WILLIAMSBURG - High school Principal Tom Durbin will wear two hats in the Williamsburg Schools until a new superintendent is hired.

        Earlier this week the Williamsburg Board of Education voted unanimously to put Superintendent Robin Wiley on paid administrative leave and appoint Mr. Durbin the district's chief administrator as well as high school principal. Dennis Devine, former superintendent of the West Clermont Schools, now retired, will assist him.

        The action comes two months after Ms. Wiley announced her resignation from this Clermont County school district of 1,075 students. She was hired as an elementary school principal in the district in August 1997 and was named superintendent three months later.

        “There's been conflict (between her and the board) on achievement of goals. That conflict is not healthy when a district is going through so much,” Ms. Wiley said. “I'm pursuing other options in education.”

        Williamsburg schools have been in turmoil since January, when it was discovered that a mix-up in communications between the school district and the Clermont County Auditor's Office resulted in about $700,000 being budgeted twice. The district has been placed under fiscal watch by Ohio Auditor Jim Petro and faces a $788,000 deficit, or about 12.6 percent of last year's general fund.

        “I think things are in place now” to move forward, said board member Michael Murray. “He's doing an extremely good job.”

        Before being hired as high school principal a year ago, Mr. Durbin had been principal at Georgetown High School.

        Mr. Murray said the board has completed a job description and defined duties it expects of its next superintendent. The board is accepting applications and is being assisted in its search by the Clermont County Educational Services Center. The board hopes to name a new superintendent in June or July.

        “We're going to do what we can to keep control of the district in Williamsburg,” Mr. Murray said. “We're facing making almost $1 million in cuts. The board wants to fix the problem. We don't want outsiders coming in. We're going to move forward with new leadership.”

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