After a search that lasted for months and spanned across three states, the Portage Township School Corporation finally announced their new superintendent at the school board meeting Wednesday evening.
Through careful consideration, the school board chose Dr. Richard Weigel to step up and take the place of the former Portage superintendent, Dr. E. Ric Frataccia.
Weigel is the former superintendent of Niles School District in Michigan.
“This is the biggest decision that the school board has to make," School Board President Cheryl Oprisko said. "As school board member[s], we make a lot of decisions. Choosing the superintendent is the biggest decision that any school board member has to make.”
The board used a long process which involved a University Search Team comprised of professors representing Purdue, Indiana University, Ball State and Indiana State, as well as a survey that was sent out to Portage Township School staff and members of the community.
Their careful deliberation left Weigel standing front and center as the best candidate for the next superintendent for Portage Township Schools.
“I think he’ll be the best superintendent for the schools,” Oprisko said. “We looked at our internal and external stakeholders and got their input, and they set the bar high for us to find a good quality candidate, and he met all the criteria that was in the survey and he went beyond what they asked for.”
During the meeting, the board members gave their thoughts on Weigel.
“That’s what he does best, is bring out the best in people,” member Andy Maletta said. “I’m really excited about this opportunity and, again, this new chapter.”
According to Oprisko, Weigel already has a transition plan he is expecting to implement in order to make his arrival in the Portage School District a smooth one.
Weigel's interest in the area stems from its growth, both as a booming economic crossroad and as a community of citizens.
"You can tell when you do your research with Portage that the community has great support for the schools. That's important," Weigel said. "As you look and you want to build really great schools and a great school district, you've got to have an area that supports that, and this is an area that supports the schools wonderfully."
As of yet, Weigel does not have a solid option for the improvement of the school, but is instead opting for flexibility in his plans.
"The school district is doing extremely well," Weigel said. "You don't want to change directions, you want to try to build on what we're already doing. The first thing is -- the goal I have -- is to listen, to know people. I'll be asking other people what they think is the priority, not me coming in and telling what the priority is."
Weigel accounts the current success of the Portage Township School District to the people who have helped run it.
"Many people don't realize -- until you've been to a lot of other places -- this is a very committed school board. They are incredible," Weigel said. "You can tell by the achievement levels of the students, you've got dedicated and talented teachers and principals. Otherwise, we wouldn't have what we already have."