06-04-03: Principal selected as new Coldwater superintendent

06-04-03: Principal selected as new Coldwater superintendent

By TIMOTHY COX
The Daily Standard

    COLDWATER - Junior High Principal Richard Seas has been named to replace Eric Hoffman as the Coldwater Exempted Village Schools superintendent.
    School board members made the decision this week after two nights of extensive interviews with Seas and Paula Byers, the district's curriculum director. The board had chosen to keep its search internal among district employees to see if a new superintendent could be found.
    In a news release issued this morning, the district announced Seas would be offered a three-year contract to take over for the outgoing Hoffman on Aug. 1. A special school board meeting is set for Monday so board members can work out contract terms with Seas, and board members plan to formally hire him at the regular board meeting set for Tuesday.
    Seas, swamped in end-of-the-year tasks at the junior high, said this morning that between the interview process and wrapping up the school year, the new job has not really sunk in yet.
    "I am pretty excited about the opportunity. I'm looking forward to it," Seas said. "It hasn't really set in yet."
    Board members made the appointment after a second round of interviews conducted Tuesday evening. That interview also included members of a citizens advisory committee who help board members arrive at a decision.
    Seas, 39, has been the district's junior high principal since 1999. He previously held the same position at L.P. Ball Junior High in Tipp City and also spent time at Warsaw River View High School near Coschocton as an assistant principal. The early years of his career were spent in the classroom teaching science.
    Seas has a wife, Lorna, and eight children, with a ninth due in September. Seas is originally from St. Marys.
    While looking forward to his new post, Seas also lamented leaving his current office staff and faculty.
    "The people I work with at the junior high have been absolutely fantastic," Seas said. "We're like a family. We have grown to be a pretty tight-knit group. If I can develop that same type of relationship with everyone at the district, then I feel like I'm doing my job."
    Seas said he knew Coldwater was a special place when he arrived four years ago.
    "I have no desire to ever go anywhere else," Seas said. "This is the place to be for me."
    Hoffman announced in early May that he would leave the district July 31, to accept the superintendent's job at Ridgedale Local Schools in Morral, close to his hometown of Richwood. Hoffman earned $83,500 annually.

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