Tiffin City Schools' superintendent offers resignation

Tiffin City Schools' superintendent submitted his resignation, effective July 31. Tiffin City Board of Education unanimously approved a settlement agreement for Gary Barber after an executive session lasting about half an hour Tuesday. According to the agreement, "the Parties wish to amicably discontinue their employment relationship so that each party may address their present needs." Barber's contract was effective Aug. 1, 2017, through July 31, and his new five-year contract would've started Aug. 1. Barber is to be on paid sick leave through July 31 and would receive a $20,000 payment for longevity. Board President Victor Perez said Barber would've gotten the bonus anyway. The district will be starting a search for a new superintendent, Perez said. Barber, 55, of Tiffin, had been charged with OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor, and a traffic lanes/line violation, a minor misdemeanor, according to Marion Municipal Court records. Board member Dr. Andrew Gase previously had said Barber had requested sick leave in writing, and he had had sick leave approved. Barber previously pleaded no contest and was found guilty of OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor, and failure to control, a minor misdemeanor, through Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court in 2017. In that case, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with 30 days suspended; was placed on non-reporting probation for one year; was ordered to complete a driver intervention program; had his license suspended for six months, with approval for unrestricted driving privileges; and had six points placed on his license, according to Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court records. Barber's pending case in Marion Municipal Court has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 5.