Retiring Lake superintendent set to join Bowling Green district as buildings and grounds director

BOWLING GREEN — Lake Local Schools’ retiring superintendent will oversee buildings and grounds for another northwest Ohio school district.

The Bowling Green Board of Education voted Monday night to hire Jim Witt as director of buildings and grounds for the Bowling Green schools at a base salary of $95,000, starting Oct. 1. For the first year of the two-year contract, Mr. Witt’s salary will be pro-rated to $79,287.

Ted Haselman, Bowling Green’s superintendent of schools, said earlier Monday that Mr. Witt was one of several applicants for the advertised vacancy.

“Mr. Witt did a fantastic job through the process,” he said. “I’m always excited to add quality leaders to the leadership team.”

Mr. Haselman said the school board and administration want to put more emphasis on facilities and maintaining them.

“Hiring Mr. Witt to lead that department is a great opportunity for us, ... knowing Mr. Witt’s ability to lead people for continuous improvement,” he said.

“We continue to try to raise the bar at Bowling Green City Schools and every day we work hard to bring a good product and good value to our community,” Mr. Haselman said.

Mr. Witt declined to comment.

He announced in December that he was retiring as Lake’s superintendent after 17 years, most notably through the June, 2010 tornado that destroyed Lake High School.

Mr. Witt, 59, has two business degrees from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University.