MASON — The Mason City Schools District has hired a new principal for Mason High School, although his starting date hasn't been determined.

        Gerald A. Cox Jr. the principal at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio, near Dayton, will enter a two-year contract with a salary of $92,500 per year. He is still under contract at Beavercreek, where he has been principal since August 2000.

GERALD A. COX JR.

Age: 44     Education: Master's in education administration, University of Dayton; bachelor's in secondary Education, Millersville University, Pa.     Experience: Principal, Beavercreek High School since 2000; five years at Weisenborn Middle School. Assistant principal, two years at Wayne High School; English teacher, seven years.     Personal: Married (Donna); one son, one daughter; both attend Stivers School for the Arts.     Hobby: Sings in the University of Dayton Ebony Heritage Singers Choir with wife and children.

        According to Mr. Cox, Beavercreek Superintendent G. Ronald Bickert has indicated that he would release Mr. Cox from his contract by January. Mr. Cox has requested to be released sooner.

        Mr. Cox was chosen from 31 applicants after a 12-member panel of teachers, parents, students and administrators narrowed the candidates to nine.

        Board President Marianne Culbertson said Mr. Cox was the panel's overwhelming choice.

        “After meeting him, it just affirmed everything I had heard about him,” Mrs. Culbertson said.

        Mr. Cox said Mason's innovative programs and interdisciplinary teaching attracted him. He said he also saw a unique opportunity as principal because the new Mason High School, under construction, would be structurally joined with a community center.

        “I see a way of facilitating interaction between the school and the community, to foster those partnerships that I think are essential to the students' success,” Mr. Cox said.

        Mason High Principal Amy Spicher is to become the director of secondary programs, a position in which she'll assist Mason schools in curriculum development for grades 7-12. Since 1999, Mason High has grown from 1,518 students to 1,821.

More - and better - police in Luken's anti-crime plan
Adding police on back burner
City's gun lawsuit up to Ohio justices
Of bonfires and bonding
Adamowski says city schools rebounding
Board candidates compared
Ex-CIA man calls attacks opportunity
Guard may be at airport by Friday
Lawrenceburg in emergency
Loveland moves forward on YMCA
Survey: Help for disabled lacking
Town hall meetings: Where are the poor?
Tristate A.M. Report
Two area officers picked for award
SAMPLES: Ky.'s secret
HOWARD: Some good news
Court allegedly withheld tape
Mason hires principal
Monroe school proposal firmed up
Ohio man will take helm of Aryan Nations
Cabaret, restaurant launch Levee
Covington sees plans for water park
Lt. governor backs gun safety
N. Kentucky schools making their mark
N.Ky. raid a bum steer
Power plant gets OK
School to offer day care
Schools shine on new tests