Don Miller, Mike Kruse and Craig Colston voted for the motion. Thomsen and Trifiro abstained.
The vote to cut Hook, the district’s assistant superintendent for eight years, followed a two-hour executive session.
In a resolution, the board said it was reorganizing and consolidating the central office in anticipation of a budget deficit in 2012.
Hook is to be offered a teaching job with the district. He said he was unsure what he would do in April, while expressing understanding for the board action.
In 2009, the board cut 30 employees, closed a school and made other cuts to balance the budget following four consecutive defeats for new operating money at the ballot box.
The district recently resumed busing for kindergarten through eighth- grade students after receiving more than $1 million in unanticipated revenues from the county auditor, stimulus funds and a payment from the Warren County MRDD.
Incoming board member Scott Anderson asked the board why it decided to cut Hook in its last meeting, rather than let the new board deal with the district’s financial future.
“Nothing’s changed,” he said.
Kruse questioned where Anderson was when the board cut custodians and other staff.
“I didn’t see anybody standing up for them,” he said.
Asked afterward why the board took the action in its final meeting, Colston said, “We still have responsibilities.”
Hook was a finalist this year for the top job with the public school district in Beavercreek and last year in Milford, a Cincinnati suburb where he worked before coming to the Springboro district.
He came to Springboro eight years ago after 12 years as a teacher, coach and principal in the Milford district. He was primarily responsible for personnel.
He earned $103,262 in 2008.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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