states. "On account of CEO Hardy's vision, and a difference in priorities by the Academic Distress Commission, both parties are working towards an agreement to mutually part ways." After the meeting, Sampson noted Hardy is a "willing partner" in the transition. House Bill 70, the 2015 law that allowed for the state takeover of Lorain, Youngstown and East Cleveland school districts, does not clearly dictate what happens if a CEO leaves the district. Initially, the commission has 60 days to find a district's administrator from when the ADC chair is appointed. Deputy State Superintendent John Richard clarified after Wednesday's meeting that deadline does not apply when an ADC is hiring a replacement CEO. Hardy's current contract runs through Aug. 2020. It is unclear how the transition will impact his state-paid annual salary, currently at $190,000, or other benefits. Cawthon was quick to note Hardy's exit came when the Legislature has stalled its efforts to reform the controversial law that brought him to Lorain. "We're still waiting for the Senate and the governor to do something," he said. "This Academic Distress Commission took action and did something before the powers that be in Columbus, after they promised us and are still promising us, we decided 'we can't wait for you to do it.'" Contracts During a public comment period — voted onto the ADC's agenda — concerns were raised that the CEO could enter into new contracts or give raises to staff on his way out the door. In August, Chief People Officer Jaqueline Younker was given a more than $20,000 raise, outgoing Treasurer Josh Hill confirmed at a school board meeting that month. Attendees at Wednesday's meeting raised concerns the same could happen with other chiefs Hardy has hired. This sent the commission into a second executive session. On returning, Sampson announced the ADC is expecting the CEO would "not enter into any new contracts and/or adjust current employees contracts." The stipulation is not meant to impact day-to-day expenses or agreements, but bar the outgoing CEO from making large-scale hiring or firing changes. Low-performing buildings Also during a public comment period, parents and educators from some of the district's lower-performing buildings brought up a letter sent out to Palm Elementary families about meetings asking for feedback in the district's "pursuit of creating a system of excellent schools." Mary Miller, a parent of a Palm Elementary student and member of the group It Takes a Village to Tackle House Bill 70, read a letter she received that targets Palm and Frank Jacinto elementary schools and General Johnnie Wilson Middle School. At a February town hall meeting, Hardy announced a new ranking system for the buildings, based on state test scores, behavior and building atmosphere. The letter Miller and other Palm parents received — but those at General Johnnie Wilson and Frank Jacinto reportedly did not — sparked concern the buildings could be closed or reconstituted as charter schools, two actions the CEO is permitted under House Bill 70. Community meetings to discuss those building's performance and give feedback start in two weeks, each from 4 to 5 p.m. General Johnnie Wilson Middle School's is Nov. 20, Palm Elementary's is Nov. 25 and Frank Jacinto's is Nov. 26. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.