POLAND — The Poland Local Schools Board of Education voted to start a search for an interim superintendent Saturday at a special meeting, minutes after approving Superintendent Craig Hockenberry’s retirement and medical leave of absence. 

Hockenberry and the board shared in a letter to the community Friday that he would step back from his role due to a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. His medical leave will begin Dec. 1 and he will retire effective Aug. 31, 2026. 

"It has been the greatest honor of my career to serve this District," Hockenberry wrote in the letter. "I am deeply proud of all we have accomplished together, and I remain confident in the strength and resilience of this community."

The school board has instructed its president, Gregg Riddle, to contact the Educational Service Center and post an opening for the interim position as early as 8 a.m. Monday morning, according to Riddle.

"We're confident that before Christmas, we can be in the position that we'll have enough applicants that we can talk with people, and we can get somebody into that position the first of the year," Riddle said Saturday. 

Maria Hoffmaster, the district's assistant superintendent and director of curriculum, will serve as acting deputy superintendent effective Dec. 1, until the board appoints an interim superintendent. School board member Michelle Elia said Hoffmaster is "perfect" for the role, but emphasized the need to fill the interim position quickly, so that she can focus on her duties as director of curriculum. 

"That is the business of school, right? It's curriculum and instruction," Elia said. "So in my mind, her role is probably the most important, and I don't want to disrupt that, because it's working, and it's working incredibly well."

Once the temporary position is filled, Riddle said the school board will put together a search committee to look for a permanent superintendent. 

"Anybody that wants to apply can apply. And we may find that the interim superintendent wants to apply, we may find that Dr. Hoffmaster wants to apply, but we'll work that out, and then when we have to appoint a brand new superintendent, we will," Riddle said. 

Under the measure approved by the school board Saturday, Hockenberry's medical leave will extend through the remainder of the 2025-2026 contract year, which is July 31, 2026 — one month before his planned retirement.

During the board meeting, Riddle raised the question of what would be done in that gap if Hockenberry is unable to return from medical leave, and said he would feel more comfortable if the language was changed to extend the medical leave until Aug. 31. The board ultimately voted to pass the resolution as written.

"We have legal counsel advising us, we believe we're doing the right thing by everybody concerned, and that's what we're going to pursue," Riddle told 21 News.

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