PEMBERVILLE – Eastwood Schools Superintendent has lost interest in leaving the district.
Welker, who was among three finalists for being the new superintendent for Findlay City Schools, has
taken his name off the list.
"About 9 o’clock Saturday morning," he said was about when he changed his mind.
That morning, a fire destroyed the district’s bus garage and central office.
"At this point in time, there’s no way I could consider another position with everything in front of
us," Welker stated this morning.
While he was still under consideration for the job, Welker was mute about his interest in the post.
But now, he explained "It’s a district I’ve always admired."
He said he and his wife lived there for six years, and still has many friends in that area.
Welker did attend a reception Friday where key community members could meet all three candidates.
He has been superintendent at Eastwood for eight years.
Eastwood school board President Denis Helm announced Welker’s plans at Monday’s board meeting.
Also at the meeting, the board commended Phil Donaldson, director of operations, and mechanics Doug
Rhodes and Tom Firsdon for their work in the past few weeks plowing snow, keeping parking lots
accessible, and making sure the buildings continue to operate smoothly.
"Three of the hardest working people I’ve ever been around," said Welker
He also thanked them for their quick thinking during Saturday’s fire.
"Phil and Doug dodging flames to get buses out of the way," he said.
"They don’t balk. They don’t question. They just do what I want," Donaldson said about his
co-workers.
Helm, Athletic Director Jeff Hill, middle school Principal John Obrock, Welker, and several Troy Township
firemen also entered the central office building in an effort to save as many documents as possible.
"The fire departments deserve all the accolades we can give them," said Helm.
He pointed out Saturday’s newspaper had a front-page story of a burning home. Sunday was the death of two
firefighters in Toledo.
Eastwood, in comparison, is pretty lucky, he said.
Lost were time sheet records, personnel records and accounts payable, plus teacher and administrator
evaluations.
"Over time, we’ll have to try to rebuild that network of files," Welker stated.
The board also approved an agreement with Side Effects Inc. that will net the district a new scoreboard
for the football stadium.
Board member Roger Bostdorff asked why that scoreboard was being replaced and not the one at the baseball
diamond.
Hill said lights on that scoreboard are so old replacements cannot be found.
He added that the new scoreboards for the soccer and softball fields came through private donors.
"The baseball scoreboard is pretty ratty looking," Welker commented.
But Hill added that diamond might be moved if the district goes forward and centralizes all elementaries
on the main campus.