(PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
NEW SUPERINTENDENT … Delta High School Principal Doug Ford poses for a photograph after being selected as the new superintendent for the Pike-Delta-York Local School District. He will continue to serve as principal for the 2025-2026 school year while taking on the new duties to provide a cost savings to the district and allow for an extended search for his replacement.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Doug Ford, the current principal of Delta High School, was selected as the next superintendent of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District at Monday’s special meeting of the Board of Education.
“I’m truly honored to be selected by this board as the next superintendent of Pike-Delta-York schools and certainly excited to give back to the community that’s given me and my family and everyone else that’s been through this school district everything that they’ve been able to achieve,” Ford said.
“Just excited to continue to do all the great things that we are used to doing and hopefully leave it better than I find it. That’s the goal.”
Ford’s original career was with the U.S. military, where he spent more than 20 years first in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard before retiring as a major and working a brief stint for Worthington Steel.
He then went back to school and earned his master’s degree in special education and began his new career with the district as an intervention specialist at Delta Middle School, which he did for six years before spending another six as its principal. Ford just completed his fifth year as principal at DHS.
“I’m always looking for that next step as far as a professional challenge, and this seemed like the next logical step for me professionally, and I believe I’m also filling a need for the district and the community,” Ford said.
Asked whether he had anything else to add, he just said “let’s go!”
Board President Jackie Chiesa lauded Ford’s continuing “vision and purpose” in a statement released by the district.
“As a former student, teacher, and principal within our district, Mr. Ford brings a deep understanding of our community and a strong commitment to its success,” Chiesa said.
“Mr. Ford brings a deep understanding of our community and a strong commitment to its success. Mr. Ford’s leadership has been defined by collaboration, integrity, and a clear focus on student achievement.”
According to the release, Ford will continue to serve as DHS principal for the 2025-2026 school year while also taking on the superintendent duties, a move that will allow an extended time to select his replacement and saving the district more than $76,000 in salary and benefits.
INCOME TAX BALLOT LANGUAGE
The board also approved a resolution to proceed with adding a 1.25 percent earned income tax to the November ballot.
If approved by voters, it will replace the existing 1 percent traditional income levy tax, providing relief to residents on fixed incomes such as Social Security. The continuing tax would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
The next regular meeting of the Pike-Delta-York Local School District Board of Education will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, at the board’s offices, located at 504 Fernwood Street in Delta.