New school superintendent off to fast start

CLYDE - “Your actions speak louder than words,” said Dennis Haft, the new Clyde-Green Springs schools superintendent.

And he's had plenty of action since starting his new job July 1.

“I personally contacted every employee in the district,” he said in an interview last week.

When Haft took the position — beginning a month ahead of schedule after the school board voted for an early start — he was aware the board wanted a superintendent who could build relationships in the district.

“They clued me about difficulties in the community,” Haft said.

The new superintendent replaces David Stubblebine, who had a rocky relationship with the board and the Clyde Police Department.

The former superintendent was reprimanded in November 2014 by the board of education for a romantic relationship with Rachel Aldrich, then-principal of McPherson Middle School, who at the time reported to him. She has since resigned.

In 2015, a Clyde police probe resulted in Stubblebine being charged with obstruction of a police investigation at the middle school The case ended when Sandusky County Court District No. 1 Judge John Kolesar dismissed the charges, ruling there was no evidence Stubblebine had committed a crime. Stubblebine's contract ended July 31.

Haft also has learned that district residents still have not forgotten the deeds of another former school superintendent, Todd Helms, who in 2010 was convicted of stealing nearly $300,000 from the district and its school organizations. Helms was released from prison early in 2015 after serving five years of an eight-year sentence and repaying $243,000 to the schools.

“Here’s the big thing: You can't change it overnight,” Haft said of the community's bad feelings toward the superintendent's office.

The change may not happen overnight, but the new district administrator has not been wasting any time seeking to turn things around.

“I’m a relationship-building kind of guy,” Haft said while sitting in his new office in downtown Clyde.

Coming from Crestview Elementary School in Brunswick, where he worked for 17 years including his latest position as elementary school principal, Haft said he was surprised the Clyde-Green Springs school administration did not have a strong relationship with local police.

He already met with Green Springs Police Chief Charlie Horn, Clyde Police Chief Bruce Gower and Clyde Detective Monti Campbell, he said.

“I’ve tried to reach out to students as well,” he said.

Haft has become a familiar sight at summer school events and downtown businesses on Main Street in Clyde. The superintendent said he has not officially moved into the area yet, but he has purchased a house. Once he moves into the community with his significant other, Denise, he is sure he can become more connected and visible. The 52-year-old superintendent also has two children who are in college.

Haft wants to know people in the community and what they need and want from the schools. He said that when a school administrator makes any mistake, it is visible.

“I have to make sure I deposit as many good things as possible.”

The new superintendent has 25 years in education. His transition from elementary school principal to superintendent has not been difficult, so far. His view may change once the students return on the first day of school Aug. 29, Haft said.

“Every decision I make now, I have to look at from five different angles,” he said about the promotion.

But he said the administrative team at Clyde-Green Springs has been “wonderful.”

His staff is proactive and quick with answers, he said.

Even before Haft had settled in, he had been reviewing the district's five-year financial forecast with new school treasurer Megan Rohde. The tentative forecast, released to the board in June, showed the district should be in the black through fiscal year 2019, but see shortfall in fiscal year 2020.

“We have looked at the numbers, and we are cautiously optimistic we can run without any deficits — and that is without making any cuts either,” Haft said about the next four to five years.

Like any school budget, the future will depend on the state’s education funding.

The Clyde-Green Springs school leader said he applied for the job halfway across the state because of the size of the district.

“I knew I would have an opportunity to get to know everyone,” he said.

While interviewing, he saw the new buildings in the district and saw that the community supported its schools.

He added: “I felt comfortable with the school board.”

rrbrooks@gannett.com

419-334-1059

Twitter:@rrbrooks1