FAIRFIELD — A veteran educator with the Forest Hills Schools will take over as superintendent of the Fairfield Schools when Charles Wiedenmann retires Dec. 31.

        Robert Farrell, in his fourth year as assistant superintendent at Forest Hills in Anderson Township, was named Fairfield superintendent at a special school board meeting Tuesday. He will begin as a consultant Nov. 6 and superintendent Jan. 1.

        The Fairfield school board gave Mr. Farrell a three-year contract. He will earn $100,000 annually.

        “I appreciate the trust the board has put in me. Together we can do great things. I think I bring new ideas but there are many great ideas here to explore,” Mr. Farrell said after accepting an Indians baseball cap, shirt and bag.

        Mr. Farrell, 46, was selected superintendent from a field of 15 applicants following a six-month search. Mr. Wiedenmann accepted a part-time position as an educational consultant with architects Steed-Hammond-Paul Inc.

        Fairfield board vice president Anne Crone said Mr. Farrell's dedication to children impressed her the most.

        “I liked his commitment to education and his ability to make effective decisions,” Fairfield board Vice President Anne Crone said of Mr. Farrell. “He really is a phenomenal educator.”

        This is Mr. Farrell's first appointment as a superintendent during his 26 years in edu cation.

        He was principal at Mercer Elementary in Forest Hills for four years before being named assistant superintendent.

        Forest Hills Schools have about 7,800 pupils compared to Fairfield's 9,100. The district was ranked “effective” on Ohio's 2000 Report Card, meeting all 27 criteria. Fairfield was ranked in the continuous improvement category, meeting 18 standards.

        Fairfield is “a very good school district yet there's a lot of potential to be even better,” Mr. Farrell said. “The potential to move to a different level is exciting for me.”

        When he arrives next month, Mr. Farrell said he would go to each building to meet teachers and support staff to understand what they're doing and listen to their ideas for improvement. He also plans to hold forums with high school students and the community to get input.

        Mr. Farrell holds a doctoral degree from the University of Cincinnati, a master's from Xavier University and a bachelor's from Notre Dame University.

        He has been principal at Withamsville-Tobasco Elementary and at Immaculate Heart of Mary School. He has worked as a middle school guidance counselor in Forest Hills and at Guardian Angels Elementary School, and as a middle school teacher at Guardian Angels, in Mount Washington.

        He is married and has three children. Mr. Farrell said he plans to move to Fairfield when classes end next June.

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